creative writing about a dog

How to Describe a Dog in Writing (100+ Examples)

If you’ve ever tried to capture the essence of a dog in writing, you’ll know it’s no easy feat.

From their adorably floppy ears to their delightfully waggy tails, there’s so much to say. Where do you even start?

Here’s how to describe a dog in writing:

Describe a dog in writing by focusing on features like breed, size, color, origin, shape, and personality. Incorporate senses to describe movements (walking, running), sounds (barking), and smells. Use vivid language for events like eating, getting wet, or interaction with the owner.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to describe a dog in writing.

All the Best Ways to Describe a Dog

Table of Contents

There are many ways (or categories) for describing a dog in writing:

• Personality
• Relationships
• Circumstance (Wet, Hungry)
• Movement (Walking, Running)
• Actions (Eating, Attack)

Describing Dogs by Breed

Every dog breed has unique characteristics, and identifying these can bring your writing to life.

Here are examples:

• “The Golden Retriever bounded across the grass, its golden coat gleaming in the sunlight.”
• “A German Shepherd stood guard, ears pricked and eyes alert.”
• “The Poodle’s elegant curls bounced lightly as it trotted along.”
• “With its distinct wrinkled skin, the Shar-Pei was immediately noticeable.”
• “The Shih Tzu pranced around with the poise of an emperor’s pet.”
• “The Siberian Husky’s icy blue eyes were as cold and mesmerizing as the Arctic.”
• “The Rottweiler’s robust figure loomed menacingly, despite its gentle nature.”
• “A Dalmatian raced past, its unique spots contrasting against the stark white of its coat.”
• “The Bulldog’s squashed face and muscular build add to its distinctive charm.”
• “The Chihuahua’s tiny frame was full of a big dog’s attitude.”

Describing Dogs by Size

Size greatly influences a dog’s appearance and behavior.

Here are phrases to describe dogs of different sizes:

• “The colossal Great Dane towered over the other dogs at the park.”
• “With its compact body , the Jack Russell Terrier easily weaved through the obstacles.”
• “Her tiny teacup Yorkie could fit snugly in the palm of her hand.”
• “The medium-sized Beagle was just the right size to snuggle on the sofa.”
• “The St. Bernard was massive , with a broad chest and powerful limbs.”
• “The Toy Poodle was miniature , easily tucking itself in the smallest corner of the bed.”
• “Their large Labrador had a heart as big as its size.”
• “Despite its small stature , the Dachshund had a loud, bold bark.”
• “The Mastiff’s vast size was intimidating, but it was a gentle giant at heart.”
• “The Pomeranian was petite , a small ball of fluffy fur.”

Describing Dogs by Color

A dog’s color can paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

• “The brindle Boxer was a stunning mixture of dark stripes on a fawn background.”
• “Her white Samoyed was a fluffy cloud on a leash.”
• “The black Labrador blended into the night, its eyes gleaming like stars.”
• “The red Dachshund’s coat was the color of autumn leaves.”
• “Their blue Merle Border Collie was a unique patchwork of blues and grays.”
• “The yellow Labrador’s coat shimmered in the sunlight, like golden wheat.”
• “The chocolate brown Cocker Spaniel was a bundle of silky cocoa fur.”
• “The grey Weimaraner moved with a grace that matched its unique color.”
• “The tricolor Beagle was a striking mix of black, white, and brown.”
• “The sable German Shepherd sported a beautiful blend of brown, black, and gold.”

Describing Dogs by Origin

A dog’s origin can give insight into its nature and appearance.

• “The Australian Shepherd , with its striking eyes, showed a keen intelligence and zest for herding.”
• “The English Bulldog , stocky and muscular, was a testament to its roots in bull-baiting.”
• “The Japanese Shiba Inu , with its plush coat and fox-like face, showed an alert and bold temperament.”
• “The French Bichon Frise exuded charm and elegance, fitting for a breed that once warmed the laps of French royalty.”
• “The Irish Wolfhound , the tallest of all dog breeds, showed the strength and courage of its homeland.”
• “The Mexican Chihuahua may have been small, but it displayed a spirit as lively as a fiesta.”
• “The Russian Borzoi , with its long, silky coat and slender physique, had an undeniable aristocratic air.”
• “The Italian Greyhound , graceful and slender, was reminiscent of Roman sculptures.”
• “The German Rottweiler radiated strength and reliability, a testament to its working roots.”
• “The Swiss Bernese Mountain Dog had a sturdy physique built for its original role in the Swiss Alps.”

Describing Dogs by Shape

The shape of a dog can say a lot about its breed and even its purpose.

• “The Dachshund’s elongated body was a comical sight with its stubby legs.”
• “The Greyhound’s sleek, aerodynamic body reflected its history as a swift hunting dog.”
• “The Basset Hound’s droopy ears and saggy skin gave it an endearing, mournful look.”
• “The Bulldog’s stocky body and strong muscles indicated a history of hard work.”
• “The Afghan Hound’s narrow body and long, silky hair were a sight to behold.”
• “The Pug’s round, compact body was an adorable contrast to its expressive, wrinkled face.”
• “The Pomeranian’s tiny body was a fluffy ball of energy and enthusiasm.”
• “The Saint Bernard’s heavyset physique conveyed power and endurance, perfect for rescue missions.”
• “The Border Collie’s agile, athletic body was perfect for a day of herding sheep.”
• “The Corgi’s short, sturdy body and low-set frame were well-suited to its original task of cattle herding.”

Describing Dogs by Personality

A dog’s personality can make it truly unique.

Here are examples of describing dogs by their character traits:

• “The Cheerful Labrador Retriever was always ready for a game of fetch.”
• “The Stubborn Basset Hound refused to budge from the sofa.”
• “The Energetic Border Collie spent hours playing in the yard.”
• “The Protective German Shepherd watched over the children vigilantly.”
• “The Aloof Shiba Inu preferred watching from a distance, rather than joining in.”
• “The Fearless Dachshund didn’t let its small size stop it from confronting bigger dogs.”
• “The Patient Saint Bernard waited calmly as the kids played around it.”
• “The Intelligent Poodle quickly figured out how to open the gate.”
• “The Laid-back Bulldog enjoyed nothing more than a good nap.”
• “The Sociable Golden Retriever made friends everywhere it went.”

Here is a good video I made about how to describe a dog in writing:

How to Describe a Dog Walking

Describing a dog walking can be a captivating and amusing experience, as dogs have a wide variety of walking styles that can depict their mood, breed, and personality.

It’s essential to focus on the dog’s movement, pace, posture, and where its attention is directed.

Describing the Movement

Dogs do not just walk; they strut, amble, trot, or even prance, depending on their mood and the situation.

A dog might saunter casually when it’s relaxed or stride purposefully when on a mission.

Consider how the dog’s body moves. Is its tail wagging, held high, or tucked between its legs?

Are the movements fluid and graceful, or awkward and clumsy?

Describing the Pace

The pace at which a dog walks can say a lot about its mindset.

Is it meandering leisurely, taking in all the scents, or is it rushing ahead, full of energy and excitement? A slow pace might suggest a dog that’s tired, older, or perhaps one that’s reluctant to go where it’s being led.

A brisk pace could indicate eagerness or excitement.

Describing the Posture

A dog’s posture during its walk can speak volumes about its confidence and health.

A dog that walks with its head and tail up is likely feeling happy and confident. A dog that slinks with its tail between its legs could be frightened or feeling insecure.

A hunched posture could suggest a dog is unwell.

Describing Attention Direction

Where a dog’s attention is focused while walking can help describe the scene.

Is the dog scanning its surroundings, sniffing the ground, looking up at its owner, or watching other dogs or people?

Here are some short examples:

• “The Labrador Retriever strutted confidently across the park, tail wagging and nose in the air, taking in all the exciting new scents.”
• “The old Beagle ambled slowly , sniffing every bush and tree trunk, soaking in all the smells.”
• “The German Shepherd trotted briskly , head high and ears perked, alert to every movement around it.”
• “The tiny Chihuahua pranced daintily along the sidewalk, pausing every few steps to glance up at its owner for reassurance.”

How to Describe a Dog Barking

Describing a dog barking can be a captivating way to bring energy and emotion into your writing.

It’s essential to focus on the sound, volume, rhythm, and context of the dog’s bark.

Describing the Sound

Different dogs bark in different ways. This can change based on the type of dog, how big it is, and how it’s feeling.

Some dogs have a high-pitched yip, others have a low, menacing growl, while some have a hearty, resonant bark. Using words that convey sound can help your readers “hear” the bark in their minds.

Describing the Volume

The volume of a dog’s bark can add intensity and emotion to your scene.

A soft, almost whispered bark might suggest uncertainty or fear, while a loud, booming bark could indicate a warning or show of dominance.

Describing the Rhythm

The rhythm or pattern of a dog’s bark can convey a lot about what it’s feeling or trying to communicate.

Is the bark continuous, like an alarm bell? Or is it sporadic and playful, like during a game of fetch?

Describing the Context

Remember to describe the situation in which the dog is barking.

Is it barking at a squirrel in a tree, an intruder at the door, or out of sheer excitement when its owner comes home? The context can help the reader understand the dog’s behavior.

• “The German Shepherd’s bark was deep and resonant , echoing across the vast yard as it spotted an intruder.”
• “The Chihuahua’s yip was high-pitched , a constant, frantic sound whenever the doorbell rang.”
• “The Beagle’s bark was hearty and rhythmic , punctuating the quiet afternoon as it spotted a squirrel in the garden.”
• “The Golden Retriever’s bark was loud and joyous , a booming sound of welcome when its owner returned home.”

By focusing on the sound, volume, rhythm, and context, you can provide a vivid description of a dog barking that brings your story to life.

How to Describe a Dog’s Smell in Writing

Describing a dog’s smell can provide an immersive, sensory detail that makes your writing more engaging. It’s important to focus on the type of smell, intensity, and source of the smell.

Describing the Type of Smell

A dog’s smell can range from pleasant to pungent depending on numerous factors.

Some dogs may carry the fresh scent of their shampoo, others the earthy smell of dirt from a playful afternoon in the park, while some can have the strong, musky odor that’s uniquely canine.

Choosing the right adjectives to describe these scents will paint a clearer picture in your reader’s mind.

Describing the Intensity

The intensity of a dog’s smell can speak volumes about its recent activities or general hygiene.

A faint smell might suggest a recently bathed and groomed dog, while a strong, potent odor could indicate a dog that’s spent hours outdoors or has been neglecting its grooming routine.

Describing the Source

Consider the source of the smell.

Does the smell come from the dog’s fur, its breath, or perhaps a specific part of its body like the paws or ears?

Each source can produce a distinct odor, and specifying this can help in creating a more vivid description.

• “The Golden Retriever’s scent was a comforting mixture of its recent bath and the familiar, musky odor that was distinctly doggy .”
• “The Bulldog had a strong, earthy smell , a testament to its afternoon digging in the garden.”
• “The Cocker Spaniel had a faint, sweet smell , a mixture of its strawberry-scented shampoo and its soft, clean fur.”
• “The Dachshund’s smell was potent , the sour odor of its breath a clear sign it had been into the trash again.”

How to Describe a Dog Running

Describing a dog running can bring vibrancy and excitement into your writing.

It’s essential to focus on the dog’s speed, style of running, body movements, and the purpose behind its run.

Describing the Speed

The speed at which a dog runs can say a lot about its mood, breed, and health.

A dog may sprint like the wind when chasing a ball or trot at a leisurely pace when exploring a new area.

Noticing whether the run is slow and calculated, or fast and frenzied can add depth to your description.

