Highly bred Toy Spaniels are not prolific breeders, especially if many are kept together. An old breeder says : "From long experience I have found that when only two or three bitches are kept, they will produce more puppies than when there are a dozen, and if my kennels have been overcrowded, which has unfortunately been the case, I have had no puppies." Of course, the hygienic pinciples relating to feeding, sleeping, and exercise vitally affect the question of breeding.

The time for the arrival of a family is always an anxious one to the devoted breeder. The mother should have a comfortable bed, made of thick substance that cannot be easily scraped up. It should be placed in a box about 24m. high, with a wide opening in front so that the mother can enter without jumping. As the puppies arrive, they should be carefully wrapped up in a soft piece of warm flannel, and placed in a small basket kept close at hand. If the mother is restless, and there is a long interval between the completion of the family, the early arrivals must be returned to the mother, until she is again unable or too busy to attend to them. Finally, when all are born, they must have a clean, warm bed, and the mother be well fed with warm gruel and milk. If she is a good mother, she will soon be settled with her family comfortably nestled up to her, after which she will sleep for a considerable time. A little watching is necessary to see that a stray pup is not laid upon, and that they all suck properly; sometimes weak puppies require to be prompted, especially if the mother is young and inexperienced.

When three weeks old the puppies may be taught to lap, commencing with a little warm, slightly sweetened milk and water, given two or three times a day, the mother being gradually accustomed to leave them for longer intervals. After a month has passed, the puppies may be fed on Mellin's or Ridge's Food, and when six weeks old they may be quite weaned, and will readily eat bread and milk, soaked biscuits, etc; should they require a special food, a hard-boiled egg chopped fine with breadcrumbs is excellent. Some care and discretion is necessary in weaning puppies; but perhaps the greatest danger to them is worms, which cause many deaths. We advise that every puppy, when five or six weeks old, should be treated for this with medicine which is effective without being injurious; but at such a tender age great care is necessary in the selection of remedies. Docking the tails of puppies to the length of from 3½in. to 4m. should be done within a fortnight of birth.

In the selection of a puppy for show purposes it is best to choose that with the largest head. The muzzle should be broad and much inclined to turn up at the end. With puppies the nose always appears longer than when full grown, because the frontal and cranial development matures as they grow older, and causes a shortening of the face. The puppy with the softest nose develops the shortest face. This may be easily determined by gently pressing the nose with the thumb, when it will yield backwards; the harder nosed ones offer more resistance to pressure. The markings are the next consideration: these should be determined according to the standard of points and general remarks already given. The largest and darkest eyes, set wide apart, usually grow into the shortest faces, and the best show dogs. If required for breeding purposes, the largest and strongest puppies should be selected, and, if well bred, the markings are of less importance than in those selected for the show-ring.

When all the difficulties of breeding and rearing the Toy Spaniel are taken into consideration, together with the rarity of obtaining a really perfect specimen, it is not surprising that these little pets are often worth from .£50 to £150, and that many of their owners would not sell them for any money consideration.

If a large number of Spaniels are kept, of course they must live apart from their owners, and suitable kennels are required. These should be commodious, dry, and well ventilated, and built as far as possible of sanitary materials, otherwise it is difficult to eradicate contagious disease if it has once entered.

In rearing Toy Spaniels one cannot be too fastidious; in all kennel matters cleanliness is most important. Of course, heat is required in cold weather. In this respect we think that the regulations usually applied to ourselves are a safe guide. The general temperature should not fall below 6o° Fahr., though, however cold, there should always be a current of fresh air. Separate compartments and runs are needed, both indoors and out, if a number of dogs are kept, so that they can be judiciously separated. For sleeping-apartments, baskets, boxes, or, better still, the old-fashioned plain square kennels made of wood, form the simplest kennels. They should be raised several inches from the floor. In winter a blanket makes the best bed, in summer some simple cotton material such as a cot counterpane; these need to be shaken and aired daily, and changed every week after the kennel is washed and dried. Pillows, cushions, down and feather beds are usually injurious to the long-coated Spaniels, as they quickly become over-heated.

From a long period of inbreeding, and the unusual development of the head and nasal organs, the Toy Spaniels are not as robust as other breeds, yet if brought up under suitable conditions they are not so delicate as people imagine. If treated as hot-house plants, their constitutions must suffer. It is impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules. If, however, the same care that is given to children is extended to the Toy Spaniel, judgment will not be much at fault. "I have found," says an old fancier, "during my twenty-five years' experience that what would cure my child would cure my dog." .

If our Spaniels are restless, or unquiet at night, it will generally be found due to some discomfort or oversight - perhaps they have not been properly exercised, or need water, or a biscuit, though supper and all food is best eaten outside the kennel; sometimes another dog with a quiet and peaceful disposition assists to still the disturbance and educate its companion. Experience soon teaches us the needs and dispositions of our family pets and their many whims and fancies, for their individualities are strikingly different. Sometimes a particular favourite will only sleep in an armchair, alone, or perhaps with a bosom companion; another will only eat a certain kind of food, and in a favourite corner; some will never eat on the floor with other dogs, and require to be placed upon a bench or a chair.