This theory, therefore, is vague, unsatisfactory and opposed to reason, and one might as well say that a husband can influence the length of his wife's nose, the color of her eyes, or in any lesser way influence her tissues and cells with the impress of his own through the medium of the child in utero. Nor does this run counter to the fact that a husband can transmit to his wife a grave disease of the blood through the medium of the child in utero, for in such case there is a destructive virus or germ to be transmitted.

But the theories are not the points of interest in this subject, and the one to be emphasized is, that infinitely many people labor under the absurd impression that a victim of misalliance is practically ruined for breeding purposes, and in consequence no small number of unfortunates are sacrificed yearly.

All this is certainly surprising in face of the fact that the influence of the previous sire is rarely felt. Indeed, Mr. William Wade of Hulton, Pa., a well-known breeder as well as close and highly intelligent observer, has carefully investigated over fifty cases of misalliance and found after-effects in no more than three. And it is safe to say that this is not near the actual proportion, for only instances of occurrence are likely to be remembered.

It ought not to be necessary, therefore, to urge that a victim of misalliance should not be killed merely because of this accident, nor even considered in the slightest degree of less value for breeding purposes. She should be treated precisely as she would have been treated had it not happened; and all subsequent litters that show no taint can without any impropriety be credited to their sires.

That high health and vigor are essentials of infinite importance in the dog used for breeding purposes is a fact that may properly be repeated for the sake of emphasis.

As already stated in substance, chronic diseases and derangements, also structural defects, - as deformities of limb, - are liable to be passed on to the offspring. Furthermore, inherited defects are oftener transmitted than the acquired. If, however, a dog is of a doubtful family, his sire or dam having exhibited both inherited and acquired defects, and he fortunately escaped such inheritance, but because of faulty management in early life his legs were badly crooked, yet he is evidently in good health, strong and vigorous, then one would be justified in breeding to him, provided he possesses some important characteristic which the bitch to be mated is lacking.

For instance, a dog has a grand head, but is so bad behind he can rightly be termed a cripple. If good heads are rare with his breed and he is a notable exception and constitutes a favorable opportunity to improve them, then they who choose him for their snippy-headed bitches would be acting wisely.

But rarely indeed are dogs at stud treated differently than others, and yet they should be cared for as intelligently, faithfully, and patiently as a young child, otherwise, as a rule, their general health is soon impaired, they are no longer sound in body and limb, they grow weak behind, etc., and ere long are worthless for breeding purposes.

In their hygienic treatment of dogs at stud caretakers are often seriously lacking. Doubtless all appreciate the importance of daily exercise, yet many fail to discriminate properly and nicely adjust it, as they ought. Consequently, not infrequently heavy, non-sporting dogs are seen following rapidly moving teams, while others designed for field work are taken out on the chain.

It ought not be difficult, at least after a time, to estimate with near certainty the amount of exercise a dog requires to keep him at his best. It follows also that it should be properly regulated and faithfully given; and not a day be allowed to pass without it except for the best of reasons.

Hard and fast work beyond an occasional spurt for a short distance is seldom, if ever, indicated even for the fleetest of sporting dogs; and certainly not if they are overweight, and must be reduced in flesh. That reduction must be slow always, and long easy walks for large dogs constitute the required exercise.

The fact should be in mind always that where dogs are overweight because of too much fat, and efforts are made to reduce it by means of fast work, heart trouble is very liable to occur, the walls of that organ, no longer firm and hard, becoming soft and flabby because of the withdrawal of the fat.

Dogs that are too fat, therefore, must have slow, steady, and long continued work, be they sporting or non-sporting.

The baneful effects of too much fat are felt by dogs as well as bitches, although of variable intensity. When the amount of fat is excessive, for breeding purposes the bitches are generally ruined by it, they becoming totally barren. To dogs, however, the effects are, as a rule, less serious, for they may be reproductive to a limited extent; yet their get are seldom more than indifferent specimens. They lack tone and vigor, if not actual weaklings, and are predisposed to disease, by reason of their delicacy.

Rickets or an abnormal condition akin to it is accountable for many deformities. This disease, however, cannot be passed on to offspring, but in all cases in which it exists there is some constitutional weakness or defect which is transmissible; consequently the get are predisposed to this and indeed many other constitutional diseases. That is, because of rickets and the like in sire or dam, the pups are not nearly as hardy as they might otherwise have been; they are easily made ill, also are much more liable than healthy pups to develop such diseases.