120 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



being catered for by the simple exercise 

 of commonsen.se. Feed them little and 

 often, about five times a day, and encourage 

 them to move about as much as possible ; 

 and see that they never go hungry, without 

 allowing them to gorge. Let them play 

 until they tire, and sleep until they hunger 

 again, and they will be found to thrive and 

 grow with surprising rapidity. 



At six weeks old they can fend for them- 

 selves, and shortly afterwards additions 

 may be made to their diet in the shape of 

 paunches, carefully cleaned and cooked, 

 and Spratt's Puppy Rodnim. A plentiful 

 supply of fresh milk is still essential. 



Gradually the number of their meals 

 may be decreased, first to four a day, and 

 later on to three, until at six months old 

 they verge on adolescence, and may be 

 placed upon the rations of the adult dog, 

 two meals a day. 



Meanwhile, the more fresh air and sun- 

 shine, exercise, and freedom they receive, 

 the better will they prosper, but care must 

 be taken that they are never allowed to 

 get wet. Their sleeping - place especially 

 must be thoroughly dry, well ventilated, 

 and scrupulously clean. 



As to the adult dog, his needs are three : 

 he must be well fed, well housed, and well 

 exercised. Two meals a day suffice him, 

 but he likes variety, and the more his fare 

 can be diversified the better will he do 

 justice to it. Biscuits, Rodnim, Flako, 

 meat, vegetables, paunches, and sheep's 

 heads, with an occasional big bone to gnaw, 

 provide unlimited change, and the particular 

 tastes of individuals should be learned and 

 catered for. As one dog's meat is another 

 dog's poison, it is absurd to suppose that 

 one special brand of biscuit is the sole 

 requirement of any one breed, or of every 

 individual of that breed. Diversify the 

 food as much as possible ; the dogs will do 

 the rest. 



As to the bob-tail's kennel, there is no 

 need whatever for a high-priced fancy 

 structure. Any weatherproof building will 

 do, provided it be well ventilated and free 

 from draughts. In very cold weather a 

 bed of clean wheat straw is desirable, in 



summer the bare boards are best. In all 

 weathers cleanliness is an absolute essential, 

 and a liberal supply of fresh water should 

 be always available. 



With regard to exercise, the desideratum 

 is freedom, absolute freedom. So long as 

 he can wander loose, a bob-tail will put up 

 with a very small yard or garden quite con- 

 tentedly, but he should never be chained 

 if this can possibly be avoided. He resents 

 it as an undeserved indignity, and not infre- 

 quently it spoils his temper. In the matter 

 of exercise, as in all else, individuals differ 

 widely. Some require, and enjoy, much 

 more active exertion than others, and are 

 never happier than when following a trap 

 or bicycle ; some prefer a long slow walk 

 at their master's heel. Their tastes must 

 necessarily be adapted to their circumstances, 

 but the main essential is absolute freedom. 



Grooming is an important detail in a 

 breed whose picturesqueness depends so 

 largely on the profuseness of their shaggy 

 coats, but there is a general tendency to 

 overdo it. A good stiff pair of dandy 

 brushes give the best results, but the coats 

 must not be allowed to mat or tangle, 

 which they have a tendency to do if not 

 properly attended to. Mats and tangles, 

 if taken in time, can generally be teased 

 out with the fingers, and it is the greatest 

 mistake to try and drag them out with 

 combs. These last should be used as 

 little as possible, and only with the great- 

 est care when necessary at all. An over- 

 groomed bob-tail loses half his natural 

 charm. Far preferable is a muddy, matted, 

 rough-and-tumble-looking customer, with 

 his coat as Nature left it. 



Between the two, however, lies the golden 

 mean, which nothing but long practice can 

 secure a sound, harsh coat, devoid of 

 mats, and free from all suspicion of the 

 barber's shop 



Seeing that the Mecca of most good dogs 

 in this or any other breed is often- 

 times the show-ring, it may be well to 

 devote a few remarks to the preparation of 

 the bob-tail for exhibition. It is not my 

 purpose here to consider the ethics of 

 exhibiting, or to discuss the much-debated 



