268 KENNEL SECRETS. 



received by them. And in one case the writer put pup- 

 pies of this age to the breasts of a mother and brought 

 back her milk, which had nearly all disappeared, after she 

 had weaned her own litter. 



Another case of even greater interest than this was that 

 of a Gordon. Some five months after whelping, one of her 

 mates, a toy, had a litter of puppies, of which this setter 

 at once 'became very fond. And as she was entente cor- 

 diale with their mother she was permitted to pass much 

 of her time with them and snuggle them as she would her 

 own. Very strangely, indeed, ere the end of the second 

 week — and doubtless in consequence of frequent tugging 

 by the puppies — milk appeared in her breasts, which 

 were absolutely dry when these little ones were born ; 

 and she nursed them regularly until weaned. More than 

 this, after the toys had been weaned, two mastiffs about 

 a week old were put to her breasts, and these, also, she 

 carried to the weaning. 



Considering that delay is extremely liable to prove 

 fatal, obviously the transfer of the puppies to the foster 

 should be made as soon as signs appear indicating that 

 their mother will be unable to nourish them. And the 

 fact deserves emphasis that to wait for positive proof in 

 this instance is always hazardous. 



As to disposal of the foster's puppies, if they are worth 

 raising efforts should be made to nourish them artificially, 

 otherwise they should be given to the suspected mother, 

 and in case her milk takes on an increase some of her 

 own little ones can be returned to her. 



In discussing this subject it is quite the custom to inti- 

 mate that it is a hard task to induce foster mothers to do 

 their duty by their charges, yet the writer's experience is 

 at variance, and only in one instance has he encountered 

 any difficulty, although he has made many transfers, while 



