First among the rules to be written large upon the walls of every kennel is: "The strictest cleanliness must be observed." To the one-dog man this admonition need not be addressed, or, at any rate, it should not be necessary, as it is obviously impossible to have a dirty animal about one's place.

Where numbers are kept, however, the rule must be rigidly enforced. In addition to the daily mop out, the kennels should have a thorough cleansing once a week, the benches being turned out and the whole place well swilled. In the winter especially you will learn to appreciate my suggestion as to the value of duplicate compartments, as on damp and muggy days it is sometimes difficult to get everywhere absolutely dry before shutting-up time. I need scarcely say that a dog must never be slept on a damp bench, even though the straw be dry. It is running too much risk. A lady of my acquaintance attributed the immunity of her dogs from sickness to the fact that her kennels were limewashed once a month, which was certainly a most sensible procedure. If you are prepared to run to the expense of sawdust, and cover your kennel floors with it, you will be well repaid in the extra sweetness of the atmosphere. Dr. G. V. Poore, who is well known as a sanitary expert, is a keen advocate of the dry method of sanitation, contending that putrefaction is easily attained by washing down with cold water. From experiments he has been able to demonstrate the purifying qualities of sawdust, and those of us who have had a number of puppies together know that the only way to keep the place sweet and wholesome is by having the floor thickly littered with this material. Dr. Poore would banish the water-tap from cow-houses, piggeries, and stables, his plan being to have the stalls sloping gradually to a gutter or trough filled with absorbent material, such as earth or peat-moss, which could be removed when necessary. Most people, however, experience a difficulty in disposing of sawdust, which cannot easily be burnt, and which is not particularly acceptable on the manure heap. The expense of sawdust, however, need not be heavy, as it is not necessary to clear up the lot every day. In a town it will be found best to wash the excreta down a drain, but in the country it can be turned to more useful purposes. At the Dogs' Home at Battersea it is stored in large tubs with tight-fitting tops, and I have never noticed anything offensive. It is esteemed of some value by tanners, I believe, but small quantities would scarcely be worth the trouble of keeping.

It is almost superfluous to say that all doors and windows should be thrown wide open in the daytime, in order to admit the greatest amount of air and sunshine possible I have seen kennels that are damp, noisome holes, quite unfitted for the housing of any creature, much less a dog, and no animal could thrive in such.

Dogs in the country keep their coats clean without much difficulty, but I am convinced that even with them a good grooming several times a week is not only beneficial but necessary. In towns a daily grooming should be insisted upon, - for long-haired dogs, with dandy brush and comb, and for short-coated ones with brush and hound-glove or towel, while there is nothing like the naked hand for a final polish. The dog looks as handsome again if he has a decent gloss on his coat; he may be handled with comfort by his owner, and he is on altogether better terms with himself, the stimulus to the skin caused by the grooming reacting on the general health of the animal, while fleas and other noxious parasites are effectually banished. Not a single flea should be found on dog or in kennel if you follow my plan. Of this I am quite certain, if this advice is scrupulously acted upon you will be much freer from eczema and other skin troubles than if the dogs are neglected in this respect. Again, I should like to point out that any incipient troubles are at once detected, unless the attendant is a very unobservant person. In some cases the daily toilet may not be feasible, and all I can say then is, do it as frequently as you can, and on no account omit to go over each dog carefully at least once a week, examining the inside of the ear to see that no canker or eczema is manifesting itself, and looking also to the mouth and feet. Anything wrong with the ear can, as a rule, be checked in the early stages by blowing white oxide of zinc powder into the orifice twice a day, but should canker or eczema once fairly get hold, you may have considerable difficulty in effecting a cure. Meanwhile the sufferer will be occasioned much discomfort, if not actual pain.

Frequent bathing will not be necessary if the preceding instructions are observed. My own hounds rarely ever have a wash unless they are being prepared for a show. Unless there is urgent necessity, baths are better avoided in cold weather, but in the summer an occasional dip and a good soaping are to be recommended.

A word of warning is necessary about the disinfectant used in a bath. Carbolic is excellent if used in discretion, but it is imperative to bear in mind that the fluid may become absorbed by the skin, and that, consequently, a dog may be as effectually poisoned by an overdose in his bath as by taking some internally.

An integral part of kennel management is exercise, for only an unusually constituted dog can be kept in proper health and condition unless he is taken out every day.

The larger breeds are naturally somewhat sluggish, with a tendency to lying about when at home. They should, therefore, have an hour's steady walking each day, with the exception of Sundays. Fast exercise, such as running behind a horse or bicycle, is not often desirable, and only when the animal is in good training. The smaller varieties are, as a rule, more active, and, being constantly on the move, do not need so much straightforward walking.

Sporting dogs of necessity require a good deal more work to keep them fit, and always bear in mind that an obese dog is an abomination, and that the best way of keeping down flesh is not by a starvation diet but by exercise. The daily outing is also useful in other respects, for it means change of air and freedom from monotony. The best way in which to condition a dog for a show is to give him plenty of work and to groom him well. Fat will never look as well as muscle, and you cannot expect your exhibit to do well if you put him down shaped like a sausage, with slack thighs and loins, and open feet.

Never kennel up the dogs at night in wet weather without first drying them thoroughly with a towel. Sporting dogs on returning from a day's work should have any caked mud removed, and should be well dried. Go over them carefully to see if any brambles or burdocks adhere to the coats, and look at feet and ears, with the view of ascertaining if they have sustained any cuts or scratches. Attention to these details will be amply repaid in the additional comfort to an animal that has served you to the best of his power. It is advisable to have always handy some ointment made of boracic acid powder and veterinary vaseline. Any vaseline will do, but the description specified is much the cheaper. This is a very soothing application for cuts or for eczema in its early stages. Carbolic lotion is also to be recommended, or failing these a wound should be treated with any disinfectant fluid that may be at hand. Bad cuts on the feet will require binding up and dressing daily. Occasionally you will find that eczema causes a dog to nibble the pads of his feet raw, and the quickest way to effect a cure is to bandage the foot, as recommended above. Many dogs persist in tearing off the bandaging material as soon as you have put it on, and the only thing to be done then is to make a broad leather collar, sufficiently stiff to prevent the neck being bent far enough to reach the wound. Such a collar is necessary too at times to prevent a dog biting himself raw when he has an eczematous irritation in any particular spot. I have known a dog take all the skin off for some inches square. Fortunately their flesh has a wonderful recuperative power, and it is a rare thing for any serious trouble to ensue.