EXERCIbE. 161 



warm room twenty-two out of twenty-four hours ; or are, 

 perhaps, fastened by the necks for many months together, 

 without any other exercise than what the length of their 

 chain allows them 1 In such cases, if they have plenty of 

 air, and are moderately fed, the want of exercise shews it- 

 self by mange or canker. If the repletion does not escape 

 by this outlet, then the effects become apparent by an enor- 

 mous increase of fat, which usually ends in asthma and dropsy. 



Nothing affords a stronger conviction of the necessity of 

 exercise to animals than their natural love of play, which 

 was given as a principal means of preserving health. In ci- 

 ties and great towns it is a very excellent plan to teach pup- 

 pies to play with a ball ; by which means they will exercise 

 themselves very well in wet weather, or when they cannot 

 be taken out; and, when early taught it, will continue 

 <hrou2-h life attached to the exertion. Those who will not 

 amuse themselves in this way, yet may all be taught to fetch 

 and carry. A very mistaken opinion prevails, that, because 

 a dog is turned into a yard or court an hour, or half an hour, 

 that he exercises himself; on the contrary, in general he re- 

 gards this as a punishment, and sits shivering at the door the 

 whole time. 



Dogs are more disposed to take exercise in company than 

 alone : emulation induces them to run and frolic with each 

 other; it is prudent, therefore, to allow every favourite a 

 companion. For sporting dogs, constant exercise is also essen- 

 tially necessary. When they are laid by for the season, if 

 they are close kennelled, it is very common, when they 

 are as-ain wanted, to find them fat, with little wind, and 

 easily fatigued ; for not only are they out of the habit of exer- 

 tion, but the muscles of the body have actually become 

 lessened, and hence weakened by inactivity. Exercise im- 

 proves the wind, by taking up the surrounding fat from the 

 heart and chest; thus allowing the lungs to expand more 

 freely. But, whenever circumstances absolutely preclude 

 exercise altogether, then greater circumspection should be 



