HOUSING. 



13 



HOUSING.— Nowadays, practically everyone who can afford to 

 keep a dog can afford to bouse it properly, as kennels to suit all 

 pm-ses have, of recent years, been placed upon the market by enter- 

 prising manufactui-ers. The days of the improvised kennel from 

 tub or barrel are now happily passed, and dogs, like their masters, 

 are housed upon more rational lines than those which obtained 

 som_e twenty or tliirty years ago, when any nade structure, so long 

 as it was fairly rain-proof, was considered good enough for the 

 average dog. 



In the housing of all dogs, there are one or two main points to 

 keep steadily in view if an immunity from disease is to be enjoyed 

 in the kennel. Primarily there is the aspect, a point which by our 

 forefathers was apparently seldom considered. It is, however, all 



^iG. 4. Range of Kennels eoe Tekkiebs. 



important when one comes to think how differently constituted are 

 the various breeds of dogs, and that whereas some breeds would 

 thrive if kennelled almost anywhere — sporting field dogs, for in- 

 stance — providing they were properly fed and exercised ; others, like 

 bull-terriers, white EngUsh terriers, gi-eyhounds, etc., which are 

 not provided naturally with a thick coat, would suffer considerably. 

 This fact, then, must first be recognised — that an aspect which 

 would be suitable for one breed would perhaps be fatal to another. 



Taken all round, it wiU be found that a south or south-west 

 aspect will be found the most suitable one to select ; but even that 

 will not avail if the situation be not diy, for nothing tends so much 

 to propagate disease as damp. Sunshine, fresh air (but freedom 

 from draughts), good drainage, and proper ventilation, are eq^ually 



