While we all recognize the importance of good food as being conducive
to a dog’s well being, many overlook the fact that exercise, grooming
and washing are almost equally essential. This is particularly true of
exercise. No matter how well a dog is fed, no matter what his care may
be otherwise, he will become sluggish and out of sorts if he is unable
to obtain a sufficient amount of daily exercise and the more that falls
to his lot, the less liable is he to disease, for it is a well-known
fact among human beings that exercise is one of the essentials of life
and by the same token this is so of the dog. Without exercise the
animal will not assimilate his food and while the digestive organs
will perform their functions for a long time, eventually they will do
so under protest, for the food taken into the system is not properly
oxidized, drainage is impeded and the general sewerage system becomes
faulty. No drugs will regulate this condition of affairs effectively
and in time the result of this sedentary life begins to show in the
dog’s eyes, his coat, and even his nerves. Mange and various eczematous
diseases are also likely to appear, and many other disorders are likely
to follow. Consequently, if one takes upon himself the responsibility
of keeping a dog he must see to his exercise as religiously as he does
to his food.
The question may be asked, how much exercise must a dog have in order
to keep him in good condition? To this no defined rule can be laid
down, for dogs, like humans, vary and one must be governed accordingly.
Most young puppies, because of their natural exuberance of spirits,
generally move about sufficiently of their own volition, and thus
keep in good condition by this very natural process, but as the dog
grows older he is not so prone to run and play, and therefore must be
encouraged. This exercise, it is scarcely necessary to say, should
be given in the open. If the owner of a dog has a back yard where the
dog may run and play out in the air and the sunshine, the question
of exercise is not a serious one, but people who live in restricted
quarters will find it more of a problem.
If one has access to a vacant lot, a common, a park, or other open
space where he may allow his dogs to run unmolested, always provided he
is at hand to watch them, then the question settles itself, but where
this is not possible there is only one other way and that is to take
the dog out on lead, walking him from one to three hours, according to
the breed and the requirements of the individual, for as previously
stated, some dogs require more exercise than others. It should not be
forgotten that a dog running at large covers five or six times the
amount of ground that he could possibly cover while on lead, and this
must be taken into consideration. Naturally this requires time, but one
may always find a spare hour or two mornings and evenings that may be
utilized in this manner, and thus owner as well as dog obtains good,
healthful recreation.
Another good way to exercise dogs in summer is to take them to a pond
or river where they may swim about in the water, for nothing brings
all the muscles into play better than swimming. Nearly all dogs can
be taught to take to water, and some of the breeds as for instance
Airedales, the spaniel varieties, and also pointers and setters, dearly
love this diversion. After disporting in the water for an hour or so,
if a plot of grass can be found nearby where the dogs can roll and dry
themselves, it will not only add to the enjoyment of master and dog,
but will tend to keep the animals’ coats clean.
Another point that should be borne in mind is, all dogs should be
allowed to exercise in a manner that is compatible with their natural
habits. For instance, a beagle should be taken to the open and allowed
to hunt rabbits, a bird dog should be turned loose in the open fields
and terriers of every description should be given the opportunity to
dig for rats, mice or other “varmints.” If this cannot be done every
day, the dogs should be given this opportunity at least once a week,
especially during the season when this is feasible.
Summarizing, the owner must always bear in mind that a certain part
of the day his dog must be allowed the air and the sunshine. Even in
winter when there is little sunshine, or on rainy days, the dog will
enjoy being out and free for a short time.
Grooming is another very important essential to the welfare of the
dog. Every dog, no matter whether he is short or long-coated, should
be brushed at least once daily and by brushing is meant good, vigorous
friction. For the short-haired varieties a short-bristled brush or a
hound glove are the proper implements, and for the long-coated breeds
a brush with stiff bristles from one and one-half to two inches long,
is very useful. After this brushing, rubbing with the hand will put a
polish on the coat that is described by fanciers as “cherry ripe.”
Wire-coated terriers require some special treatment to keep their coats
in show shape, but ordinary brushing daily and plucking of superfluous
hair occasionally, will always tend to keep them presentable for
every-day life. Not only is this daily grooming essential to keep the
dog’s coat free from soil and filth, but it tends to keep the blood in
circulation, and to ward off skin troubles and also parasites, which
despite precautions, will sometimes take up their quarters in the coats
of the most genteel dogs.
