FEEDING AND GROOMING 35 



will be done by giving a biscuit or two in the 

 morning. Whenever you decide to feed, let it be 

 done invariably about the same time, for a dog 

 knows to a minute or two when his food is due, 

 and as a rule he has no objection to telling you 

 pretty plainly if you are addicted to the bad habit 

 of unpunctuality. Supposing the household leavings 

 are insufficient, there are many dog biscuits and 

 other patent foods, all of which save a good deal 

 of trouble, but it cannot be too strongly insisted 

 upon that a certain proportion of meat is required. 

 Scraps from a butcher may be bought for a few 

 pence, ,and if they are well boiled it is more 

 economical, as bread, vegetables, biscuits, boiled rice, 

 or oatmeal can be incorporated with the gravy from 

 which all fat has first been removed. Plenty of 

 variety in the dietary is most essential, as dogs are 

 very much like human beings in their objection to 

 monotony. Bullocks' or sheep's paunches, well 

 cleaned, are easily digestible, and are much liked 

 for a change. A! big bone will keep a dog amused 

 for a long time, and be all the better for his teeth. 

 When the kennel is of any size, containing many 

 inmates, food will have to be purchased in a careful 

 and systematic manner, or the cost will be very 

 heavy. If you are a good manager it is astonish- 

 ing how little per head the outlay need be. Of 

 course the staple food, the foundation upon which 

 you work, will have to be horseflesh, but you must 

 be very careful to stipulate with your knacker that 

 he must send you nothing from an animal that has 

 been physicked. A 1 steam -jacketed cooker is econo- 

 mical and practically gives no trouble, as meat and 

 vegetable may be put in together and left to cook 