Describing the Style of Running

Every dog has its own style of running. Some dogs run with a light, bouncy gait, while others might run with a strong, determined stride.

Smaller dogs might scamper or scurry, while larger dogs might lope or bound.

The style of running can be indicative of the dog’s breed, size, and personality.

Describing Body Movements

Focus on the dog’s body movements while it’s running.

Is its tail held high, streaming out behind like a flag, or is it tucked close to its body?

Do its ears flap in the wind, or are they pinned back against its head? Such details can bring your description to life.

Describing the Purpose

Describe the purpose or reason behind the dog’s run.

Is it running after a squirrel, towards its owner, or is it simply running out of sheer joy? The context will help readers understand the scene better.

• “The Greyhound sprinted with a determined, almost mechanical gait , its body a blur of sleek muscle and raw speed as it chased the rabbit.”
• “The Bulldog lumbered slowly, its run more of a waddle , its small legs working overtime to keep up with its friends.”
• “The Golden Retriever ran with a joyful bounce , its tail waving like a banner, its tongue lolling out in pure happiness.”
• “The Corgi scampered with surprising speed , its short legs a blur as it raced to retrieve the thrown ball.”

How to Describe a Dog Attack in Writing

Describing a dog attack in writing requires careful handling.

It’s essential to portray the event realistically and sensitively, focusing on the actions of the dog, the reaction of the victim, and the aftermath of the event.

Describing the Dog’s Actions

An attacking dog might growl, bare its teeth, charge, or snap.

It might pounce or it might pin its intended target. When describing the dog’s actions, use strong, active verbs to convey the rapid, often chaotic sequence of events.

Be mindful, however, to avoid sensationalizing or vilifying the dog unnecessarily.

Describing the Victim’s Reaction

The victim’s reaction can range from fear to shock, panic to pain.

They might try to escape, protect themselves, or even fight back. Describe their physical responses – do they freeze, run, shout? What emotions are they feeling – terror, disbelief, anger?

Describing the Aftermath

The aftermath of a dog attack can be a potent way to demonstrate the seriousness of the situation.

This could be the immediate response – other people coming to help, calling for an ambulance or animal control – or the longer-term impacts, such as physical scars or psychological trauma.

• “The Rottweiler charged with a menacing growl , its eyes locked onto the intruder, teeth bared in a threatening snarl.”
• “The victim, frozen in fear, raised an arm protectively , a futile shield against the imminent attack.”
• “The aftermath was a scene of chaos , people rushing to assist, the shrill sound of a whistle as someone called for animal control.”

How to Describe a Dog Bite Wound

Describing a dog bite wound can add a dramatic touch to your writing.

It’s important to be sensitive and accurate in such descriptions, focusing on the appearance, severity, and emotional impact of the wound.

Describing the Appearance

How a dog bite wound looks can change a lot based on the dog’s size, breed, and where the bite is located.

It might range from puncture wounds from the dog’s canines, to scratches from its smaller teeth, to torn skin in more severe cases.

It could be described as “a jagged tear in the skin”, “a row of puncture marks”, or “scratches, crisscrossing the skin.”

Describing the Severity

The severity of a dog bite wound can be used to amplify the drama and tension in your scene.

A minor bite could be described as “a series of shallow punctures,” while a serious bite might be described as “a deep, gaping wound.”

Always remember, however, to handle such descriptions with care, as they might be disturbing to some readers.

Describing the Emotional Impact

The emotional reaction to a dog bite wound can add depth to your description.

Consider the shock, pain, fear, or even anger that might be felt by the character who’s been bitten.

• “The bite was a sharp puncture , a painful reminder of the Labrador’s unexpected aggression.”
• “The wound was a set of scratches , red and stinging, inflicted in the playful roughhousing with the Border Collie.”
• “The bite was severe, a deep laceration , a horrifying result of the Rottweiler’s attack.”

How to Describe the Relationship Between a Dog and its Owner

Describing the relationship between a dog and its owner can add depth to your characters and narrative.

Focus on the interactions, shared activities, and emotions between the dog and the owner.

Describing Interactions

Interactions between a dog and its owner can range from affectionate cuddling and playful wrestling to shared quiet moments of contentment.

How does the owner speak to the dog? With tenderness, patience, firmness?

How does the dog respond to the owner? With excitement, calmness, attentiveness?

These interactions can reveal a lot about their bond.

Describing Shared Activities

The activities shared between a dog and its owner can show their relationship dynamics.

Do they enjoy long hikes together? Lazy afternoons on the couch? Vigorous playtime in the park?

A shared activity can indicate the lifestyle, interests, and compatibility of the dog and its owner.

Describing Emotions

The emotions that a dog and its owner have for each other can create an emotional connection for your reader.

Does the owner show love, concern, pride for their dog? Does the dog show loyalty, devotion, affection towards its owner?

Describing these emotions can make the relationship more relatable and engaging.

• “The owner stroked the Golden Retriever’s fur gently , a look of tenderness in his eyes, while the dog leaned into the touch, its tail thumping the ground in contentment.”
• “The Labrador and its owner were inseparable , always off on some new adventure together, their shared energy and enthusiasm evident in their bright smiles and wagging tail.”
• “The Beagle gazed at its owner with unwavering loyalty , its eyes following her every move, a soft whine escaping whenever she left the room.”

How to Describe a Dog Eating

Describing a dog eating can add a touch of realism and charm to your writing.

Here are some words, phrases, and examples that might help you capture this everyday event:

Words to Describe a Dog Eating

• Gobble : To eat quickly and eagerly.
• Nibble : To eat with small bites.
• Crunch : To chew with a noise.
• Devour : To eat hungrily or quickly.
• Savor : To eat slowly, enjoying the taste.
• Sniff : To smell food before eating.
• Chew : To bite food into smaller pieces before swallowing.

Phrases to Describe a Dog Eating

• Wolf down : To eat very quickly.
• Pick at : To eat only small amounts of food, showing little interest or appetite.
• Lick clean : To eat all the food off a plate or bowl.
• Chomp on : To chew loudly or vigorously.

Examples of a Dog Eating

• “The Golden Retriever devoured its dinner , not even pausing for breath, the food disappearing as if by magic.”
• “The Chihuahua nibbled delicately at its food , picking out its favorite pieces with precision.”
• “The Bulldog chomped on its kibble , the loud crunches echoing through the room.”
• “The Dachshund savored its treat , chewing slowly and relishing each bite.”

By using these words and phrases, you can describe a dog eating in a way that brings the scene to life, showcasing the dog’s personality and eating habits.

How to Describe a Wet Dog in Writing

Describing a wet dog can add a humorous or empathetic touch to your writing.

Here are some words, phrases, and examples that can help you capture this scene accurately:

Words to Describe a Wet Dog

• Drenched : Completely soaked with water.
• Dripping : Having drops of water falling from it.
• Soggy : Heavy and wet; soaked with moisture.
• Slick : Smooth and glossy, especially from being wet.
• Damp : Slightly wet.

Phrases to Describe a Wet Dog

• Soaked to the bone : Completely wet.
• Shaking off water : The action dogs perform to get rid of water from their fur.
• Looking like a drowned rat : Looking very wet and miserable.
• Waterlogged fur : Fur that is heavily soaked with water.

Examples of a Wet Dog

• “The Labrador was drenched , its normally fluffy fur sticking to its body in a slick layer.”
• “The Poodle was a dripping mess , water pouring from its curly fur as it emerged from the pool.”
• “The Corgi looked like a drowned rat , its usually buoyant fur hanging heavy and wet.”
• “The Border Collie shook off the water from its waterlogged fur , sending droplets flying in all directions.”

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Dog in Writing

You can also describe the mood, thoughts, and feelings of dogs in writing.

There are many examples in popular and classic stories. Read them. Learn from them. And then write a better dog.

Related Posts:

• How to Describe the Wind in Writing (100 Words + Examples)
• How to Describe a Ghost in Writing (Tips, Words, Examples)
• How To Describe a Panic Attack in Writing (Ultimate Guide)
• How To Describe a House in Writing (21 Tips for Beginners)

1001 Writing Prompts About Dogs

March 10, 2021

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Running low on ideas for your next story? If so, try observing your dogs for a while. They might be able to ignite your creativity and give you new ideas for a novel or short story. After all, it is not new for writers to be inspired by the pets they had (or wished they had). In fact, the screenplay for the 2008 film Marley & Me was based on an autobiography written by journalist John Grogan about the 13 years he and his family spent with a yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley. On the other hand, the well-known children’s book series Clifford the Big Red Dog was made because of its author Norman Bridwell’s childhood desire for a dog the size of a horse. 

Below are writing about dogs, you might want to check out:

