KENNELS AND KENNEL MANAGEMENT. 159 



days of winter. Some people keep them chained up to a 

 small yard-kennel, similar to that of a watch-dog, but the 

 plan is not a good one, as there is not sufficient exercise 

 taken. In a pointer-kennel there should always be a yard 

 twelve or fourteen feet long, and paved with hard bricks, 

 the less porous the better. If, however, it is washed down 

 two or three times a week, there is no necessity for their 

 being glazed. The yard should not be roofed in, as the rain 

 serves to keep the floor sweet, and a little wet only serves to 

 harden these dogs, who will not suffer from it if their beds 

 are dry. An inner or lodging-room must also be provided, 

 and this is better if floored with cemented bricks or asphalte. 

 Nothing is so injurious to the health of dogs as a damp floor, 

 except, perhaps, a dirty one ; and as in the case of porous 

 bricks, it must be either one or the other, they should be 

 rejected, or if used, they must be covered with cement. The 

 additional cost of a layer of this material is not great, and 

 for the ordinary size of floor required, it will not exceed ten 

 or twelve shillings. If the cement is carried a foot up the 

 walls, an additional guarantee is afforded against the absorp- 

 tion of urine, and the dogs are rendered all the more healthy 

 at a very slight extra outlay. For the benches, deal laths set 

 pretty close together, answer every purpose, but they should 

 be lined towards the walls, so as to prevent the cold striking 

 into the backs of the dogs. These benches are better not 

 more than a foot from the floor; as if they are higher, some 

 of the dogs are very apt to get under them and become 

 covered with the dirt falling through the interstices of the 

 laths. Ventilation is provided for by having the door always 

 open, but it is as well to have a provision for it in the upper 

 part of the lodging-house. A light should also be provided, 

 though for the same reason it is seldom wanted. In order to 

 keep the yard as sweet as possible, it should have a fall 

 towards the centre, where there should be the trapped grating 

 of a drain to carry off the washings of the yard. Close to 

 this it is a good plan to put up a low post, which will be 

 used by the dogs to lift their legs against, and will thereby 

 save the door-post from constant pollution. Tiles form the 

 best covering for the lodging-room, being warmer in winter 

 and cooler in summer than slate. Thatch is still less influ- 



