CHAPTER III. 



CONDITIONING THE COAT. 



When the general health of a dog is impaired the fact 

 is registered in his skin and hair, they losing in corre- 

 sponding degree their natural softness and elasticity and 

 smoothness and lustre. And as the complexion is cleared 

 and brightened by exercise, so are the dog's skin and jacket 

 improved by the same means. But while hygienic and 

 dietetic influences act upon both man and the dog in pre- 

 cisely the same way, outwardly the salutary effect is much 

 less quickly apparent in the latter, and he may have been ill 

 and long since recovered and yet his coat be still quite dry 

 and staring. And it may be all this even in the presence 

 of continuous good health if cleanliness has not been 

 maintained by grooming. 



But even if a dog is well and has been faithfully cared 

 for in this direction there is always work to be done on 

 his coat before he can be shown at his best ; and as the de- 

 tails of this are not generally well understood, a discussion 

 of them can scarcely be without profit to the average 

 reader. 



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