322 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



for severing the umbilical cord if the mother should fail to do 

 it in her own natural way. Sometimes a puppy may be en- 

 closed within a membrane which the dam cannot readily open 

 with tongue and teeth. If help is necessary it should be given 

 tenderly and with clean fingers. Occasionally a puppy may 

 seem to be inert and lifeless, and after repeatedly licking it 

 the bitch may relinquish all effort at restoration and turn her 

 attention to another that is being born. In such a circum- 

 stance the rejected little one may be discreetly removed, and a 

 drop of brandy on the point of the finger smeared upon its 

 tongue may revive animation, or it may be plunged up to the 

 neck in warm water. The object should be to keep it warm 

 and to make it breathe. When the puppies are all born, their 

 dam may be given a drink of warm milk and then left alone 

 to their toilet and to suckle them. If any should be dead, these 

 ought to be disposed of. Curiosity in regard to the others 

 should be temporarily repressed, and inspection of them 

 delayed until a more fitting opportunity. If any are then seen 

 to be malformed or to have cleft palates, these had better 

 be removed and mercifully destroyed. 



It is the experience of many observers that the first whelps 

 born in a litter are the strongest, largest, and healthiest. If 

 the litter is a large one, the last born may be noticeably puny, 

 and this disparity in size may continue to maturity. The wise 

 breeder will decide for himself how many whelps should be 

 left to the care of their dam. The number should be relative 

 to her health and constitution, and in any case it is well not 

 to give her so many that they will be a drain upon her Those 

 breeds of dogs that have been most highly developed by man 

 and that appear to have the greatest amount of brain and 

 intelligence are generally the most prolific as to the number of 

 puppies they produce. St. Bernards, Pointers, Setters are 

 notable for the usual strength of their families. St. Bernards 

 have been known to produce as many as eighteen whelps at 

 a birth, and it is no uncommon thing for them to produce from 

 nine to twelve. A Pointer of Mr. Barclay Field's produced 



