ETC. 199 



of their food, requiring it however to be given them more fre- 

 quently the younger they arc. Up to six months they require it 

 three times a day, at equal intervals, and after that age twice ; for 

 although there is a difference of opinion as to the propriety of 

 feeding the adult once or twice a day, there is none about the 

 puppy demanding a supply morning and evening. In all cases, 

 tiiey should be encouraged to empty themselves (by allowing a 

 run, if they are confined to kennel) just before feeding, and for an 

 hour or two afterwards they are best at rest. If milk is given, it 

 may be thickened by boiling in it oatmeal or wheat-flour, or both 

 together, or biscuits may be scalded and added to it ; but no flesh 

 is needed in addition, bones only being required to amuse the dog 

 and to clean his teeth by gnawing them. With these any dog 

 may be reared very well, but the plan is an expensive one, if the 

 milk has any thing like the ordinary value attached to it, and if it 

 has to be purchased, the cost is generally quite prohibitory of its use. 

 Besides milk, various other articles are employed in feeding dogs. 

 Of these, Indian meal is by far the best in proportion to its price 

 (being quite equal to anything but the very best wheat-flour, which 

 is perhaps slightly more nourishing), and, being so much cheaper, 

 is, on that account, to be preferred. It requires to be mixed with 

 oatmeal, in about equal proportions, or less of the latter if the 

 bowels are at all relaxed. Oatmeal is considerably dearer, 

 though the grain itself is cheaper ; but the quantity of meal 

 obtained, owing to the amount of chaff, is so small, that 

 when this is got rid of the meal is necessarily sold at a higher 

 price, according to the season. But a much larger bulk of 

 thick stuff, commonly called " puddings," is produced by oatmeal 

 than can be obtained from any other meal in proportion to weight, 

 the absorption of water being greater, and also varying in different 

 qualities of oatmeal itself ; so that, after all, this meal is not so 

 expensive as it looks to be, when comparing an equal weight of it 

 with barley or Indian meal. The real coarse Scotch oatmeal yields 

 the greatest bulk of puddings, and is to be preferred on that 

 account ; besides which, it appears to agree best with dogs, and 

 altogether is a very superior article ; but in any case it ought to be 



