204 REARING. 



or -watclied till slie is observed to lick all alike. On the next day, 

 all but one of ber own puppies may be witbdi^awn, with an in- 

 terval of one hour or two between each two, and taking care that 

 she does not see what is done. After two days the last may also 

 be taken away, and then she acts to her foster-puppies in every 

 way the same as to her own. Some people squeeze a little of the 

 bitch's milk out of her teats, and rub this over the puppies, but 

 I have never seen any advantage in the plan, and, as I have never 

 had any difficulty in getting puppies adopted, I do not recommend 

 any other than that I have described. In most cases the foster- 

 bitch is strange to those about her, having been brought from her 

 own home, and in that case a muzzle is often required for the 

 safety of the servants watching her as well as for the whelps ; but 

 if she seems quiet and good-tempered, it may be dispensed with 

 even here. 



FEEDING BEFORE WEANING. 



The food of whelps before weaning should be confined at first 

 to cow's milk, or, if this is very rich, reduced with a little water. 

 It is better to boil it, and it should be sweetened with fine sugar, 

 as for the human palate. As much of this as the whelps -svill 

 take may be given them three times a day, or every four hours 

 if they are a large litter. In the fourth week get a sheep's head, 

 boil it in a quart of water till the meat comes completely to pieces, 

 then carefully take away every particle of bone, and break up the 

 meat into fragments no larger than a small horse-bean ; mix all 



