Care of Puppies 33 
If one wishes a dog to break or train for a special 
purpose, a young animal should be chosen. There is, 
of course, an increased danger of loss from death, 
especially if the puppy has not yet had dog distemper; 
but it is a great advantage to get acquainted with the 
puppy, and to begin to break him while he is still 
tractable. Puppies, as a rule, are weaned at four to 
six weeks old. After weaning they should be fed fresh 
milk diluted one-third with boiled water. In this milk 
dry crusts or a small amount of dog-cake may be soaked. 
A piece of bread or dog-cake may also be given dry 
for them to gnaw on, but it should not be supplied 
in small pieces that they can swallow whole. Long- 
haired puppies and kittens get the hair about the 
mouth dirty and matted with the food they eat. The 
parts should be carefully washed, else the skin may 
become sore. If possible to avoid it, puppies should 
not be washed all over until they are half grown. 
When it is necessary to wash puppies or kittens, 
use warm water and apply it with a sponge or soft 
rag. Avoid immersing the animal in a cold bath, as 
it is likely to cause a nervous shock. After long- 
haired puppies are six to eight months old, they may 
be washed, using soft, warm water and a mild soap. 
Some of the tar soaps are excellent, as they have a 
soothing action on the skin, and have a tendency to 
free the dog of vermin. After washing, the soap 
can be rinsed out and the hair dried by rubbing with 
cloths or by allowing the animal to roll in clean straw 
in a sunny place. 
It is important that puppies and their quarters be 
Cc 
