Evening star., 1902-02-26
TREATMENT OF DOGS
THE CARE IN HEALTH AND DIS
EASE.
Hints on What to Do for Them In
Both Town and
Country.


The board Of agriculture and the county
councils between them have, in recent
years. made the dog a public character. and
have caused SO much to be written about
him that all his grievances, all his all
ments and all the wrongs to which he Is
exposed by cruel or injudicious treatment
have been set before the world in greater
detail and in q stronger light than was ever
| accorded them before. So various are the
ills to which the dog Is heir and so numer-
| Gus are the symptoms by which they are
to be recognized, that a nervous or fidgety
owner may fancy he detects the signs Of
some impending disorder in every twitch Of
his favorite's tail, every shake of his head
and every application Of his toes to some
passing irritation Of the cuticle.
There are people who like to spoil their
dogs, as others like to spoil their children.
for their own amusement, and are rather
pleased than otherwise when they have de-
veloped in their four-footed phenomena a
morbid taste for what are to them unnat-
ural delica cactes-plum pudding, mince pies,
raspberry jam or hot coffee. A good mas
| ter disHkes to see dogs devouring such
things fs much as he does to see them
playing/ tricks, especially if high-bred or
sporting dogs.
difference in Environment.
There\is~A great difference between the
town dog and the country dog in regard to
most Of these particulars. The town dog,
as general rule, is condemned to lead
more or less unnatural life. and proper
tionately greater care must be taken as to
his board. lodging and washing. In many
London houses there are dogs kept in lux
ury, which, nevertheless, can hardly COM
mand an hours exercise in the day, though
they ought to have two at least, If they
are to keep their health. Some strictness
t., ALL
counteract the bad effects Of this enforced
inactivity. dog which leads this kind of
sedentary life should have nothing but
plain biscuits, plain roast or boiled in very
small quantities, mixed with green vege-
tables. and sometimes fish, and now and
then. perhaps, as a great treat, few
bones. These should always be given after
meal Of meat and not before, and the
fewer in any case the better. The dog will
frequently, of course, be hungry, but we
must harden our hearts against his most
| moving appeals. The best plan is not to
have him in the room a all when breakfast
or tea Is in progress, as he Is almost sure
at. such times to extract from some mem
bers Of the family morsels which are not
to his advantage. By observing these rules
by giving him. If not all the exercise he re-
qufres. at least a fair amount every day,
and by taking care that he has fresh wa
ter In his pan every morning, and that he
himself and his belongings are kept scru-
pulously clean, dog may be preserved IN
don. to eleven or twelve years OF age.
Thrive in Cities.
It Is q common thing to hear people say
that they would never keep dog in Lon
don and in the abstract they are quite
right. But the time will come when these
bold professors, If really fond Of dogs, will
be unable to resist the destinations Of some
golden haired three-months-old puppy, and
having once taken him in, will find them
selves unable to part with him. All they
can do is to begin his education at once, so
as to get him thoroughly we'll under con-
troll lust as much as If he were to be used
for shooting He can then be taken into
the parks and allowed to run about freely
without any risk of his chasing the water
fowl or the sheep, which are crimes of the
deepest dye in the sight Of the park keep
ers. This is a very important point. for
an unbroken dog, especially II he has any
notion Of hunting, can never be taken into
the parks without leash except the cost
of ones being compelled to keep a constant
eve upon him. If you put the leash on you
spoil his walk, and If you do not ne spoils
yours But still he can be taken, when you
can find time, for suburban walks. prov1d-
ed only that he has learned to obey your
whistle and come back when he is called.
If he will only do this much he may be
taken to Hampstead Heath or the meadows
between Richmond and Twickenham for a
good swim in the summer time, without
giving any trouble.