296 KENNEL SECRETS. 



but little, if any, danger of such deformities. But all 

 these essential conditions are rarely present ; moreover, 

 no small proportion of puppies have some inherent defect 

 at birth, consequently to all of large breeds it is a wise 

 plan to give the precipitated phosphate of lime for two or 

 three months at least. And the use of this should be 

 commenced about the seventh week provided no signs of 

 deformity have been noted ; or if they appear earlier, it 

 should be given as soon as it is indicated. A moderate 

 dose of the drug is one-fourth of a teaspoonful, and one dose 

 each day — with the last meal — will generally be sufficient, 

 yet if deformity is threatened it should be given in the 

 food twice daily, and the dose be increased to one-half 

 a teaspoonful. 



It being a common custom in America to deliver at 

 about the eighth week the puppies that have been pre- 

 engaged, the subject of selection can properly be con- 

 sidered in this chapter. 



Beginners, and some old fanciers perhaps, should be 

 impressed with the fact that in breeding, as in all lines of 

 business, to be financially successful they must establish 

 reputations for fair dealing. And the first rule which 

 they should fix is : Never sell a badly developed or badly 

 formed puppy, or one that is really ailing, at any price. 



The importance of this it is scarcely necessary to em- 

 phasize, for every puppy sold is a living advertisement, 

 and even principle aside, no breeder can afford to have 

 out against him bad ones in the form of unsound or crip- 

 pled specimens. 



In some instances when puppies must inevitably turn 

 out poorly they present evidences of the fact before they 

 are eight weeks old, but except they are weaklings, have 

 pronounced congenital deformities or are bad in markings, 

 fatal defects, as acquired deformities, a snipy face, prick 



