Selection and Breeding 111 
1920 to 1923 numerous well known animals among 
bird dogs have suffered from it and it created untold 
havoc before it was discovered that such a disease 
actually existed. The disease is communicable only 
through copulation and it is not incurable in the 
dog, provided it is discovered in the early stages. 
In bitches it is more difficult to combat, though 
cures through operations have been reported. So 
far, I have never heard of it among beagles and 
it is to be hoped that it may never appear. 
As regard the age a dog may be placed in stud, 
much depends upon the breed and the individual. 
In medium sized dogs service is successful at a year 
old and I have known of some cases much younger 
than that. One particular instance comes to mind 
of a toy spaniel which at seven months old success¬ 
fully served a matron, which resulted in an unusually 
large litter for that breed. 
At all events, it is not advisable to stud a dog 
under eighteen months old ; even in beagles, and if 
he is two or two and a-half years of age all the 
better. 
