28 



RECREATION. 



well as the health of the dog. The 

 popular idea that any place is good 

 enough, is always painful to a lover 

 of the dog. Many people house their 



PANSY, OF TUXEDO PARK. 



dogs in small boxes at all times of the 

 year, with scarcely any covering, while 

 others chain them in stables or other 

 out-houses, where it is cold and damp, 

 where they must breathe foul air and 

 obnoxious gases. No wonder the poor 

 dog's health is impaired and his constitu- 

 tion undermined. Such treatment makes 

 him an easy victim to inflammatory dis- 

 eases. 



To properly kennel a dog I would 

 dispense with the old style box or 

 barrel and make him a small house — 

 one that he would appreciate, for he well 

 knows a good house from a bad one. I 

 would build it large, with a hall-way 

 wide enough for the dog to turn around 

 with ease, having his bedroom to one 

 side and above the main hall. I would 

 use lumber that joins together. I 

 would not use any of the tar-papers for 

 lining, with the idea of making it 

 warmer for winter. These tend to keep 

 your kennel damp. In place of tar- 

 paper, use shingles or weather-boards. 

 I prefer a double floor for dryness. The 

 house should be built so the dog can 

 see his master's abode, through an open 

 door in summer and a closed window in 

 winter. If you have a number of dogs, 

 build your kennel on the plan of a 

 Pulman car, with berths raised from the 



hall-ways, with strips nailed on the 

 sides to keep the beds from sliding off. 

 When straw is used the dogs should not 

 be allowed to take meat or bones to 

 bed with them, as they are likely to 

 swallow straw with their food, which 

 may interfere with digestion, and have 

 a tendency to obstruct the bowels. 

 Keep the house clean and change the 

 beds frequently. Put in fresh straw 

 every third day and deodorize once a 

 week. Disinfectants are essential to 

 good health. Permanganate of potas- 

 sium is good ; about the strength of 

 one ounce to ten gallons of water, used 

 the same as white-wash, with a large 

 brush. ,For the open yard where the 

 dogs run, sprinkle copperas around the 

 borders once every three or four weeks. 

 By so doing you will have no foul gases 

 to annoy you or your dogs. 



The yard should be large, so that the 

 dog can exercise himself. Only thus 

 can you have proper muscular develop- 

 ment. Carry out these instructions 

 and with proper feeding the health of 

 your dog will be good. I consider 

 Spratt's the best food a dog can have, 

 either for field work or bench show 

 purposes. 



Training a Gordon setter is an easy 

 matter to one who knows their grand 

 qualities. Before you buy a Gordon 

 puppy, have a kennel prepared for it, 

 and when you take it" home allow no 

 one to call on or attend it but yourself. 

 He should be left to his new home for 

 at least two nights and two days before 

 being taken out. After that time you 



IDA SIMMONS. 



can allow him a short visit to your 

 house. Repeat this every day, making 

 his calls from the kennel to the house, 

 and you will establish a habit in the 

 puppy which he will always abide by. 



