Brood, Bitch and Puppies 75 



attention to the bitch he means to breed from long 

 before the sestrum, or period, comes on. He who 

 expects to get good puppies from a mother who 

 herself is not in the pink of health, and in pure 

 blood, will get left. He'll have to take a bottom 

 seat, and the htter, instead of bringing him comfort 

 and happiness, will only plunge him into a sea of 

 worry and disappointment. 



"Bitches come in season twice a year, but it is 

 not advisable to breed from one more than once in 

 the twelve months. After a visit to the dog, the 

 mother will carry her progeny about 63 or 64 days. 

 We cannot reckon the time exactly. Much de- 

 pends on her health and strength, and even mental 

 idiosyncrasy. The best time for the visit is early 

 spring, as the puppies have then all the long sum- 

 mer before them to romp and get strong in. 



"Now, the amateur may take my word for it, 

 or that of any one else who knows, but there is no 

 earthly use in breeding from a bitch who is not well 

 up in points. This is true, at all events, if yoT.' 

 desire to sell a portion of your stock, and who does 

 not? Granting that dog breeding is the grandest 

 fad or fancy in the world, I maintain no one should 

 lose by his fancy. Nor need he, if he goes the right 

 way to work. On the other hand, if you are breed- 

 ing for some particular purpose, and care nothing 



