EARLIEST PUPPYHOOD. 283 



plain to be mistaken, that they cannot possibly thrive if 

 they are denied the force-producing and vitalizing influ- 

 ence of heat, the conclusion is inevitable that they must 

 have comfortably warm quarters throughout the grow^ing 

 stage. 



Breeders are singularly reluctant to go thus far or 

 acknowledge the entire truth of this ; and while they may 

 appreciate the importance of artificial heat in the first 

 month of life, no small proportion of them, even during 

 severe weather, put their puppies into unheated quarters 

 as soon as they have been weaned, under the impression 

 that they will be healthier and develop more rapidly there 

 than they would were they kept warm. And, as might be 

 expected, such breeders are never eminent successes, for 

 these practices invariably tell sorely and result in impair- 

 ment of the general health, constitution and growth, and 

 in very many instances in deformities. 



The writer is convinced that no more dangerous rock 

 lies in the way of breeders, hence his efforts to give it 

 every possible prominence. And to this end he draws 

 from his experience in raising pugs. 



Some ten years ago he bought a small kennel of this 

 breed for the young members of his family, who at once 

 gave the little ones the freedom of the house. Not long 

 afterwards he learned from various sources that pugs were 

 very hard to raise and losses from almost every litter 

 might be confidently expected. Yet notwithstanding the 

 reputed high rate of mortality there have been whelped at 

 his home over one hundred and fifty of these toys, and not 

 a single one among them all has died. Of course there 

 has been now and then a weakling, but such were all 

 promptly disposed of, and, as stated, not a natural death 

 has occurred in this wide experience. 



The reason for this phenomenally good fortune appears 



