In order to present to the reader in an intelligible manner the proper method of rearing and caring for his dog, we will take him in hand at an early period of his existence; or rather, we will begin our course of treatment a few weeks before he enters upon the stage, as the mother should by all means have proper care, in order that her progeny may be ushered into the world with health and strength to prepare them for life's battle.

The dam, at all times during pregnancy, should have a liberal amount of wholesome, nutritious food, with plenty of water, and a large amount of exercise; indeed, this is indispensable to the future welfare of the litter, and it is much the better plan to allow her to run entirely unconfined. Her diet, for the main part, should consist of mutton broth, cooked meat, oatmeal, milk and vegetables, all to be thoroughly cooked except the milk - taking care not to cloy her by overfeeding or long-continued use of any one article of food. During this period I believe it to be a good plan to pay her particular attention by petting her and keeping her with you as a companion as much as you conveniently can, and, if it is possible, to work or use her in her particular sphere or vocation as much as possible. If a hunting dog of any breed, she should be often worked upon the game she is accustomed to hunt, if it is in season; and even if not in season, a ramble with her through the woods or over the fields will be beneficial in giving her healthy exercise. I have often at this period hunted my pointers, setters and hounds up to the day of whelping, with the best of results.

I believe that the mother transmits to her progeny something of the thoughts and feelings that she is possessed of while carrying them; but even if this is not the case, the practice is in itself most beneficial in keeping her in the best possible condition for the duties of maternity; and, what is of greater importance, this course will impart to her progeny vigor and strength that will prove to be a very important factor in bringing them safe and sound through the perils of their early days.

As the time approaches for the expected litter to appear, the dam should be accustomed to sleep in the place you intend to have her occupy with her family. For this purpose I have for many years used, with the most satisfactory results, a box of suitable size, say about three and one-half feet by four, and one foot high, for a fifty-pound animal. In the bottom of this box a strong piece of carpet the size of the box is firmly tacked down, and the couch is placed in the corner of a box stall, or some quiet place, where she will not be disturbed. Many use a bed of straw, shavings or sawdust, but these are all objectionable. Sawdust is especially so, as the particles are very annoying to the mother and are positively dangerous to her offspring, as fragments of the material will adhere to the teats of the dam, and thus get into the puppies' mouths and are swallowed, causing irritation and sometimes death.

There is also great objection to anything for a bed that will allow a hollow to be made; as the puppies will, of course, lie at the bottom of the depression, and, unless the dam is very careful, she will overlay and sometimes smother them - an accident which very rarely happens when the bed is hard and level. Occasionally, when the dam is heedless, a puppy will get squeezed between her and the sides of the box; but this can be prevented by nailing a strip of wood two inches square all around the box about four inches from the bottom.

When time is up and the dam retires to her lying-in couch, she should be left entirely alone for at least two hours, when a sly peep can be taken, and if everything appears to be all right she should be left to herself. Should she, however, appear to be in much distress, it will be well to watch her awhile. Should the distress continue, you had better call in the services of a veterinarian. This, however, will very rarely be necessary if the foregoing advice has been followed, and the animal is in a healthy condition.

After she has whelped there is no necessity for any radical change, either in diet or care for the dam, as nature will take the best possible care of her. If the weather is cold or stormy, it will be better to keep her confined indoors for a few days, to prevent her from taking cold. It is also well to take the chill from her drinking water for a day or two.

Should she take cold it may affect the milk glands, causing swelling and inflammation. The very best remedy for this, that I have ever used, is sage ointment, made by taking a good handful of the leaves of common garden sage {Salvia officinalis)', either green or dry may be used. Simmer them in a small teacup of lard for two or three hours over a slow fire, then strain through muslin and set aside to cool. It should be applied hot and plentifully over the swelling, and be gently but well rubbed in three or four times daily, until improvement is manifest, always rubbing toward the teat, never in any other direction. This is also excellent in human practice. If sage cannot be procured, the bark of the root of bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) may be used instead, as it is also excellent for this purpose, although not quite so efficient as sage.

When the puppies are a few days old, if you have a convenient place, their box should be placed on the ground in a warm, well ventilated and dry situation, and one of the ends should be knocked out. If in warm weather, an open shed will be the very best place for them; but if too cold for this, a box stall, with two or three inches of sand or soil spread on the floor, will answer very well, if you will keep it clean and free from filth by removing the places that become foul, and sprinkling- fresh sand on the surface occasionally. With this treatment the young family will be almost sure to enjoy perfect health, although they may occasionally show a rough or dirty coat.

With the exception perhaps of an occasional attack of indigestion, there is absolutely no ailment that is common to nursing puppies, and even this will very rarely trouble them if the rules here laid down are strictly followed. If, however, it should manifest itself, lime water, given freely to the dam, will in nearly every case effect a cure. This remedy can be procured from the druggist, or it can be easily made by putting into a quart of water a lump of unslaked lime as large as an egg; let it stand two or three hours, then bottle the clear liquid, which will keep for a long time. The dose for the dam is a table-spoonful in a teacup of milk three times daily. One or two days will be sufficient unless in aggravated cases.

The symptoms of indigestion are: list-lessness, loss of appetite, occasionally bloating or swelling of the abdomen, and diarrhoea. Undigested food will nearly always appear in the discharges, which should be carefully watched if the trouble is suspected. In case of an attack of this trouble it is advisable to somewhat restrict the diet of the dam for a few days, feeding her mostly on mutton broth and milk that has been scalded.

Occasionally nursing puppies are afflicted with a skin disease that somewhat resembles mange; this is usually a form of surfeit, and will generally disappear in a short time if you will give the dam, twice a day for two or three days, a piece of sulphur the size of a pea, powdered fine and given inside a small piece of meat.

Should any accident occur by which the puppies are deprived of their natural sustenance, they may be brought up by hand, although this entails considerable care and trouble; and it is not advisable to undertake it unless you have the necessary time and patience, as, unless proper care is given them, they will perhaps die, or if they live they will grow weedy or become stunted, and their health and vitality so impaired that they will be very likely to contract disease. If, unfortunately, it should become necessary to bring them up by hand, the best possible food for them is new milk fresh from the cow. I have used this almost entirely in such cases for more than forty years with most gratifying results, and strongly recommend it.

There is an "old woman's fable" to the effect that fresh cow's milk will breed worms in puppies. This is as nonsensical as the old fish story that pickerel are produced from pickerel grass.

I have also read that worms are transmitted to puppies through the medium of the mother's milk. While this may look a little more rational, it is, if possible, still more absurd, as a slight acquaintance with the immutable laws which grovern the re-production of life will conclusively show. It is an incontrovertible fact that no dog was ever infested with worms in his stomach or intestines unless he first swallowed the eggs of the parasite. How the eggs are taken into the stomach may not always be clear, but when we take into consideration the fact that the female worm will deposit many thousands of eggs that are discharged with the faeces, and that these eggs retain their vitality often for months, and are washed by the rain and blown about by the wind, it does not seem so singular that some of them should find their way into the food eaten by the dog or into the water he drinks, and then be carried into the stomach.