32 The Dog Book 



sir, if your terrier had not been so fat." We said that it was impossible to 

 keep her down and that she had but one biscuit a day. "Show it to her, 

 show it — don't let her eat it!" On the other hand, with some dogs one 

 might almost shovel the food into them and then they would never be more 

 than passably fat, for, like ourselves, it is not the heaviest eater that is the 

 stoutest person at the table. 



To keep a dog clean requires washing or brushing, or both. The less 

 washing the better, and unless the dog is a white one and looks dirty or 

 smells a little doggy, stick to the brush as long as possible. There are many 

 dog brushes, just as we have a variety of dogs' coats. Collies, setters, and 

 those with a good quality of coat will do well enough with the better sort of 

 dandy-brush, such as is used in the stable. The fibres are long enough and 

 coarse enough to penetrate to the skin and clean that well. Then for a top 

 polish the bristle-glove or the brush with the flexible leather and strap-back 

 will answer admirably, polishing the coat and thoroughly separating it, so 

 that it shows to the best advantage. The finer and shorter the coat, the 

 finer the brush that may be used, until it comes to the long-coated toys such 

 as those of the Pomeranians, spaniels, or Yorkshires. For Pomeranians a 

 special brush is made, with good length of bristles and not all the same 

 length; for Yorkshires, a fine bristle and a rounded front. As to the Yorkshire 

 terriers such as we see at shows they are quite unsuitable for the house, as 

 they have to be kept in the most artificial manner so as to grow and preserve 

 the coat as we see it on exhibition specimens. The toy spaniels are diflFerent, 

 however, their coats being of moderate length, of more substance, and not 

 so liable to break when being brushed. In all long-coated dogs be par- 

 ticular to comb or brush the coat thoroughly at the back of the ears, and 

 also about the hind-quarters, for it will otherwise become matted. 



When it is deemed necessary to wash a dog, use the best quality of 

 soap, whether special dog-soap or toilet-soap. The strong common soaps 

 take the polish from the coat, and it will take a day or so to come on again. 

 Use plenty of water, regulating its warmth according to the breed of dog 

 and its ability to stand cold water. If the dog is not averse to the bath, 

 begin at the head and lather well, being as quick as possible in the operation 

 and doing it thoroughly. If you are using a carbolic soap or any flea-killer 

 of strong quality, follow immediately with a plain soap lather and wash 

 out. Have ready another bath or sufficient water to refill the one being 

 used, and let this be colder than the first — ^with more than the chill off, and 



