Puppy Dog Tales
A Collection of Short Stories for the Dog Lover
Published by Alice V. on Smashwords
Copyright Alice V 2009. All Rights Reserved
Discover other titles by Alice V on http://www.alicev.net/
“Feet and Paw” picture courtesy of Bethan Hazell
“Puppies” picture courtesy of Rhett Nicholson
“Cute Beagle” picture courtesy of Sanja Gjenero
“Mr. Happy” picture from unknown photographer
Edited by www.floydthedog.com
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Both dogs stood tall holding their grounds, growling at each other like they were ready for a fight. Royce the brown and white Bullmastiff towered over his opponent, Spike the Whippet/Pinscher mix. Spike knew he would lose against the larger dog, but he had to stand his ground. The only thing that stood between him and a tasty leftover bone was Royce. Spike heard his stomach growl in between his own growls as he struggled to keep his composure.
A door opened in the alley and a man yelled out angrily to them. In the split second that Royce took his eyes off the bone, Spike swooped in and darted away down the alley with Royce not that far behind. Spike neared the end of the alley and thought he was home free when a net came down on him. Royce, seeing what had happened to Spike, stopped in his tracks, and tried to turn around to run the other way, when he was caught by a rope around his neck and hauled into the back of a van with Spike.
At the shelter, they got looked over by a person called Vet, received a flea bath and an ear cleaning that Spike hated. Then they were taken to their cells.
“Just wait till I get out of here, I’m going to ring your neck.” Royce barked over to the cell next to him where Spike lay covering his ears with his paws.
“Shut up you big ox, you were in my territory.” Spike yelled back.
“Fighting with each other isn’t going to get you out of here, you know,” an older grey dog said in a calm bark as he drank some water. “The humans need to know you’re civilized and have learned your lesson before they let you out.”
“How do we do that?” Spike asked as he sat up.
“Well,” the old dog started to scratch his side with his back paw, “The humans are really big on teaching you commands. You don’t have much time to learn them so I suggest you listen carefully and learn quickly.”
Royce snuffed and turned his back towards the old dog pretending not to listen. Suddenly the door down the hall opened and one of the humans came in. A sturdy middle age woman with crispy brown hair opened the door to the kennel next to the old dog. She picked up the little Corgi that wagged his tail and licked her face.
“Come one, you’re going to your new home today little guy.” She said as she left the room with the Corgi in her arms.
“Where’s he going?” Spike asked anxiously.
The old dog laughed, “He got adopted. He’s going home to his new human family.”
Spiked looked at the door down the hall. He didn’t like this place. He missed running around and digging in the trash for scraps. He stomach growled as he thought about the bone he almost fought Royce for.
Royce turned around to face the old dog, “So tell us about these commands you speak of?”
“They’re pretty basic commands like sit, stay, lay down. They expect you to walk on a lead and not pull or try to get away,” the old dog went on, “When they feed you, you must not attack the bowl or growl, because that counts as ‘bad behavior’ and holds you back. Don’t try to bite a human either because that will get you held back too.”
“Wow, that’s terrible,” Spike said, “What is ‘held back’?”
The old dog looked very serious. “You are here so that you can be taught how to live with a human family, one which will feed, exercise and generally care for and look after you. Being ‘held back’ means that the humans think that you are not ready to be allowed out” Spikes eyes showed his fear and disbelief. Royce was scared too but stayed calm because he wasn’t sure they could trust this old dog.
The door opened again and two men came in with food bowls. Spike sat and watched one of the men put a food bowl in front of him. Spike dared not to touch it for fear of being held back, so he waited for them to finish feeding all the dogs and then started eating.
The next few weeks flew by. The days were filled with daily walks, scheduled meal times, and ongoing training sessions. Royce and Spike became very good friends with each other and made new friends with some of the other dogs in the Shelter. Then one Saturday morning they were both taken to a local pet store for an adoption day. Royce and Spike sat patiently wagging their tails as humans walked past them into the store with their kids in tow. Some stopped to pet them and ask the shelter volunteers questions. Although neither of them was adopted that day, they both liked all the attention they got.
