1/2 KENNEL SECRETS. 



Clean, coarse straw will be the best for bedding, and 

 before it is put in it will be well to sprinkle freely over it 

 the liquid extract of flea powder or infusion of quassia ; 

 after which it should be thoroughly dried. 



As for washing, that must be done very carefully, and 

 if soaps are used they should be above suspicion, it being 

 accepted that the purest and best are none too good in 

 this instance. But soaps should seldom be used with dogs 

 that have very thin skins, as the Italian greyhound, and 

 others whose jackets are becoming highly polished under 

 the grooming and rubbing. Nor will they often be re- 

 quired on any dog that is groomed as faithfully and fre- 

 quently as he ought to be, the fact being fixed that the 

 more of this treatment he gets the less washing he needs. 



With dogs that have thin skins, if their hair is short and 

 they are naturally cleanly in their habits, rubbing with a 

 damp cloth or sponge and afterward with a dry flannel 

 will ordinarily suflfice. 



Some breeders of dogs whose jackets are silken and 

 brilliant use raw eggs, instead of soap, in washing. They 

 would answer the purpose with an Italian greyhound, a toy 

 black-and-tan or a Maltese, but for obvious reasons they 

 would not be adapted to general use, and excepting in ex- 

 tremely rare cases could not rightly be held superior to a 

 soap of good quality. However, for those who care to use 

 them here are the directions : — 



Break as many eggs as required — according to the 

 size of the dog — in a hand basin, and beat sufficiently to 

 mix whites and yolks. Then add warm water in relative 

 proportion of one pint to four eggs. Work this through 

 the coat to the skin ; and after the dog is well lathered 

 have some one pour tepid water over him while you con- 

 tinue to shampoo until every trace of the eggs has been 

 washed out, keeping in mind the fact that the rinsing 



