150 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



To have a good li'tter of puppies, a bitch must not only possess blood free 

 from all taint of disease, but she must be strong and in good condition about 

 the time of oestrum, or heat. 



If you have in any way neglected her, or if, through circumstances over 

 which you have probably had no control, she has fallen off a bit, begin to get her 

 in form three months before the time of her coming on. It will pay you to do so. 



The following as to giving the bitch some medicine to open her bowels I 

 found in Field and Fancy, but who written by I do not know : 



"Some 'there are who deem it wrong to give a mild cathartic immediately 

 before the time of whelping. A violent purge is certainly to be deprecated, but 

 it is the firm opinion of the writer that the bitch is materially helped and bene- 

 fited by a little opening medicine. At any rate, that course is invariably fol- 

 lowed by the most successful accouchers among women, and it must be obvious 

 to the merest novice that when the system is greatly upset, or about to undergo 

 a severe ordeal, the condition of the stomach and bowels is of the highest 

 importance. A moderate dose of castor oil, say a dessertspoonful for a 30-lb. 

 dog, or even some sweet olive oil, will do all that is required without inducing 

 excessive straining. Such has been my custom for a good many years, and 

 events have proved its value." 



My plan is to watch the passage of bitch just before she whelps, and if she 

 is constipated, to then give her a mild dose of castor and olive oil. 



I believe when a bitch is just ready, that one service is sufficient, and rarely 

 ever allow my own to be served but once, but to make assurance doubly sure, a 

 second service after an interval of twenty-four hours, would be advisable. If 

 you are sending her away to some kennel to be bred, ship her not later than the 

 eighth day. 



It would be as well if you could go with your favorite instead of sending her. 

 but most, if not all, good breeders are not only gentlemen, but lovers of dogs 

 and will take 'the greatest care of the bitch. 



The length of time of a bitch being in season is from fifteen to twenty days 

 as a rule, but there are exceptions to this. If a bitch is served late in season, 

 the service generally prolongs the season or period in which she would willingly 

 accept the dog. A very fat bitch should never be bred, as in so doing you are 

 liable to lose not only the pups, but the bitch herself. After the mating, the 

 bitch should be kept secluded (no food or water having been given her directly 

 before), nor any food for six hours after. 



Now, for the next two months the bitch must require every attention. For 

 safety's sake she should be kept away from her old canine friends for about a 

 week. She must not, however, be denied exercise, and all throughout the time 

 she is carrying her puppies she must have plenty of exercise and fresh air. But 

 it must not be of too boisterous a character, and I would not permit a bitch in 

 whelp to play with a dog of her own size, or a larger dog, too much. A collision 

 between her and a heavy companion might be very serious indeed. 



If your bitch is a house pet and has been accustomed to jumping upon chairs, 

 the safest plan to guard against accidents is to tip the chairs up against the 

 wall for a week or two before she is due to whelp if you are yet keeping her in 

 the house. When very heavy, she can not always make the isame jump, and 

 should she miss, striking against chair and fall back, it would likely mean the 

 death of her and the pups. 