Later back at the shelter Spike couldn’t stop talking about how great it would be for them both to find a home. Then a visitor came walking through. Some of the dogs started barking to get her attention. The little girl walked past some and stopped to pet others. Her mother came in after her.
“Ok Sarah, pick just one dog.” Her mother said.
When Sarah came to Spike’s kennel she knelt down to touch him. Spike leaned forward. She smelled like bubble gum and her hair was neatly combed in two pigtails. She wore a blue and white school uniform and still had her backpack on. Spike liked her and licked her fingers.
“I want this doggie, mother,” Sarah said giggling. Just then Royce began to bark. Sarah got up and went over to Royce.
“Wow this is a big doggie,” She said smiling as she pet him, “can I have this one too?”
Before her mother could answer her, one of the volunteers came in.
“I see you have met Royce. He’s a nice big dog isn’t he?” The volunteer asked.
“Yes, I like him and I like that doggie too.” Sarah said pointing at Spike.
“Well these two dogs are best friends.” The volunteer replied.
“I don’t know about having two dogs.” The mother said in a doubtful tone.
“They get along very well and both are great with kids. They both know all the basic commands, and are obedient and well-behaved.” The volunteer said smiling.
“Oh please, please mommy,” Sarah started, “I would love to have two doggies. The big one could be for daddy and the little one could be for me.”
“Well yes. It is daddy’s birthday tomorrow. Maybe he would like a dog.” Her mother replied and her expression brightened. “Let’s do it, then!”
Finally after years on the streets and weeks in the shelter, both Royce and Spike became adopted dogs. They spent the rest of their days playing with Sarah during the day and going for long walks with the whole family in the evening. Both dogs loved their home and their humans, and were happy. Just the same, they never forgot the shelter workers that had cared enough to find them their forever home.
It was one of those nice cool days that frequently mark the first week of November. Rascal was vaguely aware of the sound of his adopted mother opening his kennel.
“Good morning Rascal,” he heard the familiar pleasant voice. It instantly woke him up and he wagged his tail excitedly. The instant the door was opened he jumped into her arms and showered her with his kisses.
His mom laughed, “Oh thank you, that’s enough for now.”
She put the little Jack Russell terrier down. He followed her to the kitchen where she gave him a bowl of dog food to eat. Today was a special day for Rascal. It was Saturday. Every week on Saturday, since as far back as Rascal could remember, they went to the dog park where he would play with all of his friends.
On the drive there, Rascal sat in the passenger seat with his head out of the window, so that he could lick the wind and smell the autumn air. When they got to the park he ran to the gate, and then waited for his mom to open it so that he could run inside to meet up with his friends who were by the fountain having a drink of water.
“Hey Rascal,” said Nixon the white and black bulldog. Water and drool dripped off the sides of his mouth.
“Rascal, you made it,” said Myra. She was a beautiful brown Yorkie who always smelled of baby powder and wore bows in her hair. Myra was the princess of the playground and like a little sister to Rascal.
“Hi Nixon, hi Miss Myra.” Rascal replied. Then suddenly he was knocked over to the ground.
“Tag, you’re it!” shouted Duke. He was a big blue Pit Bull. Even though he was bigger than Rascal, they were best friends in the dog park. Rascal started chasing Duke and then Nixon joined in too.
After a few minutes Nixon got tired and went to get his belly rubbed. Rascal started to catch up with Duke despite his dodging around trees and ducking under benches. They circled a mother and daughter who had just came in with a poodle and then around another bench. Rascal cut Duke off at the other end and pounced on him.
“Ah hah, got ya!” Rascal yelped. Myra barked with excitement and did circles like she was chasing her tail. Bruno looked over from his shady spot under the tree and laughed. The friends sat next to Bruno who was now playing with a leaf.
