Dogs as home companions

by A. F. Hochwalt

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.