181 

 that nature intended exercise as one of the most natu- 

 ral means of encouraging health. See tlie article 

 Exercise in Horses. 



It is a very excellent plan to learn young puppies 

 to play with a ball ; by this means they will exercise 

 themselves very weH; and continue through life at* 

 tached to tlie exertion : those v. ho will not amuse 

 themselves in this way, yet may all be taught to be 

 fond of fetching. A very mistaken opinion prevails, 

 that, because a dog is turned out into a yard or 

 court an hour or half an hour, that he exercises ; on 

 the contrary, in general he looks on this as a punish- 

 ment, and sits shivering at the door the whole time. 



Dogs are more disposed to take exercise in com- 

 pany than alone : emulation induces them to run and 

 frolic with each other. For sporting dogs, constant 

 exercise is essentially necessary ; otherwise, when 

 they are laid by for the season, and continue in con- 

 finenient, when they are again wanted they will be 

 found fat, without wind, and easily fatigued ; for 

 not only are they less accustomed to exercise, but the 

 muscles of the body actually become lessened, and 

 hence v eakencd bv want of exercise. Exercise im- 

 proves the wind, by taking up the surrounding fat 

 from the heart and chest, and thus allowing the lung? , 

 to expand. But wherever circumstances preclude 

 exercise altogether, then greater circumspection 

 should be used in the feeding : it should be moderate, 

 and as miuch as may be composed of vegetables. 



Dogs deprived of exercise are very subject to lUs ; 

 and those who have been long confined, and then 

 suffered to exercise, are equuiiy liable t<* them. This 



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