Care of the Hair  
Toenails  
Bathing  
Ears  
Eyes  
Teeth  
Ear Cropping and Tail Docking  
Examining the Puppy  
Taking the Dog's Temperature  

TAKING THE DOG'S TEMPERATURE

The dog's normal temperature range is 101 ° to 1020 F. It may go above or below this range, depending on what is wrong with him. Use an ordinary human rectal thermometer. Dip the bulb end in Vaseline or light mineral oil (baby oil will do), and gently insert it into the pup's rectum about one or two inches. (See illustration 6) Hold the thermometer there for at least three minutes. Remove it, clean it on some absorbent cotton and take the reading.

The grooming and general checkup period will contribute considerable to the health and well-being of your puppy. It should not be one of those hurry-up-and-get-it-over-with-quickly affairs; but a careful and thorough cleaning and examination. You will be much better off setting a semi- or twice-weekly grooming period than in starting out with the resolve to do it daily and then not getting around to it. Remember, the old adage-"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"-still holds true.