GENERAL DIETARY. 69 



For the heartiest meal of the day — at about six p.m. — 

 boiled rice should be the principal constituent. Over this 

 should be poured a little gravy, and then should be added 

 about one-third as much finely chopped beef or mutton as 

 there is rice, also a small quantity of vegetables, and all 

 the ingredients be thoroughly mixed. 



For a change, bread, plain crackers, "tea sops," beef or 

 mutton broth, and scraps from the table if they are free 

 from grease and pungent condiments, as pepper and 

 mustard. 



Of this diet, which is as well suited to other toys which 

 have but little out-door exercise, a more extended dis- 

 cussion will appear in the part devoted to " Exhibiting 

 Dogs." 



It is unnecessary to consider at length the diet of short- 

 coated toys, as Italian greyhounds, for theirs should be 

 much the same as terriers ; but being less susceptible to 

 meat rather more of it can be allowed them — yet not 

 nearly the quantity which would be safe for hardier 

 breeds. 



As to the quantity of food that should be given pup- 

 pies at each feeding, without considering variety, no rule 

 can be fixed other than that already laid down — little and 

 often. And manifestly keen observation must be backed 

 with no small amount of common sense or one will stray 

 at this point, for he must see that his puppies keep in 

 good " growing flesh," he must never feed so little as to 

 leave them crying from hunger, and he must stop while 

 yet they might eat more. 



Beginners in puppy-raising should start with the con- 

 viction that the tendency of almost every inexperienced 

 person is to overfeed ; also, that the appetite of puppies 

 cannot be considered a safe indication of the quantity of 

 food actually required by them. Appreciating these facts 



