272 REARING, ETC. 



when the litter is pretty level ; and, under the most favourable 

 circumstances, the best judge will often reject the future 

 winner, and choose some useless animal in preference. Some 

 old hands will recommend the largest whelp ; some, again, the 

 smallest, or the last born ; but from some experience in my 

 own kennel, and a careful comparison with that of others, I 

 know of no rule upon which dependence can be placed, except 

 the hints I have already given. In this, as in almost every 

 stage of the courser's career, 'good luck is better than a good 

 dog,' as I have often been told by the most successful. Still 

 good luck requires good management at its back, and happy is 

 the man who can reckon upon both. Many successful breeders 

 use artificial warmth in the rearing of early whelps, and no 

 doubt it brings them on very fast, and, if not subsequently 

 checked, they are all the finer and the better grown for it ; 

 but if they are kept very dry, and have a bordered stage to 

 lie upon, which should be protected also from the wall, they 

 will do very well without it, except in very severe frosts. Care 

 should, however, be taken that they are not submitted to any 

 draughts of cold air, but that whatever ventilation is necessary 

 should be managed from the upper part of the loose box. 

 It is astonishing what a deal of exercise whelps of this age 

 will take in a box of the ordinary size, after which they retire 

 to their warm corner, and by lying all together keep up warmth 

 sufficient for health ; still, in a severe spring, a January-born 

 litter of puppies is very liable to be chilled in a hard frost, 

 and if a loose box, opening into a warm stable, can be placed 



