94 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



lar craze, which must be in the nature of the case fleeting, 

 or pecuniary gain to a few, can not be sufficient warrant 

 for disregarding, as this implies, the importance of the 

 work of generations of breeders that have passed away by 

 thus attempting to replace their well-earned results in 

 the formation of noble breeds of dogs by new varieties 

 without new merits. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF DOGS IN HEALTH. 



Our object should be to develop dogs to the utmost, 

 both physically and psychically. Mongrel specimens are 

 so much more easily kept in health that the directions 

 given in this part of the work will be supposed to refer to 

 the most highly-bred animals, unless otherwise stated. 



Management resolves itself chiefly into housing, feed- 

 ing, exercise, grooming, etc. ; amusement, training, and 

 occupation ; also breeding in all its aspects. 



On every one of these topics the most diverse — indeed, 

 totally opposite — opinions have been expressed, which is 

 probably to be explained by the limited experience of the 

 writers and their inability to perceive that the application 

 of principles must vary with circumstances. 



So that every reader may be able to judge for himself, 

 the writer proposes to lay stress on principles rather than 

 their application, since only sound judgment will ever in- 

 sure good practice, and the formation of that judgment, in 

 so far as it can be formed by the perusal of any work, is best 

 secured by clearly setting forth those fundamental princi- 

 ples of Nature which must underlie all applications. When 

 these are distinctly grasped, " rule of thumb " will be im- 

 possible, and all experience will prove really useful, as it 



