lO The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



The kennel, then, should be dry, sunny, and cheerful j 

 this is especially necessary for puppies, for the circum- 

 stances under which they attain their growth, as will be 

 hereafter mentioned, will influence their disposition when 

 they arrive at maturity. 



The benches should be elevated at least eighteen inches 

 above the ground, and the planks either drilled with holes 

 or placed an inch apart for the escape of wet, and for venti- 

 lation of the bed. A strip of wood along the edge will 

 keep the bedding on, and prevent puppies from slipping 

 off. To insure dryrjess of the walls, I nail boarding round, 

 with shavings between. , 



With regard to the flooring, cement undoubtedly forms- 

 the best and cleanest. Many different opinions have been 

 expressed as to what it should be covered with. Sand is 

 not unfrequently recommended ; this, however, is not good 

 for dogs' feet, it creates irritation between the toes, and. 

 gives rise to what is known in cattle as "foul." Fine 

 shavings or sawdust are decidedly preferable, and should 

 be put down fresh every morning after first removing the 

 soiled materials. A little clean bedding scattered over the; 

 latter to give it an appearance of cleanliness, is like wear- 

 ing a clean shirt on a dirty body, or gloves on filthy 

 hands — the evil is still there, disguised. 



Washing or swilling down the floor is a necessary office, , 

 but it is often carried to extremes, and then becomes an 

 evil by engendering a continual damp, and acting as a 

 fruitful source of rheumatism and kennel-lameness. Once 

 a week is quite often enough for this duty. After the 

 place has been thoroughly swept and mopped, I always 

 have ashes thrown over the floor ; these absorb any wet 

 that may have lodged in sunken places or between the 

 bricks, and in old, somewhat uneven, and broken floors 

 they are of great service. In half an hour they may be ' 

 swept off, and a little crude carbolic acid dropped here and 

 there, after which dress with the sawdust or shavings. 