“Hey it’s your birthday tomorrow, right Rascal?” Myra asked.
“Yes, it is. I’ll be one year in human years.” He replied.
“You know, you get a doggy wish on your birthday and if you keep it to yourself, it will come true.” Bruno said spitting out the leaf.
“What are you going to wish for,” Myra asked, “how about a fancy pink and white dog house with a porch?”
“That’s girly,” Duke remarked and Myra looked away and put her nose in the air.
“How about a huge bone that you can chew on forever or a new Kong filled with peanut butter?”
“That sounds good.” Rascal replied, “but I don’t know. If I’m going to wish for something I want it to be really good. Like the ‘ultimate gift’ good.” They all sat and thought in silence for a while and then Rascal’s mom called to him that it was time to go.
He said good-bye to his friends and took his seat in the car.
On the way home he saw something strange on the side of the road. He barked.
As if his mom knew what he was saying, she pulled over and got out of the car. It looked like a poodle but covered in dirt. Rascal watched as his mom inspected the dog and scooped it up in her arms and put it on the backseat. Rascal looked at it in the back, lifeless and smelling of blood and dirt.
They went strait to the emergency animal hospital and Rascal waited patiently while his mom talked to the nurse at the front desk. Then some men came and took the dog away. It lay on the rolling bed without even picking up its head to acknowledge anyone. After a few more minutes they went home. That night in his kennel, Rascal prayed that the little dog would be saved and since he wanted a brother or a sister he wished the dog could come home to live with them. Rascal soon fell asleep after making his birthday wish.
The next day his mom surprised him with a birthday cupcake and some new toys.
Although he was happy that he was finally one year old, he couldn’t stop thinking about the dog from the day before. A few days passed and his mom got a call from the animal hospital. They said the dog was going to be ok and was recovering nicely. They told her it was a female Bichon Frise and not a poodle after all and if no one came to claim her, they would put her up for adoption. Rascal listened intensely as his mom said that she would adopt the dog if the owner never came forward.
A week later, Rascal sat in the back yard still chewing on the big birthday bone he got when his mom came home from work. He heard the front door open and close and a few seconds later the sliding door opened and out ran the white dog that he had last seen being wheeled off on the rolling bed at the animal hospital. Rascal ran up to welcome her.
“Her name is Sasha and she’s about one year old too. I hope you don’t mind having a sister.” His mom said smiling at the two dogs. She bent down and they both gave her a kiss on the cheek. Rascal was so happy to have a sister and that his birthday wish had come true.
When my mother died a few months ago it was hard to let her go. Going over her will was even harder. My siblings and I were not sure whether we should sell her house and divide the family heirlooms, or if one of us should move in and keep the home we all grew up in. Three days after her death we decided to sell the house because it was too heartbreaking for any of us to live there. We kept everything dear to us like family pictures, her record collection, and her jewelry. We had a yard sale for everything else.
Maybe my mother didn’t plan on dying because she failed to leave her beloved dog, Roosevelt to anyone. She had named him after Theodore Roosevelt because, she said, her little Basset Hound was smart like he was and very outgoing. At the time I didn’t know how she could see all this in a dog, but she did.
My older sister Cathy gave Roosevelt to my mom shortly after my father died seven years ago. I remember my mom’s face when my sister presented her with the puppy on Christmas day and how my mom fussed over his “Precious Moment” eyes.
I remember that she held the pup in her lap while she sat on the couch opening her presents and he stayed there the whole time taking a nap. Her grandchildren loved Roosevelt. Every time we came to visit her he was sitting on the couch watching a television program with her. He didn’t bark much and he caught on fast on how to use the doggy door I installed so he can go in an out of the back yard. Sometimes when I’d visit her with my wife and two kids, I’d stop off and get a bone for Roosevelt. I didn’t mind doing those little favors for my mother because I knew how much she loved that dog.
