OF PUPPIES. Ill 



weeks of their existence in holes and dark caverns. These 

 org-ans only develope themselves when their owners begin 

 to be sensible of their wants. At this early age, the whole 

 skin presents a beautiful pink tinge, but which gradually dis- 

 appears, and gives place to a clear white in most parts of the 

 body ; while the retemucosum of such parts as are intended 

 to exhibit a dark hue, as the roof of the mouth, paws, nose, 

 &c., at the same time assumes its intended colour. The up- 

 per milk or temporary teeth, both cutting and grinding, 

 appear first, and are tolerably complete at a month old ; the 

 others appear later, by which arrangement the teats of 

 the mother do not suffer : the milk teeth give place to the 

 permanent set at six or seven months. The testes do not 

 descend into the scrotum till the third, fourth, or fifth week, 

 but they may be felt a week previously within the abdomen, 

 on each side of the penis. Dogs are often born with super- 

 numerary claws, among sportsmen called dew claws : some 

 of these have a corresponding metacarpal or metatarsal bone, 

 others are appendant only to the integuments. In either 

 case they should be taken off early. — See Claws and Crop- 

 ping. 



When many young of a litter are preserved, they should 

 be early accustomed to lap : milk which has been boiled and 

 slightly sweetened is proper ; when given raw it is apt to purge, 

 and sweetening it makes it more nearly resemble the mother's 

 milk. Meat, also, cut fine may be early given, as it will mate- 

 rially save the mother, and benefit the progeny also. Clean 

 litter, free access of air, and room for exercise, are essentials to 

 their well doing. Young dogs should be early accustomed to 

 restraint, with a chain and collar ; otherwise, when they are 

 accidentally tied up, it is apt to occasion great alarm : I have 

 seen fits follow this. Confinement, however, under any cir- 

 cumstance, should be only occasional, and never long conti- 

 nued : thousands are rendered weak, ricketty, and have their 

 feet spread out into thin narrow phalanges, by close and early 

 confinement. 



Young dogs are liable to several diseases that are peculiar 



