FEEDING. 285 



FEEDING. 



The feeding of puppies is all important, and, unless they have 

 plenty of food sufficiently nourishing to allow of a proper growth, 

 it is impossible that they should become what they might be if fed 

 with the best materials for the purpose. From the time of weaning 

 to the end of the third month, when a decision must be arrived, 

 at as to their subsequent management, very little deviation is re- 

 quired from the plans described at pp. 279, 280; that is, the 

 puppies should be fed every four hours upon the thickened broth 

 made from sheep's head, and thickened milk alternately. After 

 that time, however, their food must be given them rather stronger 

 and of a somewhat different nature, as we shall find in its proper 

 place. This food will be required for any kind of dog, but a single 

 puppy may very well be reared upon thickened milk, with the 

 scraps of the house in addition, including bones, which it will 

 greedily pick, and any odds and ends which are left on the plates. 



Regularity of feeding' in puppies, as in adult animals, is of the 

 utmost importance ; and it will always be found that if two 

 puppies are equally well reared in other respects, and one fed at 

 regular hours, while the other is only supplied at . the caprice of 

 servants, the former will greatly excel the latter in size and health, 

 as well as in the symmetrical development of the body. It is also 

 very necessary to avoid leaving any part of one meal in the pans 

 or feeding-troughs till the next, as nothing disgusts the dog more 

 than seeing food left in this way The moment the puppies fill 

 themselves, take away the surplus ; and, indeed, it is better still 

 to anticipate them by stopping them before they have quite done. 

 All this requires considerable tact and experience, and there are 

 very few servants who are able and willing to carry out these 

 directions fully. 



