27 8 BEARING. 



there are not conveniences for either, and then recourse must be 

 had to an early choice on the principles indicated above. 



THE FOSTER-NURSE 



Need not be of the same breed as the puppies which she is to 

 suckle, and at all times a smooth-skinned bitch is superior for 

 the purpose to one with a rough coat, which is apt to harbour fleas, 

 and in other ways conduce to the increase of dirt. For all large 

 breeds the bull terrier (which is the most commonly kept among 

 the class who alone are likely to sell the services of a nurse) 

 answers as well as any other, and her milk is generally plentiful 

 and good. For small breeds any little house dog will suffice, 

 taking care that the skin is healthy, and that the constitution is 

 not impaired by confinement or gross feeding. Greyhound pup- 

 pies are very commonly reared by bull-bitches without any dis- 

 advantage, clearly proving the propriety of the plan. It may 

 generally be reckoned, in fixing the number which a bitch can 

 suckle with advantage, that, of greyhound or pointer puppies, for 

 every seven pounds in her own weight the bitch can do one 

 well ; so that an average bull-terrier will rear three, her weight 

 being about twenty-one pounds, and smaller dogs in proportion. 

 When the substitution is to be made, the plan is to proceed as 

 follows : — Get a warm basket, put in it some of the litter in which 

 the bitch and her whelps have been lying, then take away all her 

 own progeny, and, together with the whelps to be fostered, put 

 all in the basket, mixing them so that the skins of the fresh ones 

 shall be in contact with the bitch's own pups and also with the 

 litter. Let them remain in this way for three hours, during 

 which time the bitch should be taken out for an hour's walk, and 



