52 KENNEL SECRETS. 



but after that they can be fed three times a day. For 

 instance, the mother being taken from them at about 

 seven in the morning and kept away until night, they 

 should be fed shortly after nine, at noon and about 

 three. Then three hours later — about six — the mother 

 should be admitted to them to remain until the follow- 

 ing morning, when she should be again excluded until 

 six at night. 



While oftentimes the weaning can safely be delayed 

 until the fourth week — to be completed during the 

 fifth — in many instances it is necessary to begin it in 

 the third week. And this is the rule with the largest 

 varieties, but comparatively few members of which have 

 a great abundance of milk at any time, while with 

 the majority the supply declines soon after the second 

 week. In fact breeders of these varieties must ever be 

 on the alert and prepared for this accident, which 

 may occur even earlier than this ; and it can properly 

 be said that with them the sooner the puppies learn 

 to eat and the weaning is well advanced the better. 



Although all puppies should be early familiarized with 

 the taste of meat as already advised, during the weaning 

 they should be fed on cow's milk that has been scalded. 

 And it will not be necessary to dilute it after they have 

 been taught to take it readily. 



The weaning over, and the mother excluded from her 

 puppies nights as well as days, they should as a rule be 

 fed sparingly every third hour during waking hours — the 

 first time at daylight and the last at eight or nine at 

 night. 



Scalded milk will do for the first feeding. 



The next, to be given about eight a.m., should be pre- 

 pared as follows : Soak in water a few pieces of stale 

 bread that have been well baked the second time until 