So now that she was gone I sat at her kitchen table in the half-empty house contemplating what to do with Roosevelt. He was too old to be adopted. My sister Cathy lived in an apartment and they don’t allow dogs there. My little brother Michael was moving to Boston in a few months for his job and his wife was expecting their third child; he wasn’t sure they had either the time or the patience for Roosevelt. I wondered what to do. My boys were old enough to be responsible with a dog and if Laura was ok with it we could keep him. Just then he came in through the doggy door and started sniffing around. He looked at me with those sad Basset Hound eyes and I could have sworn he was crying because his face had wet streaks coming from his eyes. I bent down to pet him and wiped his eyes with a paper towel.
“You miss her too don’t you?” He put his paw over my arm and licked my face as if he understood what I was saying. He walked away with his head down and stopped at the living room. He saw that the furniture was no longer there. He circled around a bit and then sat down where the couch once was and let out a sigh. At that moment I packed all his toys, treats, doghouse, and bedding into my truck.
“Looks like you’re going home with me tonight. The kids really miss you; want to go see them?” He wagged his tail and lifted his head in response and I took it as a “Yes.”
When we made it home my kids were ecstatic to see Roosevelt with me. They instantly started petting him and asked if we were going to keep him. I looked at Laura who gave me the “we need to talk” look. I told the boys to take him outside so he can sniff the yard and we waited for the door to shut indicating they were in the back yard.
“I know what you’re going to say but please hear me out first,” I started as she crossed her arms in disapproval, saying nothing as she scowled at me. “I just can’t leave him there by himself. He misses mom, I can see it in his eyes and it’s heartbreaking.”
“What about your sister and brother? Can’t one of them take him in?”
“I already asked them. Cathy said they won’t allow dogs at her apartment and you know Michael is moving in a few months and his wife is pregnant again. A dog would just be an added burden to them right now.”
“I just don’t understand how this falls on us. Why are we the ones taking on all the responsibility? I mean, we did the yard sale; we got the real estate agent and the appraisal to sell the house and where were they? You know I loved your mom but her other two kids should be the ones finding a home for him, not us. This is too stressful.”
She walked away angry into the kitchen to stir the spaghetti she was cooking. Laughter coming from outside followed by a few dog barks enticed me to look out the window to see Roosevelt running and playing with the boys. Suddenly a scream and then warning barks and growling came from outside. My wife and I instantly forgot our argument and ran out to see what the commotion was. My mind raced thinking Roosevelt attacked one of the kids. My youngest son sat on the grass barely able to say a few words as he pointed towards Roosevelt who growled and seemed to have caught something in the bushes as he rustled the leaves about and then suddenly emerged with a dead snake in his mouth. He wagged his tail and came running up to me to present his prize.
“The snake almost bit Josh, mom!” My eldest son, Richard exclaimed. “Roosevelt saved him.”
“What a good boy.” Laura said, astonished by the courage of the Basset Hound looking up at her with hopeful eyes.
“Yeah, good job Roosevelt. You saved my life.” Josh said swinging his arms around Roosevelt’s neck.
Needless to say Roosevelt’s quick actions earned him points in Laura’s heart and she was forever grateful to him for saving the life of one of our precious children. It was one of those defining moments in Laura’s life. Roosevelt’s action in saving our son Josh from the most dangerous snake in the whole of existence meant that Roosevelt was most definitely in.
I found out later when describing the ordeal to my neighbor that the snake Roosevelt killed was a copperhead and probably someone’s pet that got loose. He explained that even though the copperhead has mild venom, it could still pack a punch on its victim. Either way I was glad Roosevelt was there and even though I miss my mother dearly I’m glad she left me this brave little dog to remind me of her, and I was thankful to whatever Power intervened to save the moment and ensure his acceptance by EVERYBODY in his new, forever home.
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About the Author
Alice V is the author of several short stories of which have been written to support various animal charities through Floyd The Dog’s monthly writing contest. Alice V is also working on her first novel. Connect with Alice V online at
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