28 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



The umbilical cord should be severed from the afterbirth 

 about four inches from the puppy, and this will dry up and 

 fall away in the course of a couple of days. 



In general, it is true economy for the Bulldog breeder to 

 provide a foster-mother in readiness for the birth of the ex- 

 pected litter ; especially is this so in the case of a first litter, 

 when the qualifications for nursing by the mother are un- 

 known. Where there are more than five puppies it is also 

 desirable to obtain a foster-mother in order that full nourish- 

 ment may be given to the litter by both mothers. 



The best time of the year for puppies to be born is in the 

 spring, when, owing to the approaching warm weather, they 

 can lead an outdoor life. By the time they are six months 

 old they should have sufficient stamina to enable them to 

 withstand the cold of the succeeding winter. It has been 

 ascertained that Bulldogs which have been reared out of doors 

 are the least liable to suffer from indigestion, torpidity of the 

 liver, asthma or other chest ailments, whilst they invariably 

 have the hardiest constitution. 



Bulldogs generally require liberal feeding, and should have 

 a meal of dry biscuit the first thing in the morning, whilst 

 the evening meal should consist of a good stew of butcher's 

 offal poured over broken biscuit, bread, or other cereal food. 

 In the winter time it is advantageous to soak a tablespoonful 

 of linseed in water overnight, and after the pods have opened 

 to turn the resulting jelly into the stew pot. This ensures a 

 fine glossy coat, and is of value in toning up the intestines. 

 Care must, however, be taken not to follow this practice to 

 excess in warm weather, as the heating nature of the linseed 

 will eventually cause skin trouble. 



With these special points attended to, the novice should 

 find no difficulty in successfully becoming a Bulldog fancier, 

 owner, and breeder. 



In conclusion, it cannot be too widely known that the 

 Bulldog is one of the very few breeds which can, with 

 perfect safety, be trusted alone to the mercy of children, 



