The foregoing observations apply more directly to those who keep several puppies, with the idea of making them develop to the utmost advantage. The man who has but one, and that intended solely as a companion or guard, will not of necessity be at such pains, for he will find that, after the lapping stage, the puppy can be fed quite well on household scraps, upon which he will grow apace. At the same time my directions as to the number of meals should be followed, and I would also counsel the addition of a little precipitated phosphate of lime to one of the meals. Above all, beware of that pernicious habit of feeding between meals, and avoid sugar and other sweet stuffs, which will help to produce an over-fed, dyspeptic monstrosity. The most suitable epitaph for the tombstone of many pet dogs would be: "Here lies poor Fido. Killed by the kindness of an over-indulgent mistress."

A breeder, for whose opinion I have the utmost respect, advised me to feed on wholemeal bread in preference to white, and I have never had occasion to regret adopting his plan. This makes an excellent article of diet, whether mixed with milk or gravy, for the whelps, or with the cooked meat for adults. It is also as cheap as anything you can get, and you know that it is wholesome. By contracting with a baker, and taking a fair quantity at a time, you can buy it at somewhat less than the ordinary market rates. It is possible, too, in many places to get stale bread at considerably reduced prices, and you want nothing better, provided it has not begun to go mouldy.

The rations of an adult dog offer plenty of scope for variety, but in my opinion the basis should be meat, for we cannot forget that we are dealing with a carnivorous animal, although the conditions under which he lives preclude us from drawing too much upon the analogy of nature. One or two dogs can be fed without much trouble, household waste and biscuits, with occasional pieces of meat from the butcher, amply meeting all requirements. With increasing numbers, however, the problem of feeding will have to be reduced to a system, in order that the best results may be achieved at the most reasonable cost. While the owner of a large kennel will have to rely in a large measure upon horseflesh, which may be had in London for seven shillings the half cwt. and for less in the country, the man who has half-a-dozen dogs will in all probability be able to arrange with his butcher for a supply of trimmings sufficient to keep him going, with the aid of paunches or cows' udders. The latter I believe to be wholesome and nutritious, but they require to be well cooked. Bullocks' paunches are excellent, but they must be gone over carefully for odd nails, pieces of tin, etc., which have a way of becoming embedded in them. Cods' heads and other fish cost but little, and make an agreeable change, but the cooking must be prolonged until the bones are all soft. Sheep's heads are always to be commended as making excellent broth, and the heads of fowls also give a liquor that is very nourishing. In my own kennels the cooker is on the go daily, except when a raw feed is given for a change, and the meat and broth have mixed with them stale bread, oatmeal made into a thick porridge, or broken biscuits. Once or twice weekly a little green quantity of bread left on the tables by the lunchers and diners, and in an unexpected burst of confidence he asked me what they would do for the puddings if all the bread were sold. I really could not tell him, and, as I was not in the habit of taking pudding for lunch, the conundrum did not worry me much.

Plenty of variety is desirable, as dogs, like human beings, demand a change. Now and again it is one's bad luck to get hold of a shy feeder, who requires a lot of coaxing before he will acquire reasonable habits. A new hound I once had worried my kennelman a great deal, as he objected to everything we put before him, soon becoming a sorry-looking creature. In despair I wrote to his former owner, and was told that a couple of quarts of milk warm from the cow would probably tempt the epicure. Failing this, a boiled chicken or young rabbit would no doubt suffice. Reckoning up the average price of London chickens to be about four shillings and sixpence each, and coming to the conclusion that one chicken would not make an excessive meal, unless it happened to be a Surrey capon, I decided to try what a dose of worm medicine would do, followed by a simple tonic, and real hard exercise. It was not long before the gentleman discovered that London air produced an appetite, and we had not much further anxiety about him. Still, some will not thrive, and I think it is a good plan then to resort to cod-liver oil with their food. As a rule this is beneficial. Raw eggs often work wonders, but usually have to be administered sparingly, on account of the expense.

It is scarcely necessary to say that each dog should be fed separately, and that if he has not cleared up his tin within a reasonable time it should be taken away from him. Never get into the habit of leaving food in the kennel. After feeding, the man should go over each dog with a towel, wiping away anything that may adhere to muzzle or ears. This precaution is particularly desirable in the case of puppies, as a lot of messy, greasy stuff sticking about the head or ears is a prolific producer of ticks and lice. In-sist, too, on having all food utensils carefully cleaned directly they are finished with.

One must be governed by the look of the dogs as to the amount of food to be allowed to each. A fat, over-fed animal soon develops indigestion and other evils, and is unsightly at the best. Limit the rations if you find one becoming beefy.

My kennelman, who has read through the proof-sheets for me, tells me that in his opinion there is nothing like bullock's blood for getting size. This should be boiled with an equal quantity of water, when it will set firm. The water can be poured off. A St. Bernard breeder, famed for the size and activity of his dogs, was an enthusiastic believer in the efficacy of bullock's blood, and the results certainly substantiate his theory.