GENEUAL MANAGEMENT. 11 



Kjejvj^ez pIrssjvgemjs^-ts. 



In kennelling, the primary essentials are, good ventilation, perfect clean- 

 liness, dryness, and freedom from draughts. 



Less sickness undoubtedly occurs when dogs are inured to climatic 

 changes. Tliose animals accustomed to out-door kennels, are usually far 

 healthier than those that are allowed the freedom of the house. Again 

 when a disease like distemper attacks them, it runs a shorter and much 

 less severe course ; their natures, more elastic, seem to throw off the in- 

 firmities quicker. 



In winter dogs suffer as much, if not more, from artificial heatthan they 

 do from exposure to intense cold. Many are allowed in houses and around 

 the stoves during the day, and are kennelled out at night, or shut into a 

 cold stahle, thus experiencing the greatest extreme in temperature ; a 

 fruitful source of disease. 



To kennel out and constantly keep in the open air, the coarser long- 

 haired breeds, seem the wiser. Their houses should be carefully con- 

 structed, raised several inches from the ground, and the space beneath 

 carefully boarded. These should, in winter, face the rising sun, and be 

 provided with a glass front. The door may be hung on hinges, so that it 

 can be opened by the dog from within or without, or it may be dispensed 

 with, in wliioh case a projection should be built around the door-way on 

 the outside, to prevent rain from entering. 



A room within a room in winter is the better. The inner or sleeping 

 quarters can be easily constructed by partitioning off a part, leaving an 

 opening as a passage for the animal, then laying a supplementary raised 

 floor on which the bedding can be placed. Tliis inner kennel can be ren- 

 dered warm, snug, and free from all possible draughts, by covering the 

 floor and sides with tarred paper. 



Where dogs are housed at night in stables, bams, or large rooms, these 

 same sleeping boxes should always be used in the colder weather. 



The floors of the kennel should be covered with sawdust as it is the 

 cheapest and cleanest. For bedding, straw in winter, and fine shavings in 

 summer are preferred. 



Cleanliness is of paramount importance. In this connection, the meth- 

 ods employed by the writer may be of interest. Every week in warm and 

 cold weather alike, in his kennels, the sawdust and bedding are removed, 

 the doors and windows closed, and the building purified by introducing a 

 kerosene stove, and burning sulphur thereon. The walls, even the floors 

 if necessary, are then thoroughly washed with lime, and If the weather is 

 damp or very cold, the stove is again introduced and the white-wash dried. 

 After all dampness is removed, the floors are covered with a disinfectant. 