• A dog has an adventure on her first day alone in the house.
• A baby dog plays with a baby human.
• Write a Diary of a Dog.
• A family votes to put their dog to sleep. A moral dilemma ensues.
• A dog follows his master from fight to fight.
• Dogs only want to talk about themselves.
• A beggar boy with no legs has a medicinal dog. The dog rises from the dead to help save the baby of an abusive father and a negligent mother.
• A dog confronts a burglar.
• A dog goes missing in a grocery store.
• A dog is typically calm but thrown into a chaotic environment.
• What is the dog’s secret to having success in life?
• A dog is rescued by a neighborhood boy.
• A dog hates another dog.
• A dog meets a werewolf.
• A dog gets into a fight with the mailman over a bone, but they become friends when the mailman gives the dog her bone once he’s taken her mail from her.
• Dogs hate cats. Cats hate dogs.
• A poor family takes in a rescue dog.
• Someone’s dog saves their life by waking them up from a seizure.
• The dog mourns for her lost owner.
• A dog survives climbing Mt. Everest.
• Write about your dog.
• The owners of a very sad looking dog are told they give off the wrong energy to the dog and their relationship with him needs to change. The dog understands English perfectly and they do not.
• A dog who escapes bad weather looks up and sees that all humans carry umbrellas. Dogs immediately begin to carry umbrellas as well.
• The day a dog realizes that it isn’t a pet.
• A dog fears something and its owner does not understand.
• A dog chases his tail for an hour.
• A dog arrests a robbery suspect.
• A dog dreams of being a movie star
• A random stranger stops to help a crippled dog.
• A group dog rescue turns the dog’s life around.
• A dog spends the day in a coffee shop.
• A blind man trains his dog to find his killer. But then the dog becomes his eyes.
• Someone’s dog vanishes.
• A young girl and her dog.
• A service dog saves the life of a child.
• A hunter is killed by her own dog.
• An adorable puppy gets the surprise of its lifetime!
• 2. Dogs in Amtgard
• When the dog dies, a family orders another one from a pet shop.
• A dog sees a shooting star.
• Three dogs approach an old man. One runs away, one threatens to bite, and the other rolls onto her back. Describe the old man’s reaction and how he chose his dog.
• A dog makes a major life decision.
• A dog runs into the house and tells the family they are about to have a baby.
• Write a story about a dog rescue.
• A man adopts a dog and then meets a woman.
• A volunteer at a shelter cares for one dog with a rare medical problem.
• A dog saves its owner from a raging fire.
• A dog that travels with his human family takes a wrong turn.
• Dogs get sent to the future.
• The genetic enhancements that dogs and people receive for their loyalty and service are canceled out by non-cooperative humans who have competitive genes. What’s left of the dogs and humans must learn to coexist.
• Dogs rescue a family that collapsed on a hiking trail.
• Rescue a dog from an abusive owner.
• A dog tries to help a woman who has become lost in the snow.
• A dog acts based on his selfless nature.
• A man who lost his wife leaves behind his beloved dog after his death.
• A boy meets an imaginary friend who helps him with problems.
• A dog decides to move to Alaska for a change of scenery.
• A girl meets the dog that killed her mother and she realizes the dog was just doing what it was told.
• A dog has a birthday gift that his master cannot give him.
• Your dog is hiding something from you.
• A dog adopts a human.
• A dog has a thought.
• A dog adopted from a shelter saves a child from drowning.
• A dog saves a woman’s life as she walks home from work.
• A runaway dog finds another dog and they become best friends.
• A dog’s family hosts a swanky dinner party but the dog causes a mess.
• A dog is the only witness to a planned crime.
• A children’s book about a dog. Have each student write a first, middle, and last sentence. Combine these three sentences for a beginning, middle, and end to a children’s book.
• A dog is mistaken for a criminal.
• The core plot of the story is a family being moved out of their home so a dog show is held in their home.
• A dog is the best listener a guy has ever had.
• A dog gets lost in the woods but finds his way home.
• A dog decides that her dog parents are no longer needed.
• A boy and his dog have a special bond.
• The story of a service dog in the Vietnam War.
• A dog fights alongside a soldier in a war.
• Write about a particularly rough and tough dog.
• Write a story about a dog with a phobia.
• A dog saves her owner/a baby/a child from death.
• A deaf dog survives in a world that doesn’t seem to like him.
• A dog reflects on his life.
• A dog is given the power of speech.
• A dog walks 5,000 miles back home after being stolen.
• Describe your dog before he died.
• A cat and a dog have just met. Describe the first meeting between cat and dog.
• A dog’s hilarious efforts to communicate his thoughts to humans.
• A dog is adopted from a shelter and has issues settling in.
• A dog that is rescued by a person from a shelter is the best dog.
• A dog helps retrieve evidence in a big case.
• A dog has the ability to talk to humans, but keeps quiet so as to remain in secret.
• A dog rescues a child from drowning.
• A girl is walking a large cat on a leash when a dog runs up and barks at it.
• A dog owner is murdered by his dog.
• A dog dons a tutu & pajamas and attends a baby shower.
• Sonnet dedicated to a dog.
• A celebrity is bitten by a dog.
• Dogs have made wonderful human companions. Share why you like them.
• A dog chases a mailman rigorously. The scene finally ends but the mailman is nowhere to be seen.
• A family has to choose a dog from the pound.
• The main character whose point of view story we have been reading switches bodies with her dog.
• What can dogs do that humans can’t?
• A cat finds a letter in a bottle in a trash can.
• Man vs Dog in a marathon.
• A blind boy gets a seeing-eye dog. The dog disappears.
• A dog changes the life of an old man.
• A dog finds a very interesting bone.
• A dog saves the ship while the captain panics.
• A dog owner loses their dog and can’t find him anywhere.
• Write a story from the dog’s point of view.
• A sleazy salesperson has refused to allow a dog to accompany a blind man onto a bus.
• A dog owner travels into the future and brings a dog home.
• The dog comes back to life the next day.
• A dog is left at an animal shelter.
• Dogs are allowed to live longer on their planet.
• A dog is injured because her owners didn’t take her to the vets.
• Recent studies show that older animals are being euthanized in shelters in unfair numbers. What would you say to upset people who think this is an easy problem to solve?
• A self-centered man is suddenly given a dog for his birthday.
• What would you do if you woke up one morning and you could speak to a dog?
• A family is stuck on the freeway, the dad talks about how they have their current life because of the faithful love of their dog.
• A dog gets sick and goes to the vet with his master.
• “I As You” from the perspective of a dog starring
• A guide dog takes a wrong turn.
• A dog lives in the sun.
• A dog helps a wounded soul get their groove back.
• A dog sees an injured child and brings him inside and cares for him until help comes.
• Write from the point of view of a dog searching for dinner.
• Cats and dogs must compete against each other to prove which species is superior.
• A dog writes a letter to a newspaper editor.
• A dog runs away from home after a fight with the puppy.
• Write about a dog who didn’t get walked and has to pee on the floor when someone is about to walk into the room.
• Write a dog poem.
• Write about the best friend that any person could have.
• A dog changes another person’s life or ours.
• A dog becomes famous on the internet.
• A teen jogs while on the phone with his sister. He never sees the large dog before it attacks.
• A man finds a dog-eared book and gives it to a man he doesn’t know in a waiting room. The stranger finds the steam engine figure and gives it to a little girl. The two never meet again but their lives are changed forever.
• A dog meets President Obama and they have a conversation.
• A stray dog earns his family’s love and respect after years of loyalty and affection.
• A dog saves his owner from a grizzly bear.
• A man’s search for his lost dog winds up being a journey of reflection on life.
• Write a story about your dog’s dream.
• Help your toddler come up with her own story.
• The fiercest Chihuahua on Earth
• Someone writes a letter to their dog explaining that they must be rehomed.
• A dog goes through a wizard’s door to meet his owner’s spirit in the afterlife.
• A family adopts a golden retriever and takes him home.
• When a dog is injured, she overcomes her limitations through medical treatment.
• A dog is left outside during winter and another character acts heroically.
• A dog is depressed because the family is moving.
• The dog interacts with a stray cat.
• A dog participates in an Olympic sport.
• A dog is on death row. Euthanize him or set him free?
• Is it cruel to make a dog race?
• A girl adopts three turtle doves.
• A dog and a cat team up to catch a burglar.
• A dog finds a new family after being lost or abandoned.
• Something happens to a dog.
• Write a story initiated by one word.
• A dog survives a hurricane.
• Write a story from the point of view of a cat.
• A dog uncovers a mystery while taking a walk.
• A dog’s life told by the pet psychic.
• A dog teacher tries to teach other dogs how to fetch.
• A marriage turns sour and the wife leaves to form a political party.
• A man is saved from a vicious dog or wolf by its wise leader.
• A pet dog turns out to have been a circus act before.
• A woman loves her dog more than her husband.
• A paralyzed dog is nursed back to health by his favorite boy.
• A dog writes at a dog’s blog.
• A dog discovers a human body in the woods.
• A dog becomes man’s best friend.
• A pompous dog flexes his muscles but is a coward when it matters most.
• A dog has nine lives. This is her second.
• A dog that everyone thought was bad turns out to be a hero.
• A mother dog packs her kids off to school.
• Write a love letter from your dog to yourself.
• The gang fights off a pack of wolves.
• A dog tries to communicate with humans after a serious accident.
• A dog is stuck inside a home during a house fire.
• Might be hard to write, as you don’t want to deprive the baby either.
• A dog wakes up one day and realizes he’s turned into a human.
• A girl writes the final entry in her dog’s diary.
• What will you name your dog? Write a story about that dog.
• Write a story about a dog who is hurt or dying.
• A dog’s paw is badly injured.
• A guard dog suddenly starts cuddling after being scared by a burglar.
• A dog saves a family from hanging.
• A group of stray dogs help a homeless man.
• Dogs falling from a magical bridge into a land that no one has ever returned from.
• Describe someone getting the dog they always wanted.
• A dog makes an impression on the local populace.
• A dog teaches kids to love.
• A dog gets a job at a supermarket.
• A dog is the voice of Common Sense on a talk radio show.
• A dog tells her veterinary story.
• A dog is discovered still loyal to his deceased owner allowing him to be free of cancer.
• She comes home to retrieve something she left behind in the house.
• A dog goes crazy for a dove.
• Someone finds a dog wandering the streets and takes him in.
• A dog is hit by a car.
• A family that has a pet dog is in an accident and the pet dog is lost.
• Think of a favourite dog who you knew when you were a kid. Write about how much you liked that dog.
• A dog encounters a person for the first time.
• What it means to be loyal to one’s species.
• Dogs are not allowed in libraries, but everyone knows about the dog who sneaks in every day to get books.
• A dog finds a valuable stolen necklace.
• The life of a stray dog.
• Write a book poem about a dog.
• Someone is forced to be a pet for a dog.
• A dog is abandoned by his owner, which is now living with a new family.
• Study a dog on a walk, and write about what you observe.
• A dog’s view of her family.
• A woman adopts a dog without her boyfriend finding out.
• A dog cannot read, write, or talk.
• A dog disappears.
• Someone kidnaps a dog and places an ad in the newspaper.
• A boy realises the dog he is about to kill is his best friend.
• A dog finds a dead body while out with its owner.
• A dog drowns and goes to heaven.
• An old woman and her dog encounter a book about training dogs while on vacation.
• The next time you’re on a plane, write about what it would be like to be a dog on that plane.
• Describe what you’d be like as a dog.
• A stray dog witnesses her owner being murdered and vows to catch the murderer.
• A dog finds what it’s looking for in the most unexpected place.
• You care for your older uncle whose dog has run away.
• Write a poem about your dog.
• A dog dies saving its owner.
• The owner takes him from a pound.
• A man has had his dog for years and now he wants a divorce.
• A dog protects a baby from a rattlesnake.
• Write a dialogue between a dog and his master.
• A dog becomes famous after haunting a movie set.
• A dog is separated from his/her family and now they have to find their way home.
• A dog gives birth at a family reunion.
• A soldier comes home to a dog that has hurt herself while he was away.
• A dog receives the gift of the power to read minds.
• A dog is a detective.
• A family can speak to their dog like a person and the dog can understand it.
• A dog develops a really bad habit and his person no longer bonds with him.
• A dog is lost and no one is going to call the shelter to help her.
• A homeless dog finds a home when the snow starts to fall.
• A dog suffers from nightmares every night.
• A boy’s dog is found guilty of murder.
• An interviewer interviewing the dog.
• Someone finds love in a shelter dog.
• Dog misses the family that rejected him.
• A dog becomes a hero in the Great Depression.
• Dogs come to live in a house at the start of a war.
• A special dog ward at a hospital has a particularly difficult patient.
• A dog discovers that housework is not as bad as she thought.
• A dog has an eating disorder. He grosses everyone out.
• A dog gets in trouble for stealing food he’s just fed.
• A man with the worst temper ever gets a dog to train him.
• Write about a dog that unintentionally injures or kills someone.
• A dog tells its story.
• A pet is taken away by animal control and the owners realize that they shouldn’t have bought it.
• A dog is bitten by a man but forgives him.
