Your Dog and Your Cat 



considering the work of rearing the animal and the 

 possible fatalities which the breeder must expect, 

 the price is not so high in proportion as for the 

 puppy. A dog at ten or eleven months of age at 

 seventy-five dollars is cheaper and a better buy than 

 a two months old puppy at twenty-five. 



If the dog has had proper care, at the age of 

 one year, he should be a vigorous, healthy specimen, 

 possessing sufficient resistance to combat disease 

 successfully. On the other hand, if he has not had 

 the care, his condition will show it. By this time 

 the food should have been so regulated as to agree 

 best with his conditions, and any deviation from the 

 regular diet should not cause any serious upset. If 

 the dog has suffered from rickets, the ailment will 

 have been entirely overcome or otherwise be so 

 noticeable liiat the most casual observer could not 

 help but recognize it. He will have attained his full 

 development and any faults will be in full evidence. 



Taking everything into consideration, the best age 

 at which to purchase a dog is from ten months to 

 one year. 



Old Dog. — It is very unwise to take a dog past 

 three years old. At the best his span of life is 

 short and if his early years are already spent he 

 rapidly declines into old age. By the time he has 

 become a recognized member of the family, he has 

 reached an age at which his owner may expect to 

 lose him. 



State of Health. — ^When purchasing a dog it is 

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