96 REARING PUPPIES. 



fearful that if something is not done at once the little thing 

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

 down his throat some powerful drug that but tf o 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 can 

 only account for the success of their neighbor who raises 

 every 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 that all who are otherwise should be relig- 

 iously excluded from the breeding kennel. We have bred 

 dogs for many years, and have been uniformly successful, at 

 least so far as bringing our puppies safely thiough their early 

 days is concerned, and we have accomplished this or rather 

 it has been accomplished without any trouble or care upon 

 ourpait by simply leaving them alone and trusting to nature 

 the entire charge of their welfare. True, we always gave 

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

 as the pups were a few days old removed them from their 

 stall and made their bed upon the bare 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 do 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 weathtr, but at all times give them plenty 

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

 get fresh earth to eat when they wish. After weaning, we 

 accustom them to a diet of Indian or oatmeal, 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 regulator of the 

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



