CH. xviii.] KETOELS. WARMTH NECESSARY. 315 



olfactory nerves in high order, would lead to a sure find ? 

 Sweetness of breath is a strong indication of health. 

 Cleanliness is as essential as a judicious diet ; and you 

 may be assured, that if you look for excellence, you 

 must always have your youngster's kennel clean, dry, 

 airy, and yet sufficiently warm. The more you attend 

 to this, the greater will be his bodily strength and the 

 finer his nose. 



In India the kennels are, of course, too hot ; but in the best 

 constructed which fell under my observation, the heat was much 

 mitigated by the roofs being thickly thatched with grass. In 

 England, however, nearly all kennels I am not speaking of those 

 for hounds are far too cold in winter. 



571. There must be sufficient warmth. Observe how 

 a petted dog, especially after severe exercise, lays himself 

 down close to the fire, and enjoys it. Do you not see 

 that instinct teaches him to do this ? and must it not be 

 of great service to him ? Why, therefore, deny him in 

 cold weather, after a hard day's work, a place on the 

 hearth-rug? It is the want of sufficient heat in the 

 kennels, and good drying and brushing after hard work, 

 that makes sporting dogs, particularly if they are long- 

 coated ones, suffer from rheumatism, blear eyes, and 

 many ills that generally, but not necessarily, attend 

 them in old age. The instance given in 226 is a proof 

 of this. 



Winter pups, you are told, are not so strong as those born in 

 summer. They would be, if they were reared in a warm room. 

 The mother's bodily heat cannot warm them ; for after a while, they 

 so pull her about and annoy her, that she either leaves them for a 

 time, or drives them from her. 



572. As I have casually touched on puppies, I will take the 

 opportunity of recommending, according to the plan adopted by 

 some sportsmen, and of which I have experienced the advantage, 

 that you have a whole litter, soon after it has been weaned, 

 (provided it be in a healthy state), inoculated for the distemper, 

 a small feather, previously inserted in the nose of a diseased dog, 

 being for an instant put up the nostrils of the puppies. It will be 



