192 BREEDING. 



by their age, the earlier they are born the more chance they have 

 in competition with their fellows of the same year. Hounds and 

 game dogs are wanted to begin work in the autumn, and as they 

 do not come to maturity till after they are a year old, they should 

 be whelped in the spring. This is more especially the case with 

 pointers and setters, which are then old enough to have their 

 education nearly completed at " pairing time " in the spring of 

 the next year, when only their breaking can properly be carried 

 on, as birds then lie like stones and allow the dog to be reached, 

 and properly kept under by his breaker. Toy dogs, and all small 

 dogs, which are reared in the house, may be bred almost at any 

 time of the year, but even they are stronger and healthier if born 

 in the summer months, because the puppies may then be supposed 

 to get more air and sun than they could do in the winter, when 

 the warmth of the fire is essential to their well-doing. 



DURATION OF HEAT. 



The dnration of the period of heat in the bitch is about three 

 weeks, during the middle week of which she will generally take 

 the dog ; but about the eleventh or twelfth day from the first 

 commencement, is, on the average, the best time to put her to 

 him. During the first three or four days of the middle week the 

 bitch " bleeds " considerablv from the vuha, and while this is 



