122 KENNEL SECRETS. 



with small dogs it is so easy it is always best to stop the 

 ears with cotton. 



Except in very warm weather the temperature of the 

 water for the last rinsing should as a rule be only a little 

 lower than that used in washing, yet much depends upon 

 individual peculiarities and customs, and although occa- 

 sionally is encountered a very hardy and robust dog that 

 takes kindly to cold water, to most of his race, and espe- 

 cially the members of it that have the freedom of their 

 masters' homes or are quartered in comfortable kennels, 

 it is too much of a hardship. Furthermore, when not well 

 borne it is singularly liable to cause intestinal and other 

 functional disturbances ; and in all instances it is really 

 prejudicial to fine hair. 



Thorough rinsing having been administered, a large 

 sponge should be freely used and followed by a long and 

 vigorous rubbing with clean towels. Then if the weather 

 is very mild the dog can be returned to his kennel — which 

 manifestly should first be supplied with clean fresh bed- 

 ding — or, better still, be taken out on chain and walked a 

 mile or more. 



But in warm weather only would it be safe to return 

 dogs to their kennels at once after bathing; and during 

 cold weather unless they can be permitted to remain in 

 comfortably heated rooms for several hours they must be 

 rubbed perfectly dry, no matter how long a time is re- 

 quired in the operation. And although various measures 

 for drying have been advised, as the use of "shorts" and 

 fine sawdust, — the same being rubbed through the hair 

 and then brushed out, — in no way can it be more com- 

 pletely and speedily effected than by the means of towels, 

 provided enough of them are used. 



After being thoroughly dried the dogs should be taken 

 out and encouraged to exercise vigorously for at least half 



