1 8 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



outside their kennel. Under any circumstances dog owners should be most careful to see 

 that the bedding is clean and dry, for nothing injures the gloss on a dog's coat more than a 

 bed of frowsy, damp straw. It is also found that the animal is very likely to be attacked 

 with rheumatism if his bench is in an unhealthy state. 



FEEDING. 



There is no doubt that a great deal of a dog's goodness goes in at the mouth. By this 

 we mean that a well-nourished young dog is certain to turn out a better animal than one 

 whose wants in this respect have been neglected. The great secrets in feeding are firstly, 

 wholesome food ; and secondly, variety in diet. We do not, certainly, advocate the feeding of 

 dogs wholly upon meat ; such a diet is most injudicious, as it heats them, and in the case of 

 sporting dogs injures their nose. Twice or three times a week, however, we do recommend 

 meat to be given, in addition to the meal or biscuits which form the staple portion of the 

 daily meal. Unsound, maggoty meat, such as we have seen supplied in more than one kennel, 

 is sure to affect health sooner or later, and dogs will thrive better on a small quantity of 

 sound food than upon an unlimited supply of bad quality. By a proper arrangement with his 

 butcher, an owner can generally be supplied with the right sort of animal food upon really 

 reasonable terms. 



A great subject of discussion amongst breeders is how many times a day dogs should be 

 fed. In the case of old dogs, we consider once a day quite enough, if they are given as 

 much as they can eat then. In such a case the evening is the best time for feeding, for 

 many reasons; especially as it allows the dogs to be put by comfortably for the night, and 

 they will generally go to sleep quietly after feeding. Puppies, however, require food more 

 frequently, and one or two extra meals should be supplied them. 



The meat biscuits which are so largely used in most kennels form excellent diet, and can be 

 given dry or soaked. If crushed up and steeped in boiling gravy, very few dogs will refuse them 

 even at first, and after a time all get to like them. The chief objection to meat biscuits is, 

 that so much depends upon the quality of meat contained in them ; for if it is bad it is worse 

 than useless as food for dogs. There are, however, good houses which supply biscuits whose quality 

 is in all points above suspicion, and from experience gained in our own kennels we can say with 

 certainty that such biscuits are both wholesome and nutritious. Another good food as a basis 

 of diet is coarse oatmeal, which should be thoroughly well boiled, or it wijl disarrange the dog's 

 stomach. Stale bread and ship biscuit, if not weevily, are used for changes in diet with good 

 results, but naturally the meat portion of the food is that upon which most depends. Sheeps" 

 heads, horse-flesh, bullocks' tripes, paunches, and liver, are all excellent additions to the meal 

 and biscuit. We recommend that the meal be boiled in the liquor in which the heads and 

 horse-flesh have been previously cooked, and the flesh chopped up and added to it in more 

 or less quantity, as the dog's condition requires. The biscuits which already contain meat can 

 be soaked, and the tripe and paunches mixed with them. 



Rice is a great deal given in some kennels, but its fat-producing properties are so far 

 in excess of its bone and muscle-producing constituents, that except as an occasional change, 

 we do not recommend it for general use. Pearl-barley is superior to rice in every way, and 

 we have got flesh on many a sickly dog with this food combined with scraps. Boiled potatoes, 

 if crushed and mixed with gravy, are also a gopd change. 



J-iver is a food which dogs are very fond of, and it is a first-rate addition when the 

 bowels are at all confined. It costs considerably more than the other meats we have mentioned, 



