56 THE AIREDALE 



take her away from the others, and while her ex- 

 ercise wants to be kept up by long walks she 

 should not be allowed to run or romp, or she may 

 miscarry. Her box should be fixed a few days 

 before the pups are to be born. Let it be large 

 enough for her to stretch out in, but not big 

 enough to give her room in which to move about, 

 or she may kill or injure the pups by treading on 

 them. 



Once in a while one has a bitch who neglects her 

 pups disgracefully, but the usual thing, in ter- 

 riers at least, is over attention to the sacrifice of 

 her own condition. A few bitches eat their new- 

 born pups. Fear is the motive, but once done 

 they seem to get the habit. Feeding quantities 

 of raw meat just before they are to whelp is the 

 best, but not a sure cure. Bad mothers, ones who 

 walk on their babies, neglect them, or turn can- 

 nibal, are very rare among the terriers. 



To return to the box : it should, as I have said, 

 be just large enough to be comfortable. The best 

 bedding for the whelping time is a bit of old car- 

 pet, to be substituted for straw when the family 

 has safely arrived. A little shelf, about three 

 inches from the bottom and two inches wide, 

 tacked round the box will prove to be good puppy 

 life insurance, for it keeps them from being 

 pressed to death against the sides of the nest. 



