252 KENNEL SECRETS. 



dust where damp, and a dry platform and fresh, clean and 

 •dry bedding be put in. 



This done, and the soiled parts of the mother hastily 

 sponged with warm water, as soon as she has lain down 

 the puppies should be taken from the baskets and put to 

 her breasts. They will generally require some assistance 

 at first, and if so let it be rendered as follows : Take the 

 puppy in the right hand, — its back to the palm, — the grasp 

 being well forward so that the thumb and forefinger reach 

 to the little one's mouth. Press them inward back of the 

 jaws, and so open the mouth. Now with the thumb and 

 forefinger of the other hand holding the nipple its insertion 

 in the mouth will be easy. 



Oftentimes this duty will greatly tax the patience of the 

 attendant, but he must persist in it until success is 

 reached, for unless a puppy nurses well within the first 

 two or three hours the chances are much against its liv- 

 ing. But once it tugs vigorously it may be left to itself. 



All this having been faithfully done, the mother if of 

 fairly small breed may be left for a time with her puppies 

 cuddled up to her, provided her bed is well out from the 

 walls of the room, for were it close to one of them, when 

 she got up the little ones might move over and narrow 

 the space between them and the wall, and choosing this 

 always she would crowd herself into it and very likely 

 crush some of them. If, however, she is of large breed, 

 no matter how favorable her situation, she ought to be 

 watched for the next twenty-four hours. 



This is the period of greatest danger, and after it the 

 liability to the accident declines rapidly, but it only ceases 

 when the puppies have become so strong that they can 

 cry out and make vigorous protest if the mother is on 

 them. 



Aside from this danger there is yet another that is 



