220 DOGS 



Free ventilation prevents the boards from rotting, 

 and the damp from soaking into the straw. The 

 wheat-straw should be in plenty and frequently 

 renewed, and in cold weather there should be the 

 luxury of a rug or piece of blanket, carefully dried 

 and aired. From time to time the kennel must be 

 washed out w^ith soft soap, and scrupulously dried 

 before the bedding is renewed. Some people hold 

 to aromatic pine-shavings as a safeguard against 

 vermin, but they are not such comfortable lying 

 as wheat-straw. 



As to feeding dogs on chain, they cannot be in- 

 dulged as those that have liberty. And there is no 

 greater mistake than tying them down to a mono- 

 tonous diet. Oatmeal porridge is excellent, so are 

 dog biscuits ; but to keep a prisoner in fair condi- 

 tion, his palate should be tempted with variety. On 

 the other hand, you should appeal to the good 

 sense of the servants, who are apt to fill his platter 

 with the refuse of the table. Give him bones to 

 amuse himself with, by all means, but courses of 

 cold entrees are sure to upset his digestion, and 

 breed all manner of skin diseases. Old dogs should 

 have a bellyful once in the day ; the staple should 

 be hot oatmeal and these biscuits. Meat should be 

 given occasionally, though of course there is meat 

 in the dog biscuits, which are both wholesome and 

 nourishing. Confinement is apt to make a dog 

 costive, and nothing gives easier relief in a mild 

 case than liver, or boiled vegetables mixed with 

 the oatmeal porridge. As for puppies shut up in 