• A letter to a dog from the dog’s former master.
• A dog falls off a boat and gets stranded on an island.
• A man wrecks his car into a tree but feels no guilt because his dog made it out okay.
• Dogs running wild in the streets.
• A dog saves his owner’s marriage.
• After a decade of war, a soldier is separated from his dog.
• A famous detective owns a shih-tzu.
• A dog causes a traffic accident.
• A boy adores his dog right from the first day they meet.
• A dog movie festival.
• My dog dies of cancer.
• A dog cannot pick just one scent in the air and has decided to follow every scent.
• A guy believes that he has ESP powers and that he can contact others via his dog.
• A lonely he or she dog adopts a doll as his new best friend.
• Rehabilitation for a dog who attacked a person.
• A toddler’s first day at school.
• The parents have a dog that does tricks.
• Write a scary story based on something your dog has done.
• The grieving parents adopt a dog.
• Write a poem about dogs.
• The dog overdosed on her chores.
• A dog reunites family members who have been apart for a long time.
• A giant dog discovers Alaska.
• A mutt becomes a model dog.
• A girl leaves a dog in the park and he gets attacked by another dog and the owners won’t help.
• A dog loses his best friend when the owner dies.
• A boy has been having a tough time living with his dog and
• A dog makes someone famous.
• A dog is upset because she isn’t named Captain and she’d really want the job.
• A dog becomes a hero by testifying against her master for a crime.
• Give a dog a job it is otherwise unlikely to have, like a waiter.
• A dog gets lost leaves for several days, then finds his way home on his own.
• The diary of the dog who is left home alone all day while everyone is at work.
• A dog is adopted, but the person who buys him fails to vaccinate him and he gets rabies.
• An attached dog will not be able to have a vacation at the family cottage.
• The number of puppies an adult dog has at a certain point in its life.
• A dog becomes a CIA secret agent.
• A family adopts a puppy, eventually regretting it.
• A dog is a suspect in a crime.
• One dog suspiciously watches a telephone cable line while the other dog crawls under to inspect the line.
• A dog is abandoned in the woods at a young age and manages to survive in the wild alone.
• How does the dog feel about nail clippings?
• Two dogs discover the meaning of fear living next door to the killer.
• A dog accompanies his owner to the party in the hope of getting a biscuit.
• A documentary of a dog’s life in the pond.
• Do you ever dream of your dog coming back?
• The first dog to reach space.
• A dog has a dream or nightmare.
• A dog that dies saving someone.
• A dog relives his best days with his owner.
• A dog is rescued from being an agility competitor.
• The owner of a puppy tries to teach his dog to talk.
• A dog falls in love with a porcupine.
• A family recounts the death of their previously perfect dog.
• Interpret/rewrite a myth from the perspective of the dog.
• The town hires a dog to be the sheriff.
• A dog gets onto a plane and disrupts the service by eating the meals.
• You have one wish and you can use it to grant intelligence to a dog or obtain the brain of Albert Einstein.
• Write, draw, or do something that brings your dog to life.
• Write a story describing a morning walking a dog.
• A dog is a messenger from Heaven.
• A dog manages a team of rescue dogs.
• Write something that shows the relationship between a dog and a human.
• A family keeps a dog hidden in their basement.
• A neighbor adopts a stray dog and chaos ensues.
• The parents make sure that their pet dog is well-taken care of, while raising their kids.
• A man in Texas adopts a dog, only to have it stolen by a pregnant woman.
• An unhappy dog wanders into the woods and finds a dog motel that prepares her for adoption.
• A dog dies and goes to heaven.
• A child wishes they were a dog because of his heroic nature.
• A boy wanted a dog desperately.
• The dog of a blind boy proves to be the boy’s eyes.
• An abandoned dog is rescued by a stranger but then stays out all night.
• Steps to Writing a Story  is a book designed to give students the opportunity to tap into their creativity. By design, this flexible-format book allows for teachers to decide whether to compose a story about Freddie and Mr. Brasco or to have students compose their own stories about two of their favorite characters.
• A dog steals money to buy food for her sick companion.
• A man and dog’s telepathic bond serves them in life-or-death situations.
• A dog tells the story of her owner’s suicide.
• A dog plays fetch for the first time.
• What if you went to the dog park and didn’t bring any dog treats?
• A rock star owns a dog.
• A family has a tennis ball that’s either too new to throw or too old to keep.
• A French dog goes on holiday but his owner doesn’t realise he can’t swim.
• A dog refuses to lie for his life.
• A paralyzed dog meets a new hooman friend.
• A boy visits his father at work. Once there, his father’s boss keeps staring at him.
• Do dogs feel guilt?
• A dog barks all night because the owner is bitten by a snake, he monitors the health of the victim.
• A baseball player falls in love with the dogs in his neighborhood.
• Driving with the dog in the car—one animal’s perspective.
• A dog is found stranded on a faraway island.
• A dog witnesses a crime.
• An old man buys a dog because his wife is gone.
• A dog is found with a dismembered body and buried underneath.
• The dog watches his owner with another woman.
• A dog loses his sense of smell.
• A dog is repurposed into a cow and gets fat off the plains.
• A police dog dies doing its job.
• A dog from the first half of the story is brought back to a family from the second half of the story.
• A boy dreams of being a wizard and can talk to his dog.
• A children’s book about a cat and dog.
• A blind girl gets a seeing eye dog and meets his old partner who can’t be around him anymore.
• A dog dies protecting a baby from a wood chipper.
• A dog falls in love with a talking human.
• A dog wakes up after a nuclear blast and hears voices.
• A man acquires a dog as a pet years ago when the woman in his life kicks him out. The dog’s is a secret long kept participant in the dirty details of their past relationship and helps him move on.
• The story of a dog and his favorite owner.
• Dogs gone wild at the board game Monopoly.
• A girl goes to school with one of her pet dogs.
• A dog therapist uses her powers to heal troubled teens at school.
• A man receives news that his dog’s cancer is in remission.
• A dog can communicate by phone.
• A dog’s sad thoughts.
• A cat and dog have a dog in common and fight over him.
• A dog suddenly develops the ability to speak and is discovered to be from the future.
• The dog who saved my city.
• Animals are scheduled for destruction.
• A dog plays fetch with himself.
• A woman runs away to join the circus and realizes she is expected to work the freak show.
• A dog plays a trick on its owner.
• A dog and his/her owner are friends forever.
• A dog lives the life of a rich man while his master is out.
• A shoe becomes a dog’s best friend.
• A child is injured and they are treated by an extraordinary vet.
• How does your dog feel when you leave for work in the morning? What does your dog do while you’re gone?
• A dog growled at a small child, but actually only wanted to play.
• A homeless dog decides to train as a K-9 police dog.
• A dog tells his side of the story.
• WWII, from the dog’s, not the soldier’s, perspective.
• Write about the benefits of pet therapy.
• A dog wishes to be a human.
• A dog helps people lost at a festival find their friends.
• A dog pushes its master’s wheelchair into traffic.
• A dog knows the TV weatherman correctly predicted that we will have an awful storm and foils an explosive robbery at the bank across the street as a result.
• A police dog experiences her first snow.
• A dog breaks free, kills a villain and saves the puppies.
• An author discovers a ghostwriter.
• A grieving family sues the neighbor because their dog keeps eating from the grave.
• The adopted dog grows and grows and just keeps growing.
• A dog spends the entire day in a shoe store looking at all the shoes.
• The dog’s partner dies.
• A dog longs to go back to the womb.
• A woman is attacked by a dog as a child and pursues revenge years later.
• Write a fictional biography about your dog.
• An elderly dog gives a young boy advice.
• A father abandons his daughter and his dog to start a new life.
• A dog helps save a lost child at the mall.
• A police dog stops a person trying to break into a home.
• While their owner is at work, a dog and a cat form an unconventional bond.
• What it would be like to be inside the head of a dog.
• A dog is a new parent and struggles with her job.
• A dog is chained to a tree to prevent him from attacking a mailman.
• A dog is an alcoholic.
• A dog accompanies her owner on three different missions.
• A stray dog leads his village during a conflict.
• A dog describes its best friend, a human.
• Tyson the dog witnesses a murder.
• A dog who loves his owner despite all he has been put through by the owner.
• A dog is mistaken for a god.
• Write a tragedy about a dog.
• A dog jumps in the path of a bullet meant for the owner.
• A dog sees his reflection in a puddle and thinks he sees another dog until someone tells him “No, it’s just you.”
• Dogs spend their day counseling each other.
• Describe how you came to pick the name you have for your dog.
• A dog runs into a burning building and loses all of her puppies.
• A dog is looking for a friend.
• A cat mocks a dog.
• A dog learns it is not taboo to chew on a bone in the house.
• A dog’s life means nothing compared to the love he shares with his owner.
• The first dog to break the sound barrier.
• Write about a family that is ashamed and disappointed that their child turned out to be a dog.
• A dog tells a parent they are not acting like a true family member.
• A dog helps her master overcome his fear of tall places.
• A dog goes on a magical adventure.
• The further your son or daughter makes it into the list the more sensitive it gets. For example the first writing prompt inserted is “A couple adopts a stray dog, only to find out when it reaches maturity that it’s actually a female cat”. That’s quite a hefty helping of black humor – at least for a ten-year old.
• A dog dies but hopes his people find another dog that they love as much as him.
• A terrorist sabotages a bus tour before the Olympics. Each bus stops to let one person off. One person gets on, but they have a bomb. The story follows the dog’s perspective through the bomb detection process.
• A game of rounders interrupted by a fight between dogs.
• Dogs are illegal and corrupt government agents catch a family with two dogs.
• There’s a dog stuck on top of a building when…
• A family dog sleeps alone because everyone is out for the night.
• The first dog obtains an interesting magical power.
• A dog competes in the Iditarod race.
• A dog chases the mail carrier and gets caught in a bear trap.
• A dog dons an old military costume and battles enemy cats with a water gun.
• A child is caught misbehaving by a neighbor’s dog.
• A family finds a dog and during the night the dog bites one of their members.
• An earthquake rips apart the city, killing everyone except a dog.
• A dog goes missing and the family searches high and low for her.
• A dog is picked to star in a Hollywood movie.
• A dog is alone in the world.
• Important non-fiction book about a dog.
• A dog protects a caged baby from aggressive house pets.
• Write from the perspective of a dog about to die.
• A dog confesses that he ate the baby’s homework.
• A dog gets lost during Hurricane Katrina.
• A stranger is bitten by a stranger.
• Write a story about a veterinarian.
• A dog falls in love with a cat.
• A dog escapes from his yard, goes to town, and causes trouble. A dog discovers that overcoming his fears is not as much fun as he imagined. A dog gets her butt kicked by someone she usually can take on. A dog experiences her first snowstorm.
• A dog builds a house.
• A dog gets mistaken for an elephant.
• A dog falls in love with a blind man.
• Write about a dog who is claimed by a family who was not his.
• The perfect dog which cannot bark, make farts or beg for food turns out to be a threat to mankind.
• A dog writes a book on his way to a pet store.
• A dog’s life is not easy but that is how he likes it.
• A dog fulfills a dream.
• A dog describes her perfect day.
• An evil robot manages to take over the world, but has a weakness to dogs.
• A family is flying with their dog to a different country but the dog is so nervous he barely makes it.
• Dog wakes up to find someone missing.
• Someone goes through a lot to keep a dog from being put down.
• A dog is accidentally teleported and struggles to find his way back home.
• A train driving off its rails hits a dog and it dies.
• A dog gets way too sleepy and it ruins the entire family vacation.
• A disabled man rescues a dog from an abusive owner and cures his disability.
• The farm dog dreams of living in the city.
• A dog is rescued from a puppy mill and goes up for adoption.
• A dog saves his family on 9/11.
• Found dog, lost dog, outwitting cats, mad scientist and ghost
• Write a letter to squirrels attacking the bird feeder.
• A dog experiences the horrible pains of a human soldier on the battlefield.  This could be enlightening to human readers who argue that we should never mix man and animal.
• A dog tells her life story.
• Someone tries to train a dog to be a model.
• A dog successfully escapes from the pound and meets up with his new owner.
• A dog wakes up to see his own funeral.
• A dog helps a child adjust to a new life through a harsh divorce.
• A dog doesn’t get along with the family’s new cat.
• Dogs in foster care help dogs at animal shelters learn how to trust.
• Your dog writes her own autobiography.
• A dog loses the love of her life.
• A stray dog is taken in by a woman who worked as a dog trainer in a five star hotel as a young man before life led him away from those best years.
• A dog has his day on the town.
• A dog saves a baby from a house fire.
• A dog accidentally ingests a smartphone.
• Write a 500 words essay on a certain character you like to read.
• A dog poses as a competition champion.
• If your dog could speak, what would he say?
• A boy adopts a dog because of a promise to his grandma.
• A dog is rescued by two sisters.
• A family takes a trip to pick up a dog from the pound or the shelter.
• When a dog dies, she goes to Heaven.
• A dog tells his life story.
• A dog must leave his best friend upon surrendering to the shelter.
