286 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



the other large and plain, this latter should be selected for 

 breeding purposes as, being stronger, she will make a better 

 and more useful mother than her handsome sister, who 

 should be kept for exhibition, or for sale at a remunerative price. 



The modern craze for small specimens makes them quite 

 unsuitable for procreation. A brood bitch should not be less 

 than 9 Ib. in weight, and even heavier is preferable. A sire 

 the same size will produce small and far more typical stock 

 than one of 5 Ib. or 6 Ib., as the tendency is to degenerate, 

 especially in head points ; but small size can be obtained by 

 suitably selecting the parents. 



The early spring is the best season for breeding, as it gives 

 the puppies a start of at least six months in which to grow and 

 get strong before the cold weather sets in, although, of course, 

 they can be bred at any time, but autumn and winter puppies 

 are more troublesome to rear. It is always wise to administer 

 occasionally, both to puppies and adults, a dose of worm 

 medicine, so as to give no chance to internal parasites the 

 most troublesome ill with which the dog owner has to wrestle, 

 causing even more mortality than the dreaded scourge of 

 distemper. 



The rules of hygiene cannot be overlooked, as upon them 

 hangs the success of the breeder ; plenty of fresh air, light, 

 and sunshine are as necessary as food. Puppies of this breed 

 are essentially delicate, and must be kept free from cold and 

 draughts, but they require liberty and freedom to develop and 

 strengthen their limbs, otherwise they are liable to develop 

 rickets. Their food should be of the best quality, and after the 

 age of six months, nothing seems more suitable than stale brown 

 bred, cut up dice size, and moistened with good stock gravy, 

 together with minced, lean, underdone roast beef, with the 

 addition, two or three times a week, of a little well-cooked green 

 vegetable, varied with rice or suet pudding and plain biscuits. 

 Fish may also be given occasionally. 



When only two or three dogs are kept, table scraps will 

 generally be sufficient, but the pernicious habit of feeding at all 