During the winter it is seldom necessary to wash a dog provided he is
groomed daily, but in summer, a bath now and then is very beneficial
to most breeds, although owners of some show varieties object to
bathing their dogs on the ground that it softens the coat. However,
the average owner will do his dog little, if any harm, by washing him
once a week during the summer. To wash a medium-sized dog, an ordinary
tub or portable tin bath tub will be found satisfactory. The soap
used should be selected with some care. Those soaps containing a large
percentage of alkali are not advised, nor are the highly scented kinds
desirable. The old-fashioned pure Castile is about as good as any and
nearly all of the higher grades of tar soaps are good. The latter not
only produce profuse lather, but possess excellent cleansing qualities
and their ingredients have a salutary effect on the skin and hair.
There are also a number of good dog soaps on the market, prepared
especially for cleansing and freeing the dog from vermin, both fleas
and lice, should they exist. In the summer nearly all dogs will acquire
a certain amount of fleas and it is well to use either the prepared
dog soaps or some other preparation that will kill the fleas. In this
connection it might be said that a good flea exterminator is any of the
creosote preparations to be used in one in fifty proportions. That is,
to one part of the creosote preparation use fifty parts of lukewarm
water. Saturate the entire coat and every part of the body with this
preparation, but exercise care not to get any of it in the eyes or
mouth. After the dog has been thoroughly saturated in this, he may be
bathed with ordinary soap and water. However, the water should always
be lukewarm, even in the warmest of weather. Not only will the lukewarm
water cleanse more thoroughly, but it will not be so much of a shock as
when cold water is used. For rinsing, clear water, a few degrees cooler
may be used. Be sure to dry thoroughly with towels, but rub the way the
hair lies. After drying with the towels the dog should be well brushed
and if the weather is the least cool he should not be allowed out of
doors for several hours after the bath unless he is kept in action. It
is always well to give the bath several hours after his meals, or just
before them; never directly after eating.
Smooth coated dogs are more easily bathed than the long-haired
varieties, as they can be dried very readily, but with the long-haired
breeds extreme care should be taken in the drying process and the
combing out of the coat. It is scarcely necessary to add that the
inside of the ears should be well dried. In washing a dog, always begin
with the head and work backward. The animal should be stood in the tub
and the water applied with a dipper which should be ready at hand for
the purpose.
For some breeds, such as Maltese and Yorkshire terriers many prefer the
egg shampoo to soap, although Yorkshires may be safely washed with the
suds of the soap, by making a lather and immersing the animal in this.
The formula for the egg shampoo is to break up and lightly beat four
eggs in each pint of water. Naturally, the egg shampoo is beneficial
for any dog no matter what the breed, but it may be readily imagined
how many eggs would be required to shampoo four or five St. Bernards.
In the event that frequent washing causes the hair to become
unnaturally dry, a mixture of glycerine and water, one part in four,
is advisable. This may be applied before the dog is thoroughly dried
and the final hand rubbing will bring all the sheen, life and luster
back to the coat. Some kennel men use cocoa butter in place of the
glycerine. This is applied by dipping a comb into the cocoa butter and
going through the hair with this after the dog has been dried. This
should be followed by vigorous hand rubbing.
Reverting again to fleas, that bane of all dog owners, too much care
cannot be taken to prevent these pests from obtaining the upper
hand. The bedding must be frequently changed and the sleeping places
thoroughly cleansed, but the dog himself must be watched. The creosote
preparations (and there are many of them) are considered the best
exterminators and if used once a week in summer, no dog should harbor
fleas, provided his sleeping quarters are clean. However, some might
object to this preparation on toy dogs and to those the following
is recommended: Carbolic acid, one-half ounce; laudanum, one ounce;
bicarbonate of potassa, one dram; water, one and one-half pints. Pour
a small amount into a hand basin and apply all over the body with a
brush or sponge, rubbing it well into the skin. To those who prefer
a dry form of exterminator, Dalmatian or Persian insect powder is
recommended. The dog should be placed on a newspaper, the powder dusted
well into the coat and allowed to remain for a few minutes, after which
it should be brushed out while the dog remains standing on the paper.
After this process is completed, roll up paper, powder, fleas and all
and burn.