LETTER XX. 223 



starting, call him by name occasionally when running 

 forward, and every time he returns to you when called, 

 give him a piece of biscuit ; pat him and caress him the 

 while. Follow this lesson for a week or ten days, and 

 the dog will soon begin not only to know but to love 

 his master. Young dogs should always be fed twice a 

 day — morning and evening. There are some persons to 

 whom dogs become more readily attached than to others. 

 The eye and the voice are a terror to some, as they are 

 also an attraction to other animals. A soft eye, beaming 

 with gentleness and good temper, is a point to which the 

 instinct of the canine race naturally directs them, nor 

 are they often deceived in its expression. Kind and be- 

 nevolent looks have as great an influence over the animal 

 as they have over the human species. They are, more- 

 over, a sure criterion of temper. 



The best food for all sporting dogs is old oatmeal, 

 boiled until it is as thick as a stiff rice pudding ; then 

 reduce it, by adding either milk or broth. Pot liquor is 

 very heating, and not fit for dogs which work hard. 

 Sheeps' paunches, also, well washed, and boiled after- 

 wards, are most heartening food, mixed with a little 

 oatmeal. In fact, I should select this as the very best 

 and most nutritious of anything that can be given to 

 them, and the liquor they are boiled in is not heating, 

 like pot liquor. Sporting dogs, after a hard day, should 

 have their feet washed in warm water, with a little salt 

 added; their food should be given warm, but not hot; 

 and they should be placed in a warm, comfortable kennel, 

 with plenty of clean straw. If wet, they should be rubbed 

 dry. Nothing restores a dog so quickly as warmth. 



A dog's state of health may be known by his nose. 



