158 KENNEL SECRETS. 



absolutely necessary. But it is a fact that one at least of 

 the most noted winners of the past could not be built up 

 to weight without the use of the spoon. And should the 

 reader be so unfortunate as to encounter another such he 

 would be perfectly justified in forcing food into him, using 

 raw eggs, highly concentrated beef broths and beef ex- 

 tracts for the purpose. 



While the dietary recommended is the one which can 

 wisely be employed with the most common varieties of 

 dogs there are some for which modifications will be re- 

 quired. To greyhounds, for instance, but little soft food 

 should be given, nor should they be allowed vegetables in 

 considerable quantities ; in fact they should have no 

 more than demanded to keep their bowels free and active. 

 Their mainstays should be boiled beef and mutton, — the 

 latter for choice, — and with these, in the absence of suita- 

 ble table scraps, should be mixed a little white or Graham 

 bread that has been toasted or baked until nearly as brown 

 and crisp as rusks, or occasionally a little hard and brown 

 corncake will be allowable, and to these ingredients can 

 be added what vegetables are required ; while once or 

 twice a week it will be a good plan to feed on raw meat, 

 chopped fine, with a raw egg over it. 



On this diet they will become hard and firm without 

 the desposition of fat ; or if too fat they will grow thinner 

 under it. 



Before going further the fact deserves emphasis that 

 there should be a fixed hour for feeding dogs, and they 

 should always have their meals on time, for they fret when 

 kept waiting, and some even positively refuse to eat if 

 their dinner is an hour late, while others go to bed and 

 eat reluctantly when called ; whereas at the proper time 

 they are at the kennel door barking and plainly asking to 

 be fed. 



