OF BilEEDINC4 GExXERALLY. 059 



CHAPTER V. 



OF BREEDING GENERALLY. 



From the earliest times great diversity of opinion has existed 

 respecting the proper age at which dogs should be allowed 

 to breed, with the view of producing strong and healthy 

 puppies. 



We are informed by Aristotle, who flourished in the fourth 

 century before the Christian era, that ancient sportsmen, 

 for the ennobling of their race of dogs, did not suffer the 

 male to engender till he was four years of age, and the fe- 

 male three ; and that the former was only allowed to pro- 

 pagate for eight years thereafter, and the latter for six years. 

 They conceived that the progeny of such would be much 

 stronger than those bred at an earlier age. This opinion 

 does not, however, hold good, although it is found that the 

 puppies produced by a female under twelve months, are ge- 

 nerally weak. It is now ascertained, from patient investi- 

 gation and experience, that a female should be fully twelve 

 mouths old before she is allowed to engender, and that 

 whelps produced by a dam about this age, are as good as those 

 at any later period of the animal's life. The male ought to 

 be at his full strength and symmetry, but not aged, as the 

 offspring of such are generally dull and deficient in spirit. 



The usual time at which females are first seized with the 

 furor uterinuSy is at the age -of twelve mouths; but there are 



