Exercise develops the muscles of the body. Increases their functional activity, hastens the digestion of food, and renders its assimilation easier. It improves nutrition by elevating the temperature, opens the pores of the skin, stimulating its functions, and through the lungs, by the stronger movements excited, it favors the exhalation of impurities and excesses. Too much importance cannot be attached to this subject. Keeping a dog confined with insufficient exercise is cruelty itself, which no excuse can justify. Never chain a dog should be the rule, but unfortunately it cannot always be observed. Certain methods may, however, be resorted to, and a confined animal have greater freedom and still be restrained.

A post can be set up as far from the kennel as the limits of the owner's premises will allow, a wire fastened to it and passed through a ring, the other end attached to the kennel and drawn taut. The dog can then be chained to the ring, which will slide freely the entire length of the wire, permitting greater latitude and the animal still be held in check. This means may be employed in cities, and where it is impossible to allow them to run at large.

When dogs are kept in yards, the plan adopted by the writer can be resorted to. Fences or hurdles can be built entirely across the indosnres. These must be placed low at first, simply high enough to force the -animal to make an easy jump, then in three or four weeks raised a few inches, another interval allowed to pass, and raised again. The results from the employment of this means are admirable, especially in the case of dogs inclined to be weak in the loins, and needing development behind.

In conditioning dogs, especially for exhibitions, no better exercise can be recommended than slow walking; the distance being from two to four miles daily. By this means they will eat more, digest it better, and accumulate flesh more rapidly.

While exercise is Imperative, extremes must be avoided and caution used. If a dog is habituated to following a team, there is less danger ot over exertion; if not so accustomed, care must be observed lest the system be disordered by too great effort. In winter, if a hard run is taken and he returns in a heated condition, he must not be shut into a cold kennel, but be allowed to cool gradually in a warm room.

After a hearty meal the dog retires to his kennel to sleep, as did the ancients, while the first part at least of digestion is being performed. Violent exercise should never be allowed until the process is completed. By unduly great muscular exertion, while the stomach is loaded, the food is but Imperfectly acted upon by that organ, is hurried into the intestines; diarrhoea and other affections follow.