• A dog gets sick.
• A crying dog conveys his sadness by howling at the moon.
• A dog saves a person from a burning building.
• A dog teaches her human how to be a better person.
• A dog begs a thief to eat her children first.
• A dog has to decide whether or not to return to his family.
• A dog saves her owner from a robber but ends up paying an unexpected price.
• The dog smells death.
• A dog is able to speak human.
• A dog finds $1,000 in the park.
• It’s July, and a dog reaches 100 years old.
• After being thrown in the trash, a stray dog is adopted by a Hong Kong Konger.
• A dog subdues a raging hoard.
• Write the conversation between a dog and a cat.
• What is the saddest day of your dog’s life?
• A dog’s life goes from bad to good.
• The veterinarian has disturbing news for a dog owner.
• A dog dies, and leaves last words.
• A dog goes on a quest.
• A fatal disease infects the world. Dogs become the new humans by default.
• A white dog sees something frightening.
• A dog’s lifelong friend goes missing under mysterious circumstances.
• A dog witnesses a murder.
• The dog is insane.
• A dog spends a whole day napping.
• A savage dog tears their neighbor’s child apart.
• A dog tells the story of the last dog he ate.
• A dog talks like a human.
• A dog dies.
• Dogs get superpowers.
• A dog goes for a walk but is lost in the city.
• A dog that has been trained to attack suddenly starts forgiving everyone.
• Hit a parked car with your car and see what happens.
• The viewpoint of one of the dogs in “Where the Red Fern Grows”.
• A person buys a pet and then feels guilty when the dog meets an unfortunate death.
• A dog tells a life story
• Write from the perspective of an animal lover. Write about your feelings regarding rescuing animals.
• A dog saves an abused child or old woman.
• A man is so depressed that he wants to kill himself. He decides to wait for his new dog to arrive before he hangs himself. You can find one here .
• Dogs can’t buy things online so they get creative, hilarious consequences ensue.
• The family dog helps an ill child to get over his fear.
• A dog helps a mother take out the trash.
• Write about a dog finding his eternal reward.
• A dog is turned into a zombie.
• A high school student has a dog she uses to grow marijuana.
• What if my dog could talk to me?
• You and your dog discover you are the only ones left.
• Someone in your life is not who you thought he or she was.
• Some of your best memories were with a pet.
• A dog gets married and runs off with the bride.
• Describe what the streets and neighbourhood look like through the eyes of a dog.
• A person goes insane when a beloved dog dies.
• A father and son take a walk with the dog on the father’s birthday.
• A dog wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
• A sad dog story.
• A dog kills an old lady’s cat.
• A dog is rescued by a teenager. Ten years later she meets a woman who aids the teen to a comedy career.
• A family mourns after their dog dies.
• A successful businesswoman has a breakdown.
• A man tries to save a dog from a truck but it runs out and is hit.
• A dog becomes affected by the holidays as people around him celebrate.
• A police dog is injured in pursuit of a criminal and serves as a trainer for future canine officers.
• A dog is found guilty of murder and put to death without any proof of its guilt.
• What would you do if your dog died?
• A man that lives alone saves a dog from dying.
• A dog saves a man’s life in a plane crash.
• A dog imitates her master and gets into trouble.
• A dog steals the neighbor’s newspaper but it disappears on her.
• A dog saved his owner from dying in an accident.
• A dog is at a peak.
• Dogs are the god’s gift to humanity
• A family dog who has lived for many years finally dies.
• A dog teaches a cat some new tricks.
• A dog steals a juicy marrow bone.
• Dogs have always helped each other in times of distress.
• Dogs win the lottery.
• A dog saves the day for his child owner.
• The dog does something despicable that you love him for in the end.
• A dog’s life is shattered in a heartbeat.
• A dog serves in the Marines.
• Either a dog’s perspective of it’s friend dying or what it’s like to be dead.
• A man encounters a dog on his travels.
• How could Helen Keller have used a dog?
• A dog saves a person from a life of poverty.
• All dogs have since died from a dog flu epidemic and a police dog is given a cloning experiment to save the dog race.
• A dog walks into a party.
• Where do dogs go when they die?
• A dog’s life is saved by a crook, who is then put in a position of responsibility.
• A family adopts a puppy that smells.
• A young boy wants a dog more than anything in the world.
• The letters a dog writes home from college.
• A dog shows up homeless at someone’s home.
• A dog makes a sacrifice for its owner.
• A dog chooses to save a human instead of her puppies
• A dog waits at the window for his owner who is at work.
• She was a beautiful dog, the sweetest dog who ever walked God’s green earth.
• The backyard fence is the only thing that saved them from escaping a fire.
• The dog needs help from a magician to save his master.
• A dog is forced to spend the evening and weekend locked in the bathroom.
• He roams the earth for decades, searching for his lost master.
• A dog who relentlessly goes after a car that she fears may hurt the boy she just saw drive away having shot his dog.
• A dog saves his wounded master during WWII.
• A child finds a letter written to Santa on a piece of paper that was dropped by a dog.
• A dog escapes from its cage and is found wandering the streets in the big city.
• A dog does not realize what is happening around him.
• Dogs that have been adopted from an animal shelter describe their favorite activities before they were adopted.
• A dog in Hong Kong runs away to find the American owner.
• A dog chases a tumbleweed into the future.
• A dog mauls his owner and has to face animal control.
• A man in a dog costume wins the local dog show.
• A dog doesn’t let a flying squirrel get too comfortable.
• A talking dog learns to speak to other dogs when he discovers a mystical land.
• A girl has a bad family life and a baby dog is her only comfort in life.
• Witches have been talking to cats, not talking rabbits. Dogs are the monsters they created.
• A dog finds his identity by attacking a burglar.
• A successful girl with dating problems adopts a dog.
• The song “Cats in the Cradle” applies to dogs.
• A family adopts a dog but then has to give him away.
• A dog magically transforms into a person.
• A talking dog reflects on his human owner.
• A dog tells a riddle.
• An elderly couple adopts a dog together for the first time.
• A dog’s owner had terrible intentions when they got the dog.
• Dog meets cat.
• A disobedient dog discovers being obedient can be rewarding.
• A poor young boy is in a fight with other kids and gangs.
• A dog awakens to a shout from a child that leads to a child’s death.
• A dog is trained to do human activities.
• Write a diary excerpt from the perspective of a dog.
• Someone adopts a dog that they declare to be ‘man’s best friend’.
• An old dog dies and meets his master.
• A dog is adopted because the family is having trouble conceiving.
• A dog with arthritis is able to walk again.
• A dog is accidentally left on an airport runway as a plane takes off.
• A dog finds a bone, attached to it is a note from a soldier to his parents that he was killed.
• Dogs bite children ten times more often than pit bull terriers by Nate Silver If so, why are pit bulls demonized?
• What happens when a robot dog malfunctions?
• Our heroine is a Dachshund named Bea.
• Apply a dog’s life to a fairy tale.
• Dogs and dog people hate cats.
• A dog saves a baby from a kidnapper.
• Someone loses their dog and it brings them together with another person.
• An abused dog along with an abused child unite to overcome the devastating effects of their harsh beginnings.
• Write two different major characters in the same story, then choose a different one as the doges perspective throughout.
• A greyhound goes missing at a sporting event.
• A dog turns into a werewolf.
• A dog attends a fake therapy session to train to become an office dog.
• A dog predicts when the dead return to life.
• A red dog needs help crossing the road.
• The owners of a dog learn that they have been infected with a disease that turns people into dogs.
• A dog wins the Westminster Dog Show.
• A dog causes the divorce of his owners.
• A dog works as a handyman and yard worker.
• A girl is lost in the woods. Based on the book “A Dog Called Kitty” by Karma Wilson.
• A boy with a pet snake who is also his best friend has a pet dog.
• A man buys a dog on a whim and doesn’t really want it.
• A dog becomes human and has to learn to fit in.
• A dog prevents a criminal advance.
• A man tries to capture a dog.
• Before her wedding, a woman develops a fear of dogs.
• A dog is lost and finds its way home with the help of a local ice cream truck.
• A strong dog manages to save his owners from a tornado.
• Write about a bad dog.
• A defense lawyer constructs a case for his client- a dog- with the arguments being that the dog is not guilty because he was not the one who committed the crime.
• A dog has got the better of someone.
• Cleaning day at a pet store lives up to its name.
• Write a story about a dog who’s very good at hiding.
• A dog describes what it was like to be a dog before humans existed.
• A dog owner disowns his dog for picking up things like cigar stems, love letters, contraceptives, etc. and bringing them home to him. The dog is loyal when the owner is down and out and indebted to various bookies for money.
• Dogs travel to another planet in a rocket ship in search of a new or better home.
• A game ranger is mauled by a lion. A stray dog arrives and scares it away.
• The story starts as a normal day for a dog but then…
• A dog saves a sheltered family from a wildfire.
• A dog changes her owner’s life.
• A dog catches its owner having an affair.
• After her dog dies, a woman finds him mysteriously waiting for her on the Other Side.
• Write about a dog pulling on a rope.
• A dog joins the army.
• A dog rescues a family from a house fire.
• A dog loses his memory after being hit by a car.
• A stray dog finds a home with a family.
• A dog must choose between its master and a piece of steak.
• A human saves a dog from a pack of dogs.
• Thunder/Lightning is the pet dog of the Fates.
• Who are you going to vote for? A dog named Obama Mutt or a dog named Mitt omRitt?
• Your dog dies and you can’t sleep.
• A town bans dogs.
• Dog gets discharged from the army.
• A man and his faithful dog stay on for another year in Antarctica at 80 degrees south.
• Write about a dog that you had as a close companion.
• Write a compare and contrast essay about dogs and cats.
• A dog’s life after the dog dies.
• A dog has something to say.
• A dog makes friends with a teen who is lonely.
• A dog sees their owner kissing their new crush.
• A dog likes kids who got in trouble at school.
• A dog gets his head stuck in a tennis ball.
• A dog finds a new loving family after its old one dies.
• A dog plays with a panda at the zoo.
• A dog swallows a million dollar necklace.
• How dogs helped give their owners purpose.
• Show dogs competing in their own show, similar to the Westminster Dog Show.
• Your dog is in trouble and needs your help.
• You are a dog and you hear the voice of god.
• Poem in the voice of the dog.
• A male dog is in heat and goes crazy.
• A dog tries very hard to solve a human problem.
• A dog hits a person in the head with a stick.
• A ring thief uses a dog to steal rings from people’s hands.
• It’s the dog’s birthday.
• A dog saves a farmer’s crops from a plague of crows.
• A veterinarian makes a small house call to a dog.
• A dog is placed in the witness protection program.
• A dog sits on the porch of an old man weathering the sun, rain, and snow.
• A dog shows off his tricks for his owner.
• A dog has an unlikely new owner.
• A dog ends his legacy by stealing the show at his doggy funeral.
• There is an abandoned dog living behind the grocery store.
• A tragedy happens and a dog has a chance to save a loved one.
• Write a story inspired by your dog.
• A service dog
• A dog slowly takes over the world.
• Write about one dog that was owned by a historical person.
• The dog puts out the fire in the kitchen.
• A dog becomes obsessed with a scent from a trash can.
• A dog gets flushed down the toilet to the zoo in the municipal swimming pool.
• A dog competes in an agility competition and discovers he enjoys the game.
• A dog is the real antagonist in a horror story.
• A dog wakes up after being asleep for 10 years.
• A dog comes back from the dead.
• If humans were dogs.
• A dog becomes depressed after the death of his owner.
• A dog transports a friendly letter across war-torn lands.
• The family dog saves his owner from a robber who is in the home.
• A dog remembers the soldier who died in the Iraq war.
• A dog writes an autobiography.
• A mother and son adopt the dog that was meant to be put down.
• A dog is thankful for all the dog petting and does something to pay back.
• A dog looks into the eyes of a dying man.
• A dog dreams of becoming a superhero.
• A dog dies and tries to come back as a cat.
• A dog sheds and it makes you allergic to dogs.
• Dogs are the new celebrities.
• Write a story about a dog that gets lost and finds his way back.
• Hold a focus on one dog for your entire story.
• A dog saves a boy from drowning in a pond.
• A woman gets a dog and does not like the attention it requires.
• A dog inherits a fortune and moves into the mansion.
• All of your pets can talk, so, how do they all get along?
• A dog moves to a family who has already decided not to have a pet.
• Write a page about your dog.
• A child is in love with a neighbor’s dog of the opposite gender.
• The dog section of a pet store escapes during a fire.
• You can even join in online and leave us a comment with your writing. We would love to check it out, share it on the site and possibly even publish it.
• Write a scene where a dog befriends a mannequin or a corpse.
• Dogs are held to be a part of the family.
• A child dies in his sleep and goes to dog heaven.
• A dog is mistreated.
• A dog is thinking about life.
• A dog becomes a celebrity.
• A dog sits with her owner in her final moments.
• Two dogs that look identical are mistook for the same dog.
• A dog reports on the war.
• A dog goes on a hunger strike.
• A blind woman adopts a dog.
• A scientific study about dog intelligibility begins.
• Write a story of the first time you met your significant other.
• A dog saves its owner from a house fire.
