138 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



weeks, or from fifty-eight to sixty-five days. Puppies are 

 not likely to be born alive before the fiftieth day, though 

 they may be delayed several days without any apparent 

 detriment in many cases. The average period of gesta- 

 tion is about sixty-three days. 



There is room for the greatest discretion in the man- 

 agement of the brood bitch, and common sense with a few 

 guiding scientific principles are worth volumes of rules 

 without reasons, for no two cases precisely resemble each 

 other. 



For the first month there is so little change in the 

 bitch, the foetuses being very small, that there seems to be 

 no special reason for departing from the usual practices in 

 the management. At the same time there may be periods 

 when the close observer will see that the animal is disin- 

 clined to exercise, needs not only abundance of food, but 

 some special change, etc. It is during the first six weeks 

 that plenty of exercise can be given, including galloping, 

 provided the bitch is not given to abort. If so, she must 

 be exercised gently. 



Her appetite may or may not be increased. 



There can be little doubt that if a bitch is engaged in 

 her proper occupation — e. g., a hunting-dog in hunting — 

 it will be better, or shall we say may be better, for the 

 psychical development of the offspring. This the author 

 believes is borne out by both theory and practice. And, 

 at all events, every animal enjoys its life most and thrives 

 best when following its natural instincts — i. e., when it has 

 some occupation congenial to it. 



The last three weeks are the most important in them- 

 selves, and for this period the bitch should have been pre- 



