The Boston Terrier and All About It | Page 9

own kennels, entirely different in
construction from these, and costing more to build, may be of interest
here. We have two buildings, seventy-five feet apart, built exactly like
a house, with two stories and a high basement or cellar, twenty-five feet
wide and thirty feet long. One of these houses is lined with matched
paneling and divided off on each floor into separate compartments; the
other is only boarded, one thickness of good paper and clapboarded and,
of course, not nearly as warm. This second building has no pens in it.
The basement has a stone wall at the back, but on the east, south and
west sides is boarded to the ground, and has a dry gravel floor. These
buildings are well supplied with windows (the same as a house), and
get the sun all day. In these buildings we have no artificial heat
whatever, and all stock, except small puppies, are kept there. Our pups
in the winter have warm quarters until they are four months old, when
they are placed in the south side of the warmer kennels. All puppies are
kept in the cool basement in the hot weather, and during the summer
our bitches in whelp are kept there also. We have not any separate runs
attached to these buildings, which entails a much closer watch on the
dogs, of course, but each building opens into a very large enclosure
with abundant shade trees, and the dogs can, if let out, have the run of

several acres.
In the fall of the year we have several tons of rowen (second crop hay
with a good deal of clover in it) put in the upper story of the open
kennel, and a smaller amount in the first story, and during the winter a
certain number of young dogs that will not quarrel amongst themselves
are given the run of the building where they burrow into the soft hay
and are as comfortable as can be. Particular care has to be taken that
they do not get any bones or any food to quarrel over, or trouble would
ensue right away. Allow me to say that only dogs brought up together
with perfect dispositions can be allowed to run together. A strange dog
must never be placed with them or his days will be numbered. In the
summer, of course, no dogs are kept in the upper story, as they would
suffer from the heat. Also no bitches in whelp are ever allowed to run
together.
In the other kennel in each pen during the cold weather is a large, tight
box, with hole in side, filled with this soft hay, renewed when
necessary, in which two dogs sleep very comfortably. The windows in
each kennel, as soon as the weather permits, are kept open at the top
night and day, and top and bottom while the dogs are out doors in the
daytime, and in this way the kennels can be kept perfectly sweet and
sanitary. Three times during the year, in spring, midsummer and fall,
the kennels are treated with a thorough fumigation of sulphur. We buy
bar sulphur by the barrel of a wholesale druggist or importer, and use a
good quantity (a small dose does not do much good), keeping the
kennel windows and doors tightly closed for twelve hours, after which
the building is thoroughly aired before the dogs are returned. Of course,
this would not be practical during the winter, nor is it at all necessary.
We find that once a week (except of course, during the cold weather), it
is a good plan to give the woodwork that the dog comes in contact with
a good sprinkling with a watering pot with a solution of permanganate
of potassium, using a tablespoonful of the crystals dissolved in a quart
of hot water. It costs at wholesale fifty cents per pound, and is the best
disinfectant I have ever used. Unless the kennels are kept scrupulously
clean the dogs' eyes, especially the puppies, are liable to become
seriously inflamed. The gravel in the basement we remove to a depth of

eight inches twice a year, putting fresh in its place. Where a large
number of dogs are kept it will be found very convenient to have a
cook house, wash room and a small closet for kennel utensils in close
proximity to the kennels.
By attending to these important essentials, viz., an abundance of pure
air and sunshine, protection from dampness, draughts, and cold, proper
disinfecting, and sufficient protection from the intense heat of summer,
good health, and a reasonable amount of success can be confidently
expected, but disease will surely find an entrance where these
requirements are not met.
I would like to add that kennels only large enough for white mice, or