DOGS *. THEIR MANAGEMENT. 395 



family ; and as it gives her pain when one is taken up, it 

 is better not to handle the pups more than is absolutely 

 necessary. She should be well fed ; not crammed, but 

 nourished ; and she will require more food than formerly, 

 for there are many mouths to feed through hers. The 

 quantity of support she needs may be conjectured from 

 the rapid growth of the pups. 



A small bitch of my own had a litter of four. The 

 mother weighed seven pounds six ounces ; and between 

 the second and fourth weeks the young ones daily added 

 one ounce and a half each to their bulk. It would require 

 some amount of milk to supply such a quantity of flesh ; 

 and we have also to remember that, during the rapid 

 growth, the process of consolidation is simultaneously 

 going forward. Good nourishing food, sufficient in bulk, 

 is absolutely imperative ; for if the pups be stinted, the 

 dogs will assuredly be weak. 



A strong bitch may be able to bring up as many young 

 as she can produce at a litter ; but the animals of the 

 smaller or more choice breeds are seldom possessed of 

 such capabilities. The very diminutive will not general- 

 ly rear two pups without suffering ; and four are a very 

 heavy drag upon the majority of the animals kept as 

 pets, even though they be in no way remarkable on ac- 

 count of size. Three, perhaps, is the average number 

 the larger favorites can nurture. 



When, through a desire to get as many specimens of a 

 particular breed as possible, a delicate bitch is allowed to 

 suckle all the members of a heavy litter, fits are the too 



