173 KENNEL SECRETS. 



dogs for which they are made ; and the tops of the boards 

 should be several inches above the uppermost part of the 

 tenants' backs when they are lying down, so that they 

 may rest without draughts or the cold wind blowing on 

 them. 



Either slats or wire netting can be put on above the 

 boarding, but if the latter it should be of heavy wire, for 

 the so-called chicken fence is much too fine, and the small 

 wires breaking easily are a menace to the dog. 



There must be a hole in the baseboards to admit the 

 drinking-pan ; and since express messengers very gener- 

 ally stow crates crosswise the cars, with the door ends 

 facing inward, — while along their sides they closely pack 

 cases, etc., — and many of these men will not open the 

 doors for fear of being bitten, it is advisable to cut this 

 hole under the door. 



There should be destination cards tacked on both sides 

 and over the door of the crate, together with the injunction 

 " Water often ; " and to the door end should be attached 

 the drinking-pan. Here, also, should be hung a small bag 

 of dog cakes if the dog has a long journey before him, but 

 none will be required if it is a short one ; in fact a mature 

 dog that will reach his destination within forty-eight hours 

 should not be given food while on the train. 



Nor should he enter upon his journey with a full 

 stomach, for were he to do so the excitement would retard 

 digestion, and the retained foods, decomposing, would be 

 extremely liable to cause colic, diarrhoea and possibly 

 death. Consequently the rule should be to feed four or 

 five hours previous to the time of starting, and give the 

 dog a little gentle exercise just before he leaves, to favor 

 his emptying himself. And when the journey can be 

 made within the period stated, cards bearing " Do not feed 

 this dog " should be tacked about the crate that the in- 

 junction may not be out of sight. 



