The Dog in the House 31 



or sores; our almost universal remedy for these being crude petroleum and 

 sulphur mixed to the consistency of thick cream. Stick-sulphur, however, 

 is of no more use than a stone. 



How often to feed a dog depends upon age and weather. As we feed 

 children oftener than we do ourselves, and we eat more in winter than in 

 summer, so, too, in the case of a puppy of two months old, feed it at least 

 five times a day — the last meal late in the evening, and the first as early as 

 possible in the morning. In another month or so drop off the late meal, 

 extending the time between the day meals. At the age of five months 

 three meals a day should suffice, and in another month or so, if it is warm 

 weather, a morning and night meal will be ample. Here again we must be 

 governed by considerations of the breed and the individual. Some breeds 

 you want as large as possible, while others should be of moderate size, and 

 still others are better when as small as possible. To make a big man, it is 

 of no use to stint the boy until he is eighteen years of age and then stuff 

 him. His best growing age is past then, and so it is with a St. Bernard or 

 any dog whose growth we wish to be as large as possible — collie, setter, 

 great Dane, and others in the same category. Keep a dog of this kind grow- 

 ing continuously from the time he leaves his dam till he is a year old, espe- 

 cially so in the case of the larger breeds, as they are slow to attain full height, 

 whereas collies, setters, and the like have pretty well reached their growth at 

 ten months, after which they mature. Terriers and such as can be made 

 too large by over-feeding should be brought to three or two meals a day 

 sooner than large dogs. Toys it is better to feed with non-stimulating 

 food than to limit the meals too much. Use cereals with a smaller quantity 

 of meat, or rice and fish, the idea being not to grow a dog devoid of shape, 

 as will be the case if it never has a full meal. For these small breeds the 

 toy-dog biscuits are very useful when fed plain or with a little soup or gravy, 

 there being meat enough in them for ordinary use. 



The exercise of a little judgment in this regard is the best advice that 

 can be given. One should always remember that he is injuring his dog 

 more by getting him fat than by cutting out the meat in his dish, and having 

 him smell and leave his food. He will eat when he is hungry. Some will 

 get along on almost nothing. We once had an Irish terrier that we took to 

 Southport show, in England, where she was given equal first in the variety 

 class, the judges being two well-known gentlemen. One of them, either 

 the late Mr. Lort or the late John Douglas, said: "You would have won. 