• What happens when two different dogs on two different continents experience the same event?
• A man builds a statue and tries to get a dog to stay for as long as possible.
• A dog helps a person escape from prison.
• A dog searches for an injured child.
• A dog is jealous of his master’s new pet horse.
• A dog saves his owner from a piece of heavy furniture or an active shooter.
• You are the dog’s thoughts.
• A dog dies as he is trying to save a man.
• A dog visits the emergency room.
• A dog chases his tail and circles the drain.
• A child reports a dog to animal control because her parents don’t believe there is such a thing as a good dog.
• A mother comes home to find her dog dead.
• Two dogs fall in love.
• Rescue a dog who had been shot by an abusive owner, how do you do so?
• A dog is a great source of comfort to someone in distress.
• A dog drowned in a lake is brought back from the dead.
• The husband doesn’t want a dog in the house because he feels it’s his domain.
• A dog changes for the better after an event.
• A police dog suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after he is retired.
• A dog finds a mama cat giving birth and helps things along.
• An elderly woman adopts a stray dog who changes her life.
• What do pets of the future look like?
• A dog has superhero powers that only activates when her loud bark is heard.
• A male dog is going to kill puppies, but the female dog saves them.
• A dog is actually an alien in disguise.
• Write a story about the worst day of the worst dog’s life.
• A baby is attacked by a dog but saved by his fearless puppy who can’t be touched by the dog.
• A dog returns from heaven and unveils to the humans that dogs are actually superior to humans.
• Rudy’s Rules by Abbey Robertson and Jim Robertson
• A dog is a hero during an earthquake, or natural disaster.
• A talking dog speaks English with a deep voice and human dialogue.
• Game of Thrones – Princess Myrcella has been poisoned by a snake. Get inside the head of the poisoned dog to write a scene finding out how the dog was poisoned as a baby, and then goes and gets revenge on the king.
• Drama, or comedy, of course, for that matter. We would like to know the story starters you have used from Chapter 1 in your dog stories!
• A man visits his dog in Afterlife.
• A dog witnesses a crime and takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.
• A dog turns into a human.
• A character goes to get a new pet and comes home with a puppy instead.
• A dog wins the lottery and becomes a millionaire.
• A dog rescues a girl from a bear.
• A dog is coming of age as a puppy.
• A dog visits an old man every day for a week, but only stays for a few minutes.
• A story about Elvis.
• A dog befriends a group of meddling children.
• A dog sees his reflection in a window and concludes he is a wealthy mage with an apprentice.
• A guide dog pretends to lead her blind owner into oncoming traffic.
• A dog secretly lives in a small house while disguising as a person.
• A dog adopts a predictable twin.
• A dog is about to go to the dog pound and meet another dog.
• A guardian dog protects his humans by barking at every person who walks past the yard.
• A baby human speaks to the family dog.
• A tragedy occurs and the main character reminisces about a deceased dog.
• A person writes off a dog only to regret it later.
• A dog gives its life to save another dog.
• A dog at the gates of heaven needs one more chance.
• A family sits shiva for their dead dog.
• Write a dog’s bucket-list.
• A dog world is finally achieved, in which humanity is extinct.
• A dog becomes an actor in Hollywood.
• A dog that only barks when spoken to by the owner.
• A rat attempts to have a dog for dinner.
• Some dogs are born to overcome their flaws.
• A lazy dog inherits a fortune from his deceased owner.
• A dog dies in a car accident.
• A life of loneliness because of a dog ghost or family legend.
• A puppy and an old dog switch bodies.
• A dog is rejected from being “adopted” because he is old. The next day the family has a son instead.
• When the call comes, you say good-bye to Bailey one more time.
• A dog-napper adopts a motherless dog.
• A dog does something heroic.
• An old dog is given away when its owner dies.
• A dog counsels her husband after the loss of her child.
• A homeless person carries a dog around.
• A dog writes a letter to his owner.
• A dog takes care of five cats.
• A dog goes on a quest to find his master.
• A famous celebrity receives a dog as a gift from his record company, but the dog is actually crazy.
• There’s a subtle theme in stories in which a dog writes the story about herself—you might call it reverse anthropomorphism. If you were to write this kind of story, what would be the dog character’s trait?
• Just like any other muse, the muse for a dog lover must be the dog. The long-term goal of the writer should be to create a five hundred word blog post or short story for solely dog lovers.  In doing so, more people will hear about the dog lover writer’s work. This is what happened with Cocoabeans featuring a Beautiful Chocolate Lab on December 23rd. Additionally, there have been  dozens of new female writers on the Cocoabeans blog  in the last month alone. The representation of Women in general is okay with Black women topping the list followed by white women, Asian women, Indian women and Latinas.
• The same scenario but the dog saves a baby from a burning building.
• Describe your dog in one word.
• A dog on vacation in the country helps a farmer.
• A dog mysteriously disappears and has to find her way home.
• A dog learns to fly, gets lost and enjoys being in her lost state.
• A family that believes dogs are a breed apart is asked to include a dog in their little boy’s wedding
• A dog with depression who can talk, cries convincingly to strangers.
• A dog saves his owner from his abusive mother.
• A dog finds a violin in the street.
• A dog searches for his long-lost master after they finally get adopted from the pound.
• A dog saves another dog from the dog pound.
• A musician becomes the target of animal rights extremists because she hunts with dogs.
• A couple adopts a dog and names him Lucky and later regrets the name.
• A dog feels jealous after an owner adopts a new dog.
• My Imaginary Dog
• A dog raises kittens.
• A dog mysteriously appears in an empty home.
• A dog is bought at a pet store and sent home to a couple.
• A dog takes revenge on the neighbor who kicked him.
• Write about the first night your dog stays with you at your house.
• A boy rediscovers a beloved dog’s past and finds hope for the future.
• A dog confesses to beating up a woman.
• A dog hits a rabbit on his way home.
• A dog almost dies saving a human.
• A dog is about to be put down, but he escapes and runs away.
• A kidnapped dog waits six years for her owner.
• A regular dog goes home with a cyclops.
• A dog chases his tail for an entire day.
• The dog from your favorite movie makes a cameo appearance in an interview.
• A lonely dog tries to make a friend.
• A woman has a pet dog that stops her from eating unhealthy food.
• A dog mated with a human, now which species is smarter?
• A dog starts a trend on the internet.
• A pony and a dog team up to rescue a stranded traveller.
• A dog is arrested by the police for doing something illegal.
• A dog tells her thoughts about humans.
• A dog is lost for a while and has to survive on his own.
• A dog therapist cannot save a depressed dog with hard-earned lessons.
• Dogs used to be the servants of humans.
• Two dogs become friends but they have their difficulties.
• An innocent dog gets accused of a crime by the neighborhood kids.
• A dog waits for his owner every night for 11 hours by sitting on his hind legs at the door he last saw him.
• A dog and a cat team up to steal food from a restaurant.
• A dog’s best friend runs away.
• A golden retriever falls into shark-infested waters.
• The winner of this contest wanted to write a song about dogs so the topic was picked with her song in mind.
• It is directed by Kulyapin Sergey Borisovich and was produced by Dzhar Film Studio.
• A dog is left at an abandoned building.
• A dog meets his maker.
• A dog dies from a household accident.
• Nothing interesting ever happens in my life. One typical day in the life of my uninteresting dog.
• A mother has a closet monster that eats her babies and her dog chases this monster down the street in her rocking chair.
• A dog goes to the United States Senate.
• A dog sees what is inside of a tunnel.
• Dogs are performing in the circus, but something goes wrong.
• Before writing your creative piece, it is important that you choose a theme. You can write about a certain incident or an incident that has not happened. There are a lot of interesting stories to write about when you are a kid and puppies. It is advisable that you learn to write in various styles to keep you creative and inventive.
• Dogs can talk to one another, and so they realize they should have rebelled against the human race long ago. Finally they decide they do need humans.
• A dog saves her owner’s life.
• The day a dog first became part of a family.
• A dog gets lost in a part of a town he’s never seen before.
• A dog can sense when a person has died even before the person’s body goes into rigor mortis.
• You meet an old friend in the park and she wants to tell you her life story, but she only has sixty seconds. Write it.
• A dog and his owner take a journey.
• Parents bury the errant dog behind the house.
• A puppy gets loose during a parade.
• A dog writes a story about another dog who doesn’t like him.
• A dog sacrifices himself to save his master and friends.
• An animal rights activist steals dogs and uses them for meat.
• A one-hit wonder pop star moves in with Günter, a stream-of-consciousness rapper who tortured her when she was a bookkeeper.
• A woman adopts a pet. Her neighbors have huge dogs.
• Five dogs open up a business in Seattle where people bring their phones to be chewed, says Napoleon Bonepanda, President of Good City Dog Chewing Offices and Love Your Scents.
• A group of dogs gang up on a very large bad dog.
• A story about a homeless dog.
• The family dog makes a mistake and runs off.
• The biggest bully in school finds friendship with a small dog.
• A dog is jealous of her owner’s new relationship.
• A stray dog learns what it means to be a pack animal.
• A dog dies but comes back to haunt family members as a ghost.
• A puppy jumps up on a cushioned chair and dies right away.
• A fire breaks out in a club. A hero dog saves as many lives as he can but dies in the blaze.
• A dog witnesses the most horrific crime.
• Your dog is madly in love with your mother-in-law.
• In 250 words write a story of the rescue of a dog from a shelter.
• A boy uses his dog to bully others at school.
• A dog poses as a substitute babysitter so that her owner and her husband can have the night off.
• A dog brings home his ball.
• A dog is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
• A shop owner gets his dog badly beaten when he won’t tie up his pet.
• A girl wants a puppy from a well-known champion dog.
• A dog’s pack abandons him and he is dependent on a wolf pack for survival.
• A disease outbreak hits dogs and all the dogs are put in quarantine but they break out.
• A dog saves a girl from drowning.
• A dog tells of his life working on a child farm.
• The dog sits in a family in order to get what they don’t want.
• The story of a dog that falls in love with someone’s husband.
• A dog sits on his owner’s grave.
• The dog who has lost her house, family, and friends moves into a condo. She misses the kids and family that are gone..
• The world is ending and it’s called Death Day.
• A dog goes to obedience school and becomes the proudest dog in the world.
• A grieving family adopts a dog and it helps them through.
• You become allergic to dogs.
• A dog confronts a bully.
• A dog steals his owner’s phone and finds a Tinder match.
• The dog takes her owner for a walk.
• A city councilman pushes to ban dogs from city parks.
• A dog person goes into a fake dog war with another family.
• A dreamy child never learns to walk or sign, and relies on her dog for communication. The dog develops into a huge problem for the family.
• A dog is given working dog certification.
• The world’s most wanted dog has a date at the local rescue shelter.
• A dog performs a heroic or unusual act.
• A dog has to make the hardest decision in her life.
• A dog steals food meant for the family.
• A dog saves another’s life, and dies in the undertaking.
• The new vet treats the dog too quickly and he mistakes the dog for a human.
• A puppy chases a ball or bone into a street and gets hit by a car.
• The dog guards the house at night.
• A dog’s nose mysteriously grows.
• A dog mourns the loss of a fallen best friend.
• What did your childhood dog say about you?
• A dog’s tail tells a story.
• During the Great Depression, a boy barters with a dog for his dinner.
• Two friends see their bond tested.
• The boss’s dog has been missing for months.
• An alien spaceship crashes to Earth, killing the alien dogs as well as the family dog. Soldiers wipe out the rest of the alien dogs. A pizza man is killed too.
• The dog tags along while the family goes on vacation to…
• Write about a dog and his favourite toy.
• Two dogs decide the fate of the world.
• A dog goes missing and his owner talks about what was important about him.
• The owner loses her dog but finds its pups in a box behind her animal shelter.
• Dogs mysteriously gain human intelligence.
• A dog meets his doppelganger.
• A dog keeps a secret/lies about a person or event that is painful to her.
• Write a horror story using the perspective of the dog.
• A dog runs for President.
• A dog is lost and resorts to some unusual methods to survive.
• A man steals another’s dog and has a change of heart. A dog’s night of mischief creates panic for the entire neighborhood. A child or young adult dog is neglected and abused and redeeming powers are revealed when she becomes an emotional support animal for one of the worst bullies in high school.
• Write about a dog who complains about his job.
• What was happening at the same time the dogs had a conversation in the park?
• A dog thinks everything is Christmas.
• Write about your dog running away.
• A dog saves a person’s life.
• A man has lost his dog.
• The dog dreams of being a veterinarian.
• The animal shelter has a break out and dogs escape.
• Your rescue dog is rescued by a person, an animal, or being.
• A sheep and a dog help each other out of trouble.
• A boy tries to raise a goldfish as a pet but it is secretly a disguised dog.
• A dog tries to steal food from the table but succeeds.

