HEALTH. 187 



DrPORTANCE OF HEALTH IN BOTH SIHE AND DAM. 



Health in both parents should be especially insisted upon, 

 and in the bitch in particular there should be a sufficientl}^ strong 

 constitution, to enable her to sustain the growth of her puppies 

 before birth, and to produce milk enough for them afterwards, 

 though in this last particular she may of course be assisted by a 

 foster-nurse. 



BEST AGE TO BREED FROM. 



The best ago to breed from, in almost all breeds, is soon after 

 the sire and dam have each reached maturity. When, however, 

 the pi'oduce is desired to be very small, the older both animals 

 are, the more likely this result is, — excepting in the last litter 

 which the bitch has, for this being often composed of only one 

 or two puppies, they are not smaller than the average, and 

 sometimes even larger. All bitches should be allowed to reach 

 full maturity before they are allowed to breed, and this period 

 varies according to size, small dogs being adult at one year, 

 whereas large ones are still in their puppyhood at that time, and 

 take fully twice as long to develop their proportions. The mastiff 

 is barely full grown at two years ; large hounds at a year and a 

 half ; greyhounds at the same time ; pointers and setters from 



