96 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



The views of those who have kept only one breed must 

 therefore often seem unsatisfactory to those who have al- 

 ways been associated with one of opposite tendencies. 

 In the end, whatever the advantages of specialization, and 

 they are very great, careful comparison and correlation 

 can alone lead to deductions at once safe and broad. 



The writer will endeavor, so far as possible, to avoid 

 narrow views that apply to but a measurable extent, and 

 while the limitations of space will prevent exhaustive dis- 

 cussion, the foundations for conclusions and practice will 

 be laid as broad as possible. 



The Housing of Dogs. If even but one dog be kept, and 

 he a house-dog, experience has taught that he will prove 

 more satisfactory if there be some other place than the 

 house to which he can retire for a time daily. The dog 

 appreciates his privileges more and deports himself better. 

 In the case of several dogs, it is needless to say that a spe- 

 cial home or kennel is necessary. 



The best conception of a kennel is that it is a canine 

 home, and that all its arrangements must be shaped in 

 harmony with this view. It should therefore be not only 

 a comfortable and healthy, but a happy, attractive place. 



The chief considerations for health are, as in a human 

 habitation, light, ventilation, temperature, drainage, cleanli- 

 ness, absence of dampness, etc. In the absence of any 

 one of these, dogs can not be healthy any more than human 

 beings ; in fact, owing to their being usually less separated, 

 there is the more need to attend to them ; for it would be 

 a mistake to assume that a pure-bred dog can be kept in 

 the best condition under circumstances very much less 

 favorable than those suited to a rugged man. 



