EXERCISE. 99 



shine are afforded, fanciers of experience generally let 

 their bitches " go over " if they come in use in the fall or 

 early winter. 



It follows, therefore, that puppies which cannot have 

 constant liberty must be provided with yards — the 

 largest possible — that they may be out and playing 

 about on pleasant days. And at least one side of thesj 

 enclosures — preferably that facing the master's house — 

 should be of wire netting or narrow boards nailed on per- 

 pendicularly, with spaces of not less than an inch between 

 them and extending to the ground, that the puppies may 

 easily see out while on all fours, for were they to stand 

 much on their hind legs to look over or through the sides 

 they would be quite sure to suffer deformity in those 

 parts. 



The yards should be invariably so located that all parts 

 of them will receive direct rays of the sun during a consid- 

 erable portion of every day, because it is utterly impossi- 

 ble for a puppy to thrive and grow strong and rugged in 

 quarters to which they are inaccessible ; moreover, where 

 the sun cannot enter disease is sure to be lurking. 



The terribly destructive influences of filth on health 

 must also be duly appreciated, and provisions made for free 

 drainage and to favor easy and thorough cleaning. While 

 if the yards are covered with loam, gravel, sand or other 

 material that is capable of absorbing moisture, a hard sur- 

 face will be absolutely necessary, otherwise it must soon 

 become loaded with impurities, the emanations from which 

 would prove in a high degree poisonous. 



Consequently the ground having been sloped it should 

 be flagged, cemented or covered with other concrete ; 

 after which it will be easy to clean the surface thor- 

 oughly, and to this end the hose should be used every 

 day in summer and quite frequently in winter. 



