BEFORE WHELPING. 239 



she should be allowed to remain in it. If, however, she 

 is housed with other dogs, or for any reason beyond this 

 a change is necessary, it should be made soon after the 

 seventh week, that she may become thoroughly accus- 

 tomed to her new surroundings. Were she left to follow 

 her own tendencies, when the eventful time came she 

 would naturally seek some retired nook or corner, out of 

 sight and hearing of her kind and possibly of man as well 

 — a fact that should be given due weight in selecting her 

 whelping quarters. But isolation must not be enforced 

 thus early at the expense of contentment, and if she mani- 

 fests signs of loneliness her kennel mate if she has one 

 should continue with her and remain until she begins to 

 busy herself about her bed. 



If she cannot be permitted to run at large during the 

 day, as has been urged, it is imperative that she be taken 

 out frequently and given gentle exercise. And appreciat- 

 ing the dangers of physical strain, the careful owner will 

 see to it that her enclosure is secure and she cannot 

 possibly climb out of it ; also, that one side at least is so 

 constructed that she will be able to look out without being 

 obliged to stand on her hind legs. He will, moreover, 

 dispense with the sleeping-bench and lay her bed on a 

 platform made of smooth boards, and raised about two 

 inches from the floor. 



When the conditions are normal whelping very gener- 

 ally occurs on the sixty-third day after mating, yet varia- 

 tions of one day, or even two days, either way are not 

 uncommon and have no real significance. 



Two or three days before the eventful period is expected 

 the whelping quarters should be thoroughly cleaned out 

 and washed with boiling water, for the purpose of disin- 

 fecting them and destroying all eggs of worms that may 

 happen to be present. The bitch, also, should be treated 



