BOOK VII. XII. 9-12 



wild beast as he escapes with his prey and make him 

 drop it and to bring it back again. Therefore a dog 

 of a rather long, slim build is better able to deal with 

 these emergencies than one which is short or even 

 squarely built, since, as I have said, sometimes the 

 necessity of pursuing a wild beast with speed demands 

 this. The other joints in sheep-dogs if they resemble 

 the limbs of farm-yard dogs meet with equal approval. 



Practically the same food should be given to both 10 

 types of dog. If the farm is extensive enough to 

 support herds of cattle, barley-flour with whey is a 

 suitable food for all dogs without distinction ; but if 

 the land is closely planted with young shoots and 

 affords no pasture, they must be given their fill of 

 bread made from emmer or wheaten flour, mixed, 

 however, with the liquid of boiled beans, which must 

 be lukewarm, for, if it is boiling, it causes madness. 



Neither dogs nor bitches must be allowed to have 11 

 sexual intercourse until they are a year old ; for if 

 they are allowed to do so when they are quite young, 

 it enfeebles their bodies and their strength, and 

 causes them to degenerate mentally. The first 

 puppies which a bitch produces must be taken from 

 her, because at the first attempt she does not nourish 

 them properly and the rearing of them hinders her 

 general bodily growth. Dogs procreate vigorously 

 up to ten years of age, but beyond that they do not 

 seem suitable for covering bitches, for the offspring 

 of an elderly dog turns out to be slow and lazy. 

 Bitches conceive up to nine years of age, but are not 

 serviceable after the tenth year. Puppies should 

 not be allowed to run loose during the first six months, 12 

 until they are grown strong, except to join their 

 mother in sport and play ; later they should be kept 



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