TREATMENT OF THE MOTHER. 255 



at such times good dispositions are singularly liable to be 

 perverted. It should be the rule, also, with all when they 

 approach a mother to devote their entire attention to her 

 at first, and not appear to notice her little ones until after 

 her natural distrust has been dispelled and she is assured 

 that she is of most importance. And when she has 

 allowed the visitor to fondle her she will not object to his 

 handling her puppies a bit if he is manifestly very careful 

 in doi'.ig so. 



But the mother should not be interfered with nor her 

 puppies handled excepting when it is absolutely necessary ; 

 and above all from their birth and until the little ones are 

 on their feet, and the novelty of the mother has entirely 

 worn off, all others than the members of the family to 

 whom she is most deeply attached should be excluded ; 

 and visits from them even should be " few and far 

 between " during the first week. 



As for strangers or mere acquaintances who may hap- 

 pen to wish to see the recent arrivals, they should be 

 impressed with the fact that bitches usually inoffensive 

 and amiability itself are sometimes intensely ugly when 

 with puppies ; consequently a visit by them might result 

 disastrously. 



While a bitch is whelping there should always be at 

 hand a vessel of cool, fresh water, and from this she will 

 take a few swallows almost every time she gets up. 



If her labor is tedious and prolonged she must be given 

 nourishment, and being but little if at all inclined to 

 eat, milk will be the most acceptable and best at this 

 time. 



During the first twenty-four hours after whelping a 

 little nourishment should be given every four or five 

 hours, and it should be of milk, every alternate feeding 

 being thickened with bread crusts or well-boiled rice. Or 



