248: BREEDING. 
dogs are wanted to begin work in the autumn, and as they do not 
come to maturity till after they are a year old, they should be 
whelped in the spring. This is more especially the case with 
pointers and setters, which are then old enough to have their 
education nearly completed at “ pairing time” in the spring of the 
next year, when only their breaking can properly bé carried on, 
as birds then lie like stones and allow the dog to be reached, and 
properly kept under by his breaker. Toy-dogs and all small dogs, 
which are reared in the house, may be bred almost at any time of 
the year; but even they are stronger and healthier if born in the 
summer months, because the puppies may then be supposed to get 
more air and sun than they could do in the winter, when the 
warmth of the fire is essential to their well-doing. 
DURATION OF HEAT. 
The duration of the period of heat in the bitch is about three 
weeks, during the middle week of which she will generally take 
the dog; but about the eleventh or twelfth day from the first 
commencement is, on the average, the best time to put her to him. 
During the first three or four days of the middle week the bitch 
“bleeds” considerably from the vulva, and while this is‘going on 
she should not be allowed access to the male, nor will she generally 
if left to herself; but as soon as it subsides no time should be lost, 
as it often happens that very shortly afterwards she will refuse 
him altogether, and thus a whole year may be lost. Most bitches 
are ‘in heat” twice a year, at equal periods, some every five, or 
even every four months; others every seven, eight, nine, ten, 
eleven, or twelve months; ‘but the far greater proportion of bitches 
of all breeds are “in season” twice a year pretty regularly. There 
is, therefore, a necessity for ascertaining the rule in each bitch, as 
it varies so considerably ; for, when it is known, the calculation 
can better be made as to the probability of the heat returning at 
the desired time. The period between the first and second “ heats” 
will generally indicate the length of the succeeding ones, but this 
is not invariable, as the “ putting by ” of the animal will sometimes 
throw her out of her regular course. _ 
