What a Dog Needs To Be in the Pink

A Brittany spaniel is hardy enough to be quartered outdoors provided he has a well-built doghouse, properly protected from drafts and dampness. He should also have a yard with a strong wire fence sufficiently high that he can't jump or climb over and sunk deep enough into the ground so that he can't dig under it. Even with a yard, however, he should have regular outside exercise such as play and daily walks with you and, when possible, an occasional run in an open field. A city dog getting regular brisk half-hour walks two or three times a day actually gets more exercise than a dog in a kennel yard. The latter often spends most of his time lying in his bunk.

To be well nourished, dogs need certain essential nutritional elements in their diet. They need protein, carbohydrates, minerals, fats and vitamins. In the days when the family table groaned under huge roasts and heaping dishes of various fare, the family pet made out fairly well on leftovers. Today's packaged foods and more restricted style of dining leave few table scraps. Besides, we know more about proper dog nutrition today and we have a number of excellent, prepared dog foods.

When you buy your pup, find out the kind of food he has been getting and use that, at least in the beginning. Sudden changes of food, or even types of milk, can cause temporary digestive upsets. However, don't make the mistake of sticking to such things as milk formulas and baby cereal long after the pup is ready for a more substantial fare or diet.

There is no trick to feeding dogs right. The best diet for your Brittany is a high quality prepared dog meal or kibble. To this you can add meat, preferably beef, good table scraps or canned dog food, or feed it plain, moistened with milk or meat broths. Horsemeat is put up in various ways for dogs and is widely used. Remember, however, that horsemeat is deficient in fat and some fat should be added when it is fed. Bacon drippings, melted lard or suet can be mixed in the meal or kibble (about a tablespoon to two cupfuls of meal) and the whole moistened with water. Be sure when adding fat that it is fresh and not in the least rancid. Have the food lukewarm, never ice-cold from the refrigerator or hot.

Pork, corn, baked beans and cabbage-type vegetables are not usually digested well by dogs. Chicken or chop bones or any splintery type of bone should never be fed as they can damage the intestines. An occasional beef knuckle bone will be thoroughly enj oyed, but too much bone chewing wears down the teeth.

Specified amounts of food cannot always be followed for the reason that individual dogs differ in assimilating their food. The amount it takes to keep one dog sleek and firmly rounded may not be nearly enough for his own litter mate. So the question of "how much" is best answered by keeping an eye on your Brittany's figure. If he begins to have the contour of a balloon you are feeding too much; if he looks scrawny, feed more. As a guide consider that a grown Brittany needs about 1200 calories a day. A pound of prepared dog meal containing about nine percent fat, has approximately 1500 calories. A pound of canned dog food averages 450 calories. Because they are growing, puppies need more food than mature dogs. A Brittany that is working hard, such as during the hunting season, needs more food than the house pet.