The Dog in the House 41 



dozen terriers which could not be turned in together Hke a lot of setters 

 or collies. Separate kennels were a necessity, although it was quite possible 

 to have the dogs together in pairs without permitting them to test each 

 other's game qualities. The basis of operations consisted of a well-built 

 disused poultry-house, fifty feet long, about thirty feet of which was clear of 

 obstructions, and a large barn divided by a good partition, between the stable 

 portion and what had presumably been the coach-house end. 



Economy was desirable, as length of occupancy was problematical, and 

 we proceeded to make as useful a copy of the most elaborate and expensive 

 kennels as we could devise. The poultry-house from between the car- 

 penter's bench shown at the left-hand lower corner and the still remaining 

 chicken-pen at the farther end we divided into four pens, each slightly over 

 six by nine. The uprights along the passageway side are sunk through 

 the brick floor, but with the exception of the foot-wide board on the near 

 side of the first division all boards are slightly clear of the floor to permit 

 of free flushing or sweeping. The doors slide or are pushed to the side on 

 rollers, and the passageway is always kept clear. The lower portion of the 

 wire partitions is half-inch mesh, while the upper three feet is ordinary 

 two-inch poultry netting. The latter we propose changing for four-foot 

 netting slightly stronger, and cleating it to a strip or board at the top. Some 

 dogs can clear the five feet or climb up the netting. The floor of the house 

 is of brick, but we had found that dogs running in and out of the house to 

 the outside inclosure brought in dirt which clung to the bricks and made the 

 floor very hard to clean. We therefore concluded to make a false bottom of 

 strips, and this was done as follows: Three pieces of scantling were put 

 down lengthwise in an inclosure and, the strips having all been cut to an 

 equal length, two were nailed down to keep the scantlings steady and equi- 

 distant, and the whole floor then laid down as seen in the photograph. 

 Finally the floor was sawn into three snug-fitting sections for easy removal. 

 It is a mere form to sweep the floor daily, and about the only dirt that accu- 

 mulates below the strips is in the section nearest the outlet to the yard. This 

 is taken up twice a week and the entire floor once a week and scrubbed with 

 disinfectant. The sleeping-boxes are old travelling-boxes, and in winter a 

 strip of sacking is nailed along the top, sufficient depth being allowed to 

 cover the opening. There is rather too much window in this house for cold 

 nights, and we propose getting up some light frame covered with sheathing- 

 paper, perhaps, and hinged so that it can be easily raised or lowered into 



