A Manual of Toy Dogs: How to breed, rear, and feed them

In Short

This manual is a turn-of-the-century handbook for the serious keeper of toy dog breeds. It details the daily realities of canine care, from the intricacies of breeding cycles and rearing puppies in the home to the specific dietary requirements of small dogs and the etiquette of the show ring. Written with a blend of professional veterinary insight and personal anecdote, the book has lasted because it rejects the "fads" of its era—particularly the avoidance of meat—in favor of a common-sense approach to animal biology that remains fundamentally sound and deeply caring.

The Story

The narrative begins with a bold premise: the successful owner’s secret is found in the four-letter word "meat." The author discards the era’s prevailing, misguided "no-meat" veterinary dogma, which she blames for widespread skin disease and malnutrition. She argues that the dog is a creature of the carnivora, and to deny it protein is to sentence it to a miserable existence. This argument sets the foundation for the entire book, which functions as a life cycle of the toy dog.

The arc of the manual starts at the very beginning of life: the selection of breeds and the complexities of the mating process. She emphasizes that breeding is not to be left to chance or the inexperienced. She walks the reader through the physiological stages of the toy bitch’s cycle, cautioning against the common error of rushing the process or leaving nervous animals to manage alone. From there, the book follows the birth and rearing of puppies, advocating for indoor environments over outdoor kennels to ensure the survival of these fragile, "helpless little soft morsels."

As the focus shifts to the adult dog, the narrative becomes a catalogue of maintenance. The author explores the "troublesome" yet rewarding process of preparing specific breeds, like poodles, for the show ring, while simultaneously offering a practical, unvarnished look at the risks involved, such as the debate over ear carriage or the proper, sanitary execution of docking. She approaches these tasks with a professional’s eye, refusing to sugarcoat the "barbarism" of improper techniques while insisting that, when done correctly by a skilled surgeon, such procedures are neither cruel nor risky.

The final act of the book concerns health and mortality. The author tackles the common, often misunderstood ailments of the time—distemper, gastritis, and various skin conditions—with a clear-eyed focus on nursing and diet as the primary medicines. She debunks the "worm" myth, explaining that parasites are an effect, not a cause, of poor health. The manual concludes with a detailed reference section, defining the "points" and standards for breeds ranging from the Peke to the Schipperke. Throughout, the author remains a steady, authoritative guide, grounding her advice in the reality that, while some ailments may be incurable or hereditary, the owner’s constant, well-directed care is the most effective tool in their arsenal.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of nutrition The author immediately challenges contemporary veterinary wisdom by asserting that meat is the essential, natural diet for all dogs. She explains how improper "farinaceous" or starchy diets create the very skin diseases they are meant to treat.

The cycle of breeding The text moves to the delicate management of the toy bitch, providing a clinical look at her reproductive cycle. It offers strict warnings against the dangers of leaving inexperienced animals to mate without professional oversight.

The nursery environment Detailed instructions follow for the rearing of puppies, emphasizing the need for warm, clean, and indoor conditions. The author provides specific advice on how to successfully teach a litter to lap milk without causing a mess.

The rigors of the show ring The book shifts to the technical requirements of exhibiting, including the grooming of poodles and the administrative steps for registration. It frames showing not as a hobby, but as a discipline requiring patience and professional preparation.

The management of illness The final section acts as a medical companion, covering everything from minor eye infections to severe distemper. The author insists on replacing "speculative" medicines with consistent, high-quality nourishment and hygienic care.

The People

The central figures are the Breeder and the Owner, who are often one and the same in this manual. The Breeder is expected to be a person of immense patience, precision, and courage. She must be willing to abandon popular prejudices—like the fear of feeding meat—in favor of evidence-based health. Her greatest obstacle is the "ignorance" of old-fashioned veterinary advice and the "obstinacy" of those who treat dogs like human infants rather than carnivores.

The Toy Dog is the silent, vulnerable protagonist of the book. Whether a pug, a spaniel, or a bulldog, each breed is treated as a distinct personality with unique needs. These dogs are fragile, "highly-organized," and prone to ailments like suckling fits or distemper, yet they are capable of immense affection. The author’s relationship with them is one of a steward; she views them as "dumb dependents" who rely entirely on the human to make the right choices for their diet and surgical care. By the end, the reader is not just a pet owner but a guardian, having learned that a dog’s well-being is an extension of the owner’s own discipline and willingness to learn.

In Its Own Voice

"Much disease, however, is still present among dogs for which there is no warrant in Nature, and which might be entirely conquered in the course of a few generations, could the prejudice against natural and rational diet be completely abandoned."

The author expresses her central thesis regarding the necessity of meat-feeding for long-term health.

"A toy dog of 5 lbs. or 6 lbs., which has a biscuit at breakfast time, a varied and tempting meal of meat or fish at lunch, and a piece of stale sponge cake in the evening, is being reasonably fed, and should have a healthy appetite."

She provides a concrete example of a balanced, daily feeding regimen for a small pet.

"If the two dogs are in the house together, the male should be kept entirely away from the female from the very beginning of her attraction for him, until she is ready, otherwise he will worry her incessantly and become himself ultimately indifferent and useless in the matter."

The author offers a practical, cautionary piece of advice regarding the management of breeding pairs.

What It's Really About

This book is a treatise on the responsibility of stewardship. Its argument is that the health of the animal is inextricably linked to the owner’s ability to act with scientific rationality rather than emotional indulgence. It asks the reader to confront the reality of biology, arguing that we often create "sins" in our pets through our own ignorance of their natural origins. The questions underneath the text are profound: what does it mean to own a companion animal that has been "altered by centuries of evolution," and how much care is sufficient for a creature that cannot speak for itself? The book suggests that love is not a feeling, but a consistent, daily commitment to the dog’s physical, nutritional, and medical needs.

Why Read It Today

Readers will love this book for its refreshing, unsentimental clarity. While many modern pet guides rely on vague, marketing-heavy language, this author speaks with the bluntness of someone who has spent decades cleaning kennels and nursing sick puppies back to health. There is a palpable warmth in her dedication, but it is a cool, level-headed warmth that prioritizes the dog's comfort over the owner's convenience.

Readers today should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes that permeate the text. The author’s discussion of surgical procedures like docking or her views on "faking" dog appearances may strike modern readers as morally complex or even jarring. Furthermore, while the veterinary advice on diet is remarkably forward-thinking, the medical remedies—such as the administration of chloral or mercury-based ointments—are historical curiosities that should not be applied to modern pets. However, the core of the book—the emphasis on home-rearing, the warning against "sloppy" and unnatural foods, and the focus on the dog’s individual constitution—remains a masterclass in attentive pet ownership. It is a sturdy, practical, and honest relic that reminds us that, regardless of the century, the well-being of a pet remains the owner’s most vital and rewarding duty.