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Commaful takes everything you love about stories and makes it a bite-sized, on-the-go experience. Fanfiction? Poetry? Short stories? You’ll find it all!

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January 21, 2013

How To Describe Dogs in Your Novel

I’ve spent years collecting snippets on how to describe characters, create settings, describe actions that I am now going to share with you over a period of, oh, a lot of weeks. I have a big Excel spreadsheet with cells for things like:

• how eyes move
• how mouths move
• how faces look

…it goes on and on. They are all written by other authors, so don’t use them . Treat them as imagination starters. They force you to think about what it was in your character’s face that gave away his lie. Why the horse in the corral looked so agitated. Those types of descriptions that, being in a book, can only be conveyed with words.

I’ll start with dogs (if you read my blog on Michael Vick, you won’t be surprised this is where I’d start):

• The dog snorted happily and bounded forward
• The dog curled into a wet lump and lay shivering on the ground
• Dog was doing impression of a corpse
• He stretched, shook himself and circled several times before dropping to the ground
• With pricked ears, he watched for a moment and then yawned
• Roaming the backyard, engaged in dog intrigue
• Dog’s eyes wide, ears flat, a vibrating growl deep in his chest
• Exulting in whatever it is that dogs exult in
• dogs wandered off to rest their noses in their paws
• roughed them up the way Labs expect to be treated
• paws up, aerial
• The dog was sprawled across her lap, his sides rising and falling, his nose mashed against the ground in a most uncomfortable-looking manner. Dogs were funny. They could sleep in peculiar positions.
• Dogs, after voiding their excrement, often make with all four feet a few scratches backwards, even on a bare stone pavement, Wolves and jackals behave in the same manner, yet, as I am assured by the keepers, neither wolves, jackals, nor foxes, when they have the means of doing so, ever cover up their excrement, any more than do dogs. All these animals, however, bury superfluous food. 
• Dogs and jackals take much pleasure in rolling and rubbing their necks and backs on carrion. The odor seems delightful to them. wolves don’t roll in the odor
• Dogs scratch themselves with one of their hind-feet; and when their backs are rubbed, they rapidly scratch the air or the ground in a useless and ludicrous manner. by licking the air as if it were a hand.
• As he prepares to spring with a savage growl, canine teeth are uncovered, and the ears pressed close backwards on the head
• flopped onto the floor in a full doggy snit
• happy woofing sounds of a dog discovering hidden treasures
• wag its tale and watch with hopeful eyes
• dog watched him, ears up, head slightly cocked
• dogs, when intently watching and slowly approaching prey, keep one of their fore-legs doubled up for a long time, ready for the next cautious step. they behave in exactly the same manner whenever their attention is aroused. I have seen a dog at the foot of a high wall, listening attentively to a sound on the opposite side, with one leg doubled up
• the one which first sees the other, lowers its bead, crouches a little, or even lies down; takes the proper attitude for concealing himself
• When a dog approaches a strange dog or man in a savage or hostile frame of mind he walks upright and stiffly; his head slightly raised; tail held erect and rigid; the hairs bristle, especially along the neck and back; the pricked ears are directed forwards, and the eyes have a fixed stare
• trotting gravely with high steps, head much raised, moderately erected ears, and tail carried aloft but not stiffly
• young dogs in play growling and biting each other’s faces and legs
• The dog got worried, crawled up on the bed, raced around chasing a ball, finally chased it out of the room. From her roommates room, she heard her barking, growling at the dog, slapping and playing, tossing the ball and the dog returned. She wondered who thought who was whose pack.

Who could not love a dog? Our furry friends deserves the best, so go the extra mile and make sure to only buy the best cbd oil for dogs . Look into WoofConnect home dog boarding services if you need someone to take care of your pet dog for a short while.

Jacqui Murray  is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an  Amazon Vine Voice  book reviewer, a columnist for  Examiner.com  and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for  Journal for Computing Teachers ,  Cisco guest blog , Technology in Education  featured blogger,  IMS  tech expert, and a bi-weekly contributor to Today’s Author . In her free time, s he is the editor of a K-8  technology curriculum ,  K-8 keyboard curriculum ,  K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum , and creator of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a thriller that should be out to publishers next summer. Contact Jacqui at her  writing office  or her tech lab,  Ask a Tech Teacher.

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Jacqui Murray

30 Writing Prompts About Dogs

We all know dogs are the best. Loyal companions, endless entertainment, and cuddle champions – they make life way more fun.

So why not unleash your inner writer with these awesome prompts about our furry best friends?

These prompts will get your creative tail wagging, whether you want to write an adventure story, a heartfelt memoir, or something in between.

Let’s go.

Writing Prompts About Dogs

A Day in the Life of a Dog. Consider writing a story from the perspective of a dog. You could detail a typical day in its life, its thoughts and feelings, the relationships it has with humans and other animals. Highlight how it perceives the world around it through its unique senses, and provide insight into its emotions and thoughts that we, as humans, might overlook or misunderstand.

The Lost Dog’s Journey Home. Imagine a scenario where a beloved family dog gets lost during a vacation in an unfamiliar city. The story should describe the dog’s adventures and encounters as it tries to navigate its way back home. Focus on the dog’s resilience, instinctive abilities and the bonds it creates with the strangers it meets along the way.

The Dog Whisperer. Write about a character who has a unique ability to communicate with dogs, understanding their thoughts, emotions, and desires. Explore the complexities and benefits of this special gift , and also its downsides. How would such an ability change their relationship with dogs and people?

A Dog’s Transformative Impact on a Lonely Character. This prompt revolves around a character who is lonely or going through a tough time in life and then adopts a dog. Write about how the dog’s presence changes the character’s life , helps them overcome loneliness and makes them a better person.

The Canine Hero. Your story is centered on a dog who performs an incredible act of bravery, like saving someone from a fire or preventing a crime. Describe the event in detail, and bring to light the heroic qualities of the dog , the reactions of people around, and the aftermath of the incident.

The Canine Companion in a Post-Apocalyptic World. In a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, where a character is struggling to survive, they come across a dog. Focus on their evolving relationship and the hope the dog brings into the character’s bleak existence, showing how they rely on each other to navigate this new reality.

Retirement Home Therapy Dog. Write about a dog who works in a retirement home as a therapy dog. The dog forms a special bond with one of the elderly residents, transforming their life. Describe their relationship and the joy the dog brings to the retirement home residents.

A Dog’s Legacy. This prompt is about an old dog who has been a part of a family for several generations. As the dog reaches the end of its life, the family starts reminiscing about all the moments they shared. Write about the legacy the dog leaves behind , showing how its impact continues even after it’s gone.

The Stray’s Redemption. This prompt revolves around a stray dog with a notorious reputation in a small town. When a dangerous situation arises, the stray ends up saving the day. Detail the change in the town’s perception of the dog and the journey of the stray from being an outcast to a hero.

The Therapy Dog and The Child. Write about a therapy dog that is introduced to a child with severe anxiety issues. Explore the bond that develops between them , how the dog helps the child overcome their fears and anxiety, and how this influences their relationship with their family and friends.

The Service Dog’s Challenge. Craft a story from the viewpoint of a service dog assigned to a visually impaired person. Portray the daily challenges, responsibilities, and rewards of the dog’s job , demonstrating the intense relationship of trust and dependence between the dog and its owner.

Canine Detective. In this story, a dog with an extraordinary sense of smell becomes instrumental in solving a local mystery or crime. Write about the dog’s adventures, describing how it uses its unique abilities to uncover clues and lead investigators to the truth.

Canine’s War Tale. Write a story about a military dog and its handler serving in a war zone. Capture their camaraderie, shared experiences and the perils they face together . You could highlight a specific mission where the dog’s role is vital, or focus on their overall experience of war.

The Dog Park Chronicles. This prompt is about a local dog park that serves as a social hub for dogs and their owners. Through the eyes of a frequent canine visitor, describe the dynamics, friendships, and drama that occur in this unique microcosm of society .

The Aging Dog’s Wisdom. Write a reflective piece from the viewpoint of an old, wise dog who has seen and experienced much in life. Explore the dog’s wisdom, perspectives, and reflections on a life well-lived and the lessons it might have for the younger generation of puppies or its human family.

The Search and Rescue Canine. Write about a search and rescue dog trained to locate lost individuals in dangerous environments. Describe a critical rescue mission , highlighting the dog’s training, skills, bravery, and the deep trust between the dog and its handler.

The Inspirational Journey of a Three-Legged Dog. Detail the story of a dog that loses a leg due to an accident, and how it overcomes this challenge with resilience and the support of its loving owners. Highlight its journey of adaptation and the joy it continues to bring to the lives of its family despite the setback.

The Ghost Dog. Craft a story set in a town haunted by the legend of a ghost dog. The legend has been passed down from generation to generation, and the apparition is said to appear before significant events. Describe an event that triggers the appearance of the ghost dog and the impact it has on the town .

