CARE OF THE BROOD BITCH. 135 



dition as fits him for doing tlie work for which the breed 

 is intended, and should in no case be overburdened with 

 flesh, soft in muscle, or suffer from any derangement of 

 health. 



When a dog is placed in the public stud the drain on 

 his vital powers may be so great that unless unusual pre^ 

 cautions are taken the dog may be broken down in health, 

 or, at all events, become prematurely old, not to speak of 

 the natural result of impaired vitality, etc., in the off- 

 spring. Of such dogs the greatest care must be taken 

 even to the minutest details. They may require at times 

 very concentrated and nutritious food — as eggs, strong 

 broths, and even such special helps as cod-liver oil, phos- 

 phates (containing iron), etc. It is to be remembered, 

 however, that such frequent use of a stud dog as to require 

 such adjuvants, especially if he be in his prime, clearly 

 proves that he is being overtaxed. 



The extent to which a dog, with a bitch in season near, 

 will lose flesh in a few days indicates that the stud dog 

 should be kept so far away from bitches in this condition 

 that he will not be aware of their presence, and thus have 

 no superfluous source of drain on his vital powers. 



Every stud dog should have periods of sexual rest to 

 allow of natural recuperation — somewhat analogous to 

 turning a horse out to pasture. 



THE CARE OF THE BROOD BITCH. 



The bitch, still more than the dog, if possible, should 

 be at her best in every way before being mated. She 

 should be fully matured. In the author's opinion, a 

 bitch should never be bred in her first season, no matter 



