22 BREEDING 



sters should begin to run about in the fresh air, 

 they are not likely to grow and develop into dogs 

 of any size and substance. Puppies born in the 

 winter treble one's trouble, and have a knack of 

 picking up chills and dying prematurely. February 

 and March are by no means bad months if the 

 nursery is warm, as there is a reasonable chance of 

 the tweather looking up when the whelps are ready 

 to get out of doors, and they should grow and thrive 

 well in the spring sunshine. 



The expectant mother calls for much care. 

 Throughout she should have her freedom, and in the 

 early weeks plenty of exercise. Feed only on good 

 nourishing food, which should contain a large pro- 

 portion of meat, but on no account let her get fat. 

 If there are indications of the litter being large, a 

 foster-mother should be on the premises two or three 

 days beforehand. If you can arrange for one from 

 your immediate neighbourhood whose character is 

 well known to you, so much the better, but if this 

 is impossible, advertisements may be seen in the 

 different kennel papers, and a fair average price 

 for a big foster will range from twenty to thirty 

 shillings. It is customary only to hire them for 

 the occasion. At the time of whelping, if the mother 

 is of one of the large varieties, the pups should be 

 removed from her as they are born, and placed before 

 a fire in a basket or box lined with flannel ; other- 

 wise they may be lain upon and killed. Do not 

 fuss about too much and disturb the bitch more than 

 can be possibly avoided. In cases of difficult par- 

 turition, the services of a skilled veterinary surgeon 

 should be requisitioned promptly, or you may lose 

 the mother. Care must be observed in transferring 



