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EXERCISE. 



The want of due exercise is the cause of nearly one half of the 

 diseases of dogs : and the ill effects of this deprivation are very 

 often heightened by inordinate feeding also. It should be remem- 

 bered, that a dog is an animal of prey, destined, in a state of nature, 

 to hunt for his food, and to sacrifice to his appetite lesser and 

 weaker animals, whose exertions to excape must keep him in a con- 

 tinual habit of most active exercise. Wild dogs, therefore, proba- 

 bly do not get a regular and full meal twice in a week : how great, 

 therefore, must be the difference, when they are either shut up in 

 a warm room twenty-two out of twenty-four hours ; or are, perhaps, 

 fastened by the necks for many months together, without any other 

 exercise than what the length of their chain allows them I In such 

 cases, if they have plenty of air, and are moderately fed, the want 

 of exercise shews itself by mange or canker : if the repletion does 

 not escape by this outlet, then the effects become apparent by an 

 enormous increase of fat, which usually ends in asthma and dropsy. 



Nothing affords a stronger conviction of the necessity of exer- 

 cise to animals than their natural love of play, which was given as 

 a principal means of preserving health. In cities and great towns, 

 it is a very excellent plan to teach puppies to play with a ball ; by 

 which means they will exercise themselves very well in wet weather, 

 or when they cannot be taken out ; and, when early taught it, will 

 continue through life attached to the exertion : such as will not 

 amuse themselves in this way, may yet all be taught to fetch and 

 carry. A very mistaken opinion prevails, that because a dog 

 is turned into a yard or court an hour, or half an hour, he ex- 

 ercises himself; on the contrary, in general he regards this as a 

 punishment, and sits shivering at the door the whole time. Dogs 

 are more disposed to take exercise in company than alone ; emula- 

 tion induces them to run and frolic with each other ; it is prudent, 

 therefore, to allow every favourite a companion. For sporting 

 dogs, constant exercise is also essentially necessary : when taken 

 up for the season, if they are close kennelled, it is very common 



