CHAPTER V. 



Gestation, Parturition, etc. 



OF BREEDING GENERALLY. 



From the earliest times great diversity of opinion 

 has existed respecting the proper age at which dogs 

 should be allowed to breed, with the view of producing 

 strong and healthy puppies. 



We are informed by Aristotle, who flourished in 

 the fourth century before the Christian era, that 

 ancient sportsmen, for the ennobling of their race of 

 dogs, did not suffer the male to engender till he was 

 four years of age, and the female three ; and that the 

 former was only allowed to propagate for eight years 

 thereafter, and the latter for six years. They conceived 

 that the progeny of such would be much stronger 

 than those bred at an earlier age. This opinion does 

 not, however, hold good, although it is found that the 

 puppies produced by a female under twelve months, 

 are generally weak. It is now ascertained, from 

 patient investigation and experience, that a female 

 should be fully twelve months old before she is allowed 

 to engender, and that whelps produced by a dam 

 about this age, are as good as those at any later period 

 of the animal's life. The male ought to be at his full 

 strength and symmetry, but not aged, as the offspring 

 of such are generally dull and deficient in spirit. 



The usual time at which females are first seized 



