BREEDING. 57 



and in my opinion it is much better that pups should 

 not be whelped earlier than March. Spring is the natural 

 breeding season, although under domestication dogs produce 

 young at all seasons of the year pet and house dogs 

 especially and even three litters within the year have 

 been recorded. Many owners of dogs like to have litters 

 as early in the year as possible, but I think this is 

 objectionable, for the reason that such have to be protected 

 against the severity of the weather too long; whereas 

 pups whelped in March, April, or May, can have the full 

 benefit of fresh air and sunshine as soon as ever they 

 leave the nest, and nothing tends more than this to en- 

 courage a healthy, vigorous growth. 



Some bitches are very prolific, producing more pups 

 in one litter than they can rear with justice to themselves 

 and their progeny. To provide against such a contingency, 

 a foster-dam should always be in readiness ; one of 

 about the size of the dam is preferable, but the breed 

 is perfectly immaterial. The important point is to be 

 sure she is thoroughly sound and healthy, and not too 

 old, for in the latter case the milk might not be so 

 nourishing and might sooner fail. She should be of a 

 temper to permit of being handled when necessary. 



From the first symptoms of oestrum until the bitch has 

 been warded, and through the whole period till the 

 possibility of a mesalliance has passed, there is natural 

 anxiety, and extra watchfulness is required lest she should, 

 by any carelessness, be allowed to escape from her confine- 

 ment and get astray, which she would be almost sure to 

 do, for bitches in season are disposed to stray, and seem 

 to develop at that time a remarkable cunning in eluding 



