especially, years ago, when bred to “Buster,” always gave first class puppies of uniform type each litter, but the same bitch bred to some noted prize winner always gave ordinary pups.  Another bitch that at the present time is practically retiring from the puppy raising business from age, when bred to Hickey’s Teddy IV., always had in her litter four crackerjacks out of the seven or eight she always presented us with; when bred to any other dog (and we have tried her with several), no matter how good, never had a first class pup in the litter.  Hence I repeat, if a dog “nicks” with your bitch, resulting in good pups, do not on any account ever change.  Let the marriage last for life.  Somewhat closely connected with this last fact is another equally important, the fact of prepotency in a stud dog, consisting of the capacity on the part of the dog to transmit his share of characteristics to his offspring in a far larger degree than is imparted by the average dog.  Those who closely follow the breed will discover how certain dogs do, and have done in the past, from “Barnard’s Mike” down to certain dogs of the present time, stamp the hall-mark of excellence on all the pups they sire, in a greater or less degree.  Happy are those owners of dams who are aware of this important fact and take pains to use in the stud dogs of this character.  I have sometimes wondered how much Barnard’s Mike was worth to the breed.  It will be doubtless remembered by horsemen that the great trainer, Hiram Woodruff, speaking of the importation of the thoroughbred, “Messenger,” one of the founders of the American trotter, in 1788, said that “when Messenger charged down the gang-plank, in landing from the ship, the value of not less than one hundred million dollars struck our soil.”  He would be a very courageous man who would dare compute the worth of “Mike” or “Buster” or “Sullivan’s Punch,” when viewed from the same standpoint.

CHAPTER V.

REARING OF PUPPIES.

Assuming that the bitch has successfully whelped and all goes well, there is practically nothing to do beyond seeing that the mother is well fed, in which good meat, and where there is a good sized litter of pups, a liberal supply of milk and oatmeal gruel, is furnished.  In case the mother’s supply of milk is inadequate, then a foster mother must be obtained, or the pups brought up on a bottle.  If a bottle, then a small one, kept scrupulously clean, with a rubber nipple that fits easily without compression.  The pups must be kept perfectly warm, away from draughts, in a basket lined with flannel, and fed the first week every hour and a half day and night, every two hours the second week, and three hours in the third.  I find that good, fresh cow’s milk, diluted one-quarter with warm water, is the nearest approach to their natural food.  After three weeks they can be fed less frequently with a spoon, and can readily be taught to lap up the milk.  Where it is practical, it is always advisable to have two or more bitches whelp together, and then the pups are provided for if anything happens.