96 REARING PUPPIES. 



fearful that if something is not o> ne at once the little thing 

 will die, they, wiih the best intentions in the world, pour 

 down his throat some powerful drug that but too often is 

 sure to cause the very result they fear, and then, forsooth, 

 they wonder why it is that the good die so young, and C3n 

 only account for the succ ss of their neighbor who raises 

 c very one of a mongrel litter by the fallacious reasoning that 

 the blue bloods are of a higher organization, and conse- 

 quently more delicate and harder to rear. That this is not 

 true in most cases can be easily demonstrated by following 

 the advice here given, and giving your high-toned litter the 

 same chance for life that your neighbor gives his mongrels. 

 We are writing only concerning mature and healthy ani- 

 mals, believing tint all who are otherwise should be relig- 

 iously excluded from the breeding kennel. We have bred 

 &< 2 s f° r niiny years, and have been uniformly successful, at 

 least so far as bringing our puppies safely th ough their eirly 

 days is concerned, and we have ace mplished this— or rather 

 it has been accompl shed— without any trouble or care upon 

 ourpait by simply leaving thf m alone and trusting to nature 

 the entire charge of the : r welfare. True, we always gave 

 the mother plenty of healthful food and exercise, and as soon 

 a*3 the pups were a few da 1 s old removed them from their 

 stall and made their bed upon the b ire ground, and there 

 they had to stay until they were weaned. We were often 

 ashamed of their dirty appearance, but never of their health. 

 We never wash a puppy. We d > not believe that it is of any 

 benefit to them, except in looks, and we believe it is often a 

 source of trouble in that it induces a cold which may bring 

 disease and death. Of course we keep them sheltered from 

 cold and inclement weather, but at all times give them plenty 

 of room on the ground, where they can dig in the dirt nnd 

 get fresh earth to eat when they wish. A'ter wi auing, we 

 accustom them to a diet of Indian or oa meal, well cooked 

 and mixed with plenty of thick sour milk. This we have 

 found to be the best possible thing to expel the worms that 

 many times infest them. It is also the best regul tor of the 

 bowels that we have ever tried, as by a little care in increas. 



