208 REARING. 



sucking presented to them, tliey take other food better, Avhereas, 

 if they are allowed to suck away at empty teats, they only fill 

 themselves with wind, and then lose their appetites for food of 

 any kind. But, having determined to wean them, there are 

 several important particulars which must be attended to, or the 

 result will be a failure, at all events for some time. That is to 

 say, the puppies will fall away in flesh, and will cease to grow 

 at the same rate as before. In almost all cases, what is called 

 the " milk-fat " disappears after weaning, but still it is de- 

 sirable to keep some flesh on their bones, and this can only 

 be done by attending to the following directions, which apply 

 to dogs of all kinds, but are seldom rigidly carried out, except 

 with the grej^hound, whose size and strength are so imjjortant 

 as to call for every care to procure them in a high degree. In 

 hounds, as well as pointers and setters, a check in the growth 

 is of just as much consequence ; but as they are not tested to- 

 gether as to their speed and stoutness so closely as greyhoimds 

 are, the slight defects produced in puppyhood are not detected, 

 and, as a consequence, the same attention is not paid. Never- 

 theless, as most of these points require only care, and cost little 

 beyond it, they ought to be carried out almost as strictlj^ in the 

 kennels of the foxhound and pointer as in those devoted to the 

 longtails. These chief and cardinal elements of success are, — 

 1st, a warm, clean, and dry lodging ; 2ndly, suitable food ; 

 3rdly, regularity in feeding ; and 4thly, a provision for sufiicient 

 exercise. 



