10 



THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



to do well in them, except when in delicate health, when naturally they were removed into 

 warmer quarters. The size we built each stall in our kennels was ten feet deep by eight 

 feet wide, and the dogs which inhabited them were Bulldogs and Bull-terriers, of from 

 thirty-five to fifty pounds weight. We mention this, as it is desirable to explain to inex- 

 perienced readers as nearly as possible what arrangements were made, so as to enable them 

 to judge for themselves of what size to erect their kennels ; as, of course, this depends upon 

 the variety of dog they propose keeping as well as upon the accommodation at hand. The 

 stalls should be covered in by a lean-to roof for at least three-quarters of their depth from 

 the wall, as wet ground is one of the worst things possible for a dog to stand on for long ; 

 and a wooden bench at the back of each must be provided. There is no occasion for this 

 bench to be raised as high from the ground as the one alluded to in the description of the 

 in-door kennel, for in the present instance the dog is not expected to sleep on it, at all events 

 in cold weather. Three pieces of board each a foot wide and a yard long firmly nailed 

 crossways on a couple of pieces of three-inch quartering forms an admirable bench of this 

 description. The roof should be of weather boarding, covered over with the best felt, well 



FIG. 5. RANGE OF KENNELS. 



tarred and sprinkled with coarse sand or gravel. Corrugated iron roofing is most objection- 

 able, for in the summer the extent to which it attracts the sun renders the life of the 

 unfortunate creature underneath it simply intolerable ; and most other roofings cost a con- 

 siderable sum of money, which, as we have said before, it would be bad policy for a beginner 

 to expend. Whilst upon this subject, however, we may remark that a tile roof well "pointed" 

 is by far superior to all others, and in appearance it is certainly second to none. Under this 

 description of roofing an owner may rest assured that his pets are as cool in summer and 

 warm in winter as they can possibly be without the aid of artificial heat, which of course 

 cannot be applied to out-door kennels. Thatch is cool in summer and warm in winter also, 

 but it affords such a welcome retreat for all sorts of vermin that its adoption cannot be 

 recommended. 



The knotty subject of sleeping accommodation for dogs up to at least fifty pounds weight 

 in such a range of kennels is easily settled, if the master of the establishment is not too 

 ambitious in his views. A common petroleum barrel, which can be obtained in numbers 

 of almost any oilman, with a hole cut in one end, forms a most admirable kennel for dogs 

 inhabiting these stalls. It is highly desirable that the barrel should be purified from the 

 effluvia of the petroleum to as great an extent as possible, and this is easily managed by 

 placing a handful of lighted straw inside after the hole has been cut to admit the dog. 

 This will ignite any petroleum which may be left in it, and when this is accomplished a 

 thorough rinsing out, followed by a stand in the fresh air for a day, renders it fit for any 



