io A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



comfortably afloat on the sea of life. The disregard of 

 a pet dog's feelings at which I have hinted may take 

 the form of sending a tiny bitch out to the stable to 

 pup under the care of a coachman or groom, and this 

 may or may not be cruel according to whether she has 

 any affection for the man or any knowledge of her 

 temporary quarters ; personally, I should consider it 

 an unkind thing to do under any circumstances. 



The beginning of the toy bitch's trouble is apparent 

 to her owner almost as soon as to herself. She pants, 

 and runs about excitedly, scratching here and there, 

 making wildly impossible and absurd nests for her 

 puppies in all kinds of unsuitable places. This may last 

 for days, but is generally only done for a few hours 

 before the puppies arrive, which, by the way, will be 

 nine weeks after mating. Some bitches shriek in a 

 very distressing way before they pup, and, as a rule, 

 food is refused, and the little mother that is to be is 

 often sick. No anxiety, however, need be felt. As 

 soon as she really means business she will quiet down 

 and settle in the place prepared for her, which by choice 

 should be a big, deep arm-chair, with a white blanket 

 any old thing will do that is clean folded in the seat 

 of it, and over this an old cotton sheet, likewise folded, 

 and so secured that the bitch cannot scrabble it up in 

 the foolish endeavour to improve human bed-making 

 which always possesses dogs, and, if indulged, lands 

 them in desperate discomfort on the top of a kind of 

 volcano of rags ! 



In nine cases out of ten a bitch chooses to pup in 

 the night, and the hours often seem very long, while 

 she may lie and sleep in evident uneasiness, getting up 

 every now and then to make her bed, and panting as if 

 exhausted. It is quite safe to leave her in this condi- 

 tion for twelve hours, but if by that time she seems to 

 be getting weaker and no puppies have come, the vet's 

 services should be requisitioned. Probably she will 

 not eat, but she may be offered a little cold milk. On 

 no account give her anything hot, externally or inter- 



