286 KENNEL SECRETS. 



But this packing case must be a very large one even if 

 the puppies are of small size. For instance, were they 

 cockers and two or three in number, its dimensions should 

 not be less than three feet each way ; and on every side, 

 at the uppermost parts, there should be at least two holes, 

 an inch in diameter, for the purpose of ventilation ; while 

 for larger breeds a corresponding increase in the size 

 of the box and openings for ventilation is, of course, 

 demanded. 



Properly there should be nothing over a puppy's head 

 except the roof of his kennel ; and especially ruinous are 

 the low boxes which some breeders resort to, for the air 

 in them must be always bad ; and besides his health being 

 impoverished in one of these, the puppy, feeling there is 

 something over his head and rubbing or bumping against 

 it a few times, gets into the habit of crouching, and 

 instead of standing straight he goes wrong in front with 

 a rapidity that the novice could scarcely credit. Again, 

 if the puppies are long-coated, there are many of them, 

 and their box is small it will likely prove much too warm 

 for some of them, especially the strongest, which are sure 

 to be at the bottom of the nest, and covered by the others 

 — all huddling for warmth — they often sweat freely, and 

 in consequence sometimes lose much of their hair. Such 

 loss from this cause is not a common one, of course, 

 but it has been noted, and suggests the advisability of 

 dividing up all large litters. 



In a word, never use sleeping-boxes excepting when 

 puppies can in no other way be kept warm, for, as stated, 

 at best they are ruinous. And really he who cannot keep 

 his puppies comfortably warm without boxing ought not 

 to attempt to breed them. 



Beyond keeping them warm and as free as possible 

 from vermin, and their quarters clean, well lighted and 



