ON REARING PUPS 19 



place, is not generally well-behaved just at first, so that 

 the buyer of a puppy, warranted trained, ought to give 

 it a little law before deciding that its education is not 

 properly complete. I am sometimes asked if there 

 is not some magical preparation which cures dogs of 

 untidy habits, but am compelled to own that, in 

 the present state of our knowledge, such a thing not 

 only does not exist, but does not seem likely to be 

 discovered ! ^Small puppies, under three or five months, 

 are physically incapable of resisting any impulse, there- 

 fore it is quite useless to attempt to train them too 

 soon. Comparison between the sexes in this matter is 

 sometimes made ; some preferring males as house dogs, 

 and others females. I fancy there is not the least differ- 

 ence, and certainly, given a promising and intelligent 

 individual, a little boy pup is as easy to teach manners 

 to as a little girl, and per contra. Much depends upon 

 character ; here and there we find some toy dogs which 

 have mean, cringing spirits, and these are generally the 

 ones which won't go out in rain. They may be vul- 

 garly described as " sneaks," and I would not keep a dog 

 of this description. Mere timidity is a different thing 

 altogether, and can be eradicated by kindness and 

 judicious petting. The " sneak " is no companion, and 

 should not be bred from. It will not follow well out 

 of doors, is seldom a good mother, and is apt to transmit 

 its faults of disposition to its offspring. 



CHAPTER V 



ON FEEDING TOYS 



IN feeding toys, variety is essential, and it is also de- 

 sirable to give them food which will nourish and support 

 the constitution without fattening them unduly, or 

 heating the blood. It is far better to give a toy a very 

 small dinner, as far as bulk is concerned, of roast meat 

 cut up ; or a little boiled mutton and rice ; or a bit of 



