a great deal of a breeder's success depends upon the state of health in which the stud dog begets offspring; for a delicate or unhealthy dog is more than likely to transmit his defects to his puppies, who are in consequence more difficult to rear, and of less value when they attain maturity. Considerable attention should therefore be paid to the comfort of a dog who is in the habit of receiving a large number of stud visits. He should, if possible, be well exercised morning and evening, either by a country walk, or a run round his owner's yard; and his diet must be wholesome and liberal. Stud dogs should never be used during the heat of the day, whatever the exigencies may be. It should be borne in mind, too, that it is always well to have your stud dogs look clean and tidy, both when out of doors and when in the kennels. Much depends upon the first impressions formed by the owner of a bitch who contemplates breeding from him, and many a dog is passed over whose services, had he been in better fettle, might have been resorted to. Care should be taken not to overtax the energies of a young sire by allowing him to receive too many . visits; the result of excesses in this way being both sickly offspring and . his own ultimate failure at the stud. Fifteen or twenty bitches a year are quite enough for a dog not in his prime, and about twice the number for a dog in the full vigor of his strength. As a rule, dogs under eighteen months old are not likely to do themselves or their owners much good if bred from; and availing one's self of the services of a very old dog is always risky. It is extremely hard to state an age at which a dog can be said to be "old;" some retain the vigor of their youth up to ten years and more, whilst others get decript and break up at six or seven. So much depends upon constitution and careful attendance that it is impossible to advise upon the age at which a stud dog ceases to be of use; but breeders should see the dog for themselves, if they do not know him, and judge from his appearance and condition, whether he is likely to suit their wishes.

In this age of bench show celebrities the precautions necessary to obtain the best results are too often neglected in the case of a stud dog on which there is a big run, and doubtless, carelessness in looking after the bitch is responsible for a good many "misses."

A sire should be looked upon with suspicion if his services are in too great request, and the number of his receptions unlimited, as it is only reasonable to expect sickly offspring from a dog whose stud experiences are practically unrestricted. A very old dog, unless mated to a young and vigorous bitch, is more than likely to fail to get stock at all; and if he succeeds in doing so, the puppies are very frequently of bad constitution and delicate in their earlier days. It is often the case that the services of a successful show dog are most eagerly sought after by breeders, and the merits of his father entirely overlooked; and this is certainly a fact which must puzzle all practical men when they reflect upon it. A good sire of good pedigree, who can produce stock of superior quality to himself, is better worth patronizing at a low fee than his successful son who has yet to prove himself the success at the stud which he is on the bench or in the field; especially as in the latter instance the sum charged for his services is sure to be a considerable one. Many of our champion dogs have turned out complete failures from a breeder's point of view: while their plainer looking fathers or brothers have begotten offspring of a far better stamp, though with only half the chances of success.

A stud fee is for the service of the dog to the bitch, irrespective of whether any puppies result from the union or not, unless special arrangements have been previously made between the owner of stud dog and brood bitch, varying that accepted custom, or the dog should be proved a nonstock getter, in which case the latter may claim back any fee paid. After the visit they should both be fed and put away in a separate kennel. A bitch that has visited the dog should not be sent on a railway journey the same day.