Part 6 (1/2)

”Worms?” echoed the boys in chorus.

”Sure,” replied Sam. ”Most all puppies get 'em sooner or later, and sometimes they do a lot of harm if you don't get rid of 'em. But we'll get rid of 'em all right. Get a pencil and paper and write down what I tell you to get at the drug store and the directions.”

When they reappeared with the necessary articles, Sam continued: ”There's several things that'll take care of worms, but the best and surest is santonin and calomel. Write that down.”

Ernest wrote as Sam spelled the words. It seemed to be much more of an accomplishment to be able to p.r.o.nounce and spell such words than fulfilment or handicraft.

”Tell the druggist,” said Sam, ”to make you up half a dozen pills with half a grain of calomel and half a grain of santonin in each one. For big dogs we make 'em one grain each. To-morrow mornin' give the pups a little milk and then don't feed 'em again till after they've been dosed. About noon give 'em each a pill, and then, a couple of hours later, give 'em each a teaspoonful of castor oil. A couple of hours after that, feed 'em again, and I'll guarantee they'll be all right, though you may have to do it all over again in a couple of months. Big dogs have to fast longer and have to have a tablespoonful of castor oil.”

”How do you give them the medicine?” inquired Ernest, looking at the squirming puppies doubtfully.

”Easy enough when you know how,” said Sam. ”I'll show you. Pick him up like this and take hold of his nose, pus.h.i.+n' his lips between his teeth with your thumb and fingers. He can't bite and he has to open his mouth. Of course, with a bigger dog it's harder if he don't want to stand still. Then take a pill in your other hand and put it down his throat as far as you can reach. Then shut his mouth and hold his head up till he has to swaller. He'll never know what went down. It's the same way with the castor oil, only you'll have to get Jack to hold the spoon and put it in when you give the word. Put it way down in, Jack, and don't get excited and spill it. Get a spoon and I'll show you how easy it is.”

Jack ran for a spoon and Sam ill.u.s.trated with a spoonful of water.

Then the boys tried it until they felt themselves sufficiently expert.

”There's a way of pourin' medicine into the side of a dog's mouth outside his teeth,” said Sam, ”but he's apt to spill some of it before he gets through. Besides, he gets the taste of it that way, and may run from the sight of a spoon or a bottle ever after. I like my way better.”

He looked at his watch and announced that he must be going.

”I'll look in on you again one of these days,” he said, ”but I know they'll be all right if you do like I said.”

”And you like Rome, don't you?” asked Jack.

”Rome?” repeated Sam.

”We named it that because Romulus and Remus were Romans,” explained Ernest.

”Yes, it's a mighty good place for them,” said Sam. Then he considered a moment. ”Do you expect me to get down and roll in the sawdust and try to bite things?”

The boys laughed at the idea, though they didn't exactly know what he meant.

”Why?” asked Ernest.

”Because I've always been told that when you're in Rome you must do as the Romans do,” said Sam, and went away laughing silently.

The boys followed Sam's instructions to the letter, and when he came again a week later the puppies were as healthy and lively as crickets.

”Now,” said Ernest, ”we want to ask you about training them. We forgot about that the other day.”

”You don't expect to go gunnin' with 'em for a few days, do you?”

asked Sam.

”No,” said Ernest, ”but we want them to learn to come when we call and do what we say.”

”Well,” said Sam, ”all it needs is patience. Keep talkin' to 'em and the first thing you know you'll find they understand words. Then try to make 'em do what the words mean. Remember they're only babies yet and be patient with 'em. Keep at it until they answer to their names.

Don't be discouraged. Of course, it'll be harder gettin' 'em housebroken if you don't let 'em into the house, but I'll guarantee you'll do it.

”It ought to be about time to cut down to four meals a day now, and give 'em shredded wheat or puppy biscuits. And now I'm here, I might as well give you a little advice about feedin' in gen'ral. You'll remember it all later. In another month you can cut down to three meals and maybe add a little chopped meat and gravy at night. Keep that up till they're six or eight months old, and then you can begin to feed 'em like grown dogs.

”In feedin' dogs,” he continued, ”remember they're like humans. They ought to have meat and grain and vegetables to get all they want to build 'em up and keep 'em healthy. Some dogs is very finicky and won't eat vegetables, but you can learn 'em to eat right if you begin right. A grown dog don't need but one meal a day, near night, but sometimes a dog gets so hungry that he overeats or bolts his food, and then it's a good plan to give him a little breakfast, too. Bones they can have any time. Bones amuse 'em and help keep their teeth and digestion in good shape. A good rule is to give a dog a little bread and milk for breakfast, a bone without too much meat on it about noon, and a good dinner at night, with all sorts of things in it. Get s.h.i.+n of beef or some other cheap meat at the butcher's and boil it good.