BARKING DOGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 9

BARKING DOGS

Sir,—l wish to offer to dog owners a simple but efficient remedy. First, provide your kennel with either a hinged or a sliding door, to be bolted .each night; secondly, provide your dog with plenty of exercise during the day; thirdly, feed your dog once a day only—at bedtime; put in his kennel a piece of meat (bones included) suitable to the size of the clog; put the dog in with it and bolt the door; he will immediately settle down to business, enjoy, his meal, and go to sleep. Most town dogs are “ over-fed ” and too fat, and probably suffer with indiges-tion-enough to make any dog howl at night. “ One feed daily ” refers, of course, to mature dogs only, and not to puppies* under 12 months. Raw meat is the natural food of dogs, and the horseflesh as supplied by the animal food shops is excellent, being “ hydatid-free.” The above remarks regarding feeding apply to all dogs other than “toys” (such as Poms., etc), with the feeding of which

the writer is not conversant. Farmers and town dwellers alike should adopt this method for the following reasons:—(l) Barking at night can be eliminated to nearly 100 per cent, in the country, as has been proved by the writer, who has at least 20 mature dogs (excluding litters of puppies) in his kennels; (2) barking at night in the towns could be greatly reduced, making allowance for tradesmen and callers visiting the premises; (3) the dog owner could rest assured that his dog was “ at home ” for the night, with no means of escape due to broken chains, slipped collars, etc.; (4) the death rate from “ distemper ” would be greatly reduced if the dog was locked in his kennel each night, and kept warm and dry (especially during winter months) instead of being allowed to swing on the end of his chain in mud and slush; (5) the type of kennel in general use would be greatly improved on, as it is not easy to fit either a hinged or a sliding door to an old barrel, a disused tank, or a hole in a clay bank. Is it any wonder that dogs “ howl ” under these conditions.—l am, etc., James Holmes. Waimate, December 8.