The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-06
"The Poor Dogs Scratch Like Fury"

r Tot weather had struck Vine
II street. Also in one way or an
other hot weather had struck
most Of the pampered dogs owned on
that exclusive street of the exclusive
suburb.
Old Man Negley's regular job of
trimming hedges and moving lawns
and tending fiower-borders was inter-
rupted more and more by calls for ex-
pert advice on handling such canine
problems.
Il can't be lawn doctor and a dog
doctor at the same time," he CON-
planned at last, after Joel Berdan had
taken up a solid half-hour Of the old
mans time one day in describing the
warm weather's effect on the coat of
his cocker spaniel. Besides, mighty
few Of the dogs on Vine street or any
where else really need a doctor. They
need something that's harder to find.
They need common-sense treatment.
Suppose you folks whose dogs have
things the matter with them meet on
that big porch Of the Vellers, at say
about eight o'clock this evening; and
let me come up and answer all your
questions in lump? It'll save time. "
Accordingly, when the old man
climbed the Weller veranda steps that
night he found no fewer than twelve
dog owners awaiting him. Patiently
he listened to their long-winded
stories full of repetitions concerning
the welfare or ill-fare Of their dogs.
Then he spoke.
"A1rs. Pahl," he began, Il notice
you're wearing. thin muslin dress.
Last winter you wore big fur coat.
It's the same principle with your col
lie dog. He can't put his fur coat in
storage the way you do. So he put it,
in punches, on your rugs and carpets
and hall floors. And he rubs stray
hairs off it onto the furniture and onto
folks clothes.
That's the only way he can get rid
of 1t. Nature makes him shed his
winter coat in summer. just the way
she makes you shed your mink coat
when the days get warm.
'In fail he'll have started a brand
new beautiful winter coat. Till then,
you've got to be patient. It's no fun
to have, to pick up punches of fur off
the rugs. But 1t would be lot less
fun for him to have to tote all that
dead hair in summer.
.'AIr. Jansen, wasn't It you who said
you're worried by the way your little
fox terrier pants so hard all day in
summer?
II notice you're hopping your fore
head pretty steadily this hot evening.
You're perspiring all over. Well. a
dog can't perspire anywhere except
through his tongue. When he pants
he is perspiring. That's his only way
of perspiring.
"When a dog has been taking exer-
else in hot weather he persplres. just
as you do. He does 1t by painting.
When the day is hot enough he pants,
whether he's been exercising or not.
So do you.
THAT'S one Of the cruelest things
about u tight muzzle. It keeps the
dogs mouth so close shut that he can't
perspire. That's torture to him and
a danger to hts health. If you've got
to muzzle a dog. get some kind of
muzzle that will keep him from biting,
of. course, but that will let him pant
and that will let him lap water, too.
speaking of tapping water. the un-
kindest thing you can do to any dog is
to keep him where he can't get n
drink of cool water any time he wants
to winter or summer. but ten times as
much in summer. ~... e.
"A dogs mouth isn't shaped like n
horses or a cows. He can't suck
great draughts Of water into 1t to last
him half day. He can only lap up
about teaspoonful at time So he
must drink often. --5
Mrs Fletcher. you were asking how
to keep your Peke from getting any
more fits: like the one brought him
out Of. That wasn't an ordinary fit,
the kind vet. has to be called In for.
You took the poor little cuss out in
the burning hot sun and made him
walk for three miles with you IN the
middle of the day on the leash.
Lucky he tumbled over in that