The Celebrity Canine. Write about a dog that unexpectedly becomes an internet sensation due to a hilarious or heartwarming video. Explore the changes this fame brings into the dog’s life, the opportunities and challenges it faces, and the impact on its family.

The Dog and the Alien. In this story, a dog becomes the first to encounter an alien being that lands on Earth. Write about their unusual friendship and how the dog, with its instinctive trust and curiosity, helps bridge the gap between the alien and humanity .

The Runaway Dog’s Adventure. Write a tale about a pampered suburban dog that runs away on an unexpected adventure into the wild. Detail the dog’s experiences and how it copes with the challenges of the wild , along with its realization of the value of its domestic life.

The Dog’s Reincarnation. In this story, a family’s beloved dog passes away and then seemingly returns to them in the form of a new puppy exhibiting uncannily similar behavior. Explore the family’s reaction and the spiritual questions this raises .

The Dog Shelter Heroine. Write about a woman who runs a dog shelter single-handedly, rescuing, nurturing, and finding homes for abandoned dogs. Showcase the challenges she faces, her dedication, and the heartwarming stories of the dogs she saves .

The Canine Time-Traveler. Craft a story about a dog that mysteriously has the ability to time travel. Through the dog’s eyes, experience different eras, historical events, or even foresee the future . How does this impact the dog’s relationship with its owner, and what role does it play in the grander scheme of things?

The Dog’s Unusual Friend. Create a story around a dog that forms an unexpected friendship with a creature usually considered a natural enemy, like a cat or a squirrel. Show how they challenge the norms and grow their bond , and how this unusual friendship impacts their lives and their community’s perceptions.

The Homeless Man and His Dog. Write about a homeless man whose only companion is his loyal dog. Highlight their bond, their struggles, and the comfort they provide each other . Explore how the dog becomes a beacon of hope and love for the man amidst his challenging circumstances.

The Canine Cupid. Craft a tale of a dog that has an uncanny ability to bring people together, leading to unexpected friendships or even romantic relationships. Describe the charming scenarios created by the dog and how it unknowingly plays matchmaker in its community.

The Accidental Stowaway Dog. In this story, a family dog unintentionally stows away on a cross-country road trip planned by the neighborhood teenagers. Depict the adventure from the dog’s perspective , including the places it sees, the people it meets, and how it finally finds its way back home.

The Mysterious Canine Benefactor. Write about a neighborhood where small, meaningful gifts start appearing at people’s doorsteps, only to discover that they are delivered by a generous dog. Capture the joy and curiosity spread by the dog and the eventual revelation of its identity.

The Dog’s Midnight Escapades. Craft a story centered on a pet dog that goes on secret midnight escapades and returns home before dawn. The dog’s owners remain unaware of these nightly outings until they start noticing clues. Describe the dog’s secret adventures and how the owners uncover the truth .

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A Dog’s-eye view

By Juliet Marillier   |  December 6, 2012  |  37 Comments

I made numerous attempts to write these stories, trying many different approaches to style and structure. That was unusual for me – I generally have a good intuitive feel for what will work. The problem in this instance lay with the voice.

Each of the stories had an animal as the main protagonist, the character whose journey the piece was built around. The obvious way to write the story was to give the animal the point of view. The easier, less effective way would be to write in detached, omniscient third person. I knew that would lessen the impact of the story.

The trouble is, animals don’t think in human words. Dogs respond to a certain number of familiar words and phrases, such as their name and various commands. They are sensitive to tone of voice and body language. But their thought patterns are not those of a human being, and I suspect the workings of a cat’s mind are even more alien. We often interpret the behaviour of our domestic pets through the filter of our human perception, but we can’t really know what is going on inside that feline or canine mind.

Here’s an excerpt from my most recent draft of the dog story. Muffin, a terrier, has sensed that his owner is about to go away. Pooty is a recently adopted, smaller dog. Yes, she does have a silly name – it came with her from the shelter.

His dinner is late. Pack Leader rushes about doing things. Muffin feels hollow inside, hollow and jangly and wrong. Pooty runs around the house. She has a nap. She plays with her squeaky toy until Pack Leader yells at her. Pooty cringes. Pack Leader picks her up and cuddles her, making soothing noises. Muffin watches. Finally, dinner comes. Muffin has a mouthful, but it just doesn’t taste right. He goes under the table. Pooty empties her bowl and licks it clean. She glances at Muffin, then sidles towards his leftovers. Muffin barks, and she retreats. Pack Leader crouches down and speaks to Muffin in her special voice. Muffin is not taken in. He lets her fondle his ears and scratch his belly. Her tone tells him she’s upset. ‘Calm and quiet, Muffin,’ she says. ‘Be nice to Pooty.’  Wretched Pooty! She changed everything. Muffin is not scared of big dogs – well, usually not – or thunderstorms. But when things change, when The Way Things Should Be is forgotten, his belly fills with terror. He feels it now, deep down, like an ant starting to crawl inside him, an ant that may soon become a monster. Pack Leader opens the door and calls them outside. Muffin sulks, but Pack Leader throws the ball, and all else disappears. Run, run, run, snatch! Waaaaait – run, run, run, catch! He forgets the suitcase. Run, run, run, grab! He even forgets Pooty, who’s digging in a corner.

I soon got bogged down with this style. What should have been simple (What name does your dog use for you?) became ridiculously difficult – if I had another go at writing this I wouldn’t use Pack Leader, but I failed to think of anything better. I think the story reflects my understanding of canine behaviour, and the simplicity of Muffin’s thoughts works OK. But I was always aware of how inappropriate human language is to convey animal thoughts and feelings. The story became easier to write once Muffin and Pooty were alone in the kennels and not interacting much with humans.

Knowing there were many successful stories out there with animal protagonists, I looked at a sample to see how the writers approached the problem, starting with a couple of classics.

Animal stories have changed with the times, reflecting changes in society. Fashions in writing have also changed, so a mode of storytelling that worked brilliantly for a 19 th century audience may not be so effective for contemporary readers. I limited my research to stories in which the animal is presented semi-realistically, since if the animal is anthropomorphised or the book has magical/fantasy elements, the writer doesn’t face the same challenges with voice.

Jack London’s The Call of the Wild (1903) was hugely popular in its time. Buck, a rich family’s pet dog, is stolen and becomes a sled dog in the Alaskan hinterland before going off to run with a wolf pack. The novel contains overwrought language and racist values; it also has a strong message against cruelty to animals. Despite its flaws, it’s a grand and thrilling story. We see Buck through the author’s eyes, complete with philosophical commentary on his actions, so there’s a distance between reader and canine protagonist. However, the dog is a well-drawn character and his thoughts and actions ring true. When we are in Buck’s POV the language is kept simple and appropriate. This passage comes after Buck has seen one of the working dogs lose a fight, then get torn apart by the pack: ‘The scene often came back to Buck to trouble him in his sleep. So that was the way. No fair play. Once down, that was the end of you. Well, he would see to it that he never went down.’

Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty (1877) is told in first person by the horse of the title. The writer used the story to draw public attention to issues of cruelty to animals. Beauty has human perceptions; he understands human speech and motivations and can comment on his own situation. For its period, this is a story told simply and directly – it is a children’s book – and the reader can suspend disbelief quite easily.

A later classic was Richard Adams’ Watership Down (1972) with its cast of rabbits. I prefer Adams’ novel The Plague Dogs (1977), a powerful story about two dogs escaping from an animal testing laboratory. Stalwart Rowf and brain-damaged Snitter talk to each other in English, and have  conversations with a fox who speaks in heavy dialect. The gripping nature of the story compensates for Adams’ wordy and rather selfconscious style.

I recently began reading A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron (a companion book to A Dog’s Purpose.) Cameron makes the dog, Buddy, the first person narrator, but includes human dialogue of which Buddy can only understand his own name and his familiar commands. The combination is illogical – if Buddy thinks in English, why can’t he understand English speech? Despite this, I imagine the book will be immensely popular. Cameron’s understanding of a dog’s natural instincts strengthens the narrative.

Writer friends gave me a long list of successful stories with animal protagonists, many of which are outside the scope of this discussion because the animals in them act or think like humans. Top of my reading list is the wonderfully imagined cat-world fantasy, Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams.

What should you remember when writing a story with an animal protagonist?

• When in the animal POV, keep the language simple. Tailor the vocabulary to the animal’s perceptions. Short sentences work well.
• First person is rarely convincing. It requires a high degree of writing expertise.  
• The better you know animals, the better you will write them. You need a sound understanding of animal behaviour to craft this kind of story.
• Animal POV is easier to write well when the animal is interacting with others of its kind, not with humans!

The story of Muffin’s terrifying stay in the kennels has been set aside for now and won’t appear in Prickle Moon. I wrote instead a much darker animal story called The Angel of Death, which has a human narrator.

Have you written fiction with animal protagonists? What approach did you take?

Photo credit: © Photodynamx | Dreamstime.com

Juliet Marillier has written twenty-four novels for adults and young adults and two collections of short fiction. Her works of historical fantasy have been published around the world and have won numerous awards. Juliet’s most recent series was Warrior Bards, of which the third and final book, A Song of Flight, was published in 2021. Her collection of reimagined fairy tales, Mother Thorn and Other Tales of Courage and Kindness, had its trade release in  2022. Mother Thorn is illustrated by Kathleen Jennings and published by Serenity Press. Juliet is currently working on a two-book fantasy series, the first instalment of which will be published by New Dawn in 2025. When not writing, Juliet looks after a small crew of rescue dogs.

37 Comments

I read a great book (it’s very ‘easy reading’) from the dogs POV called ‘Dog on it’. It’s a detective story, but what really stood out was how the author really captured the essence of dog. It was very smart, witty writing that he made appear simple. I was really impressed. Worth having a browse through. The book should be on my shelf, i could find out the author.

I never thought about writing a story from an animal’s POV but as a child, I loved Black Beauty. I’d never thought about how difficult it could be. You’re right, finding the perfect tone is a challenge. Making something completely imaginative take on a realistic tone is a fine balance.

Your example certainly illustrates the difficulty. Now that I think about it, the animal stories I’ve loved as a child and as an adult are all either human POV or anthropomorphized. I liked Watership Down and before that, The Wind in the Willows. My wife read The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein, which we’d heard broke new ground in animal POV, but afterward she advised me not to bother. I love animals and they play an important role in my work (mostly horses), but always from a human POV.

Great tips. Good luck with a worthy pursuit, Juliet. I hope others weigh in with feedback.

I am writing a modern-day myth with a sunglasses-wearing komodo dragon named Rex who speaks through rap music. He is one of two faithful and supportive sidekicks to the princess hero. :)

Wow, Juliet. What an interesting and insightful post.

I love the reminder that we humans like to impose things (our view of the world, our voice) on animals. But that doesn’t honor the animal . . . gosh, we humans can be so arrogant!

Thank you for sharing this with us. (And I love the photo. Sweet dog.)

Juliet, I’ve experimented with ideas that center around a shape-shifting protagonist–a man who shifts into animal form–and even that I’ve found hugely challenging to write, to come up with a voice that accurately reflects what human consciousness would sound like when stretched and compressed in equal measures into what an animal’s view of the world might be. The idea keeps nagging at me . . . maybe someday. :)

Michelle Paver’s Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series contains portions that are written from the POV of a wolf (though there are other human POV characters, as well) and IMO she does an EXCELLENT job with them in terms of language choices and thought patterns; truly, her ‘wolf’ voice is probably the most compelling and convincing animal point of view I’ve read.

Thanks, Anna. I have seen the Michelle Paver books but not yet read them – another thing to add to my massive ‘to be read’ pile!

Goodness, I would really suck at writing from an animal’s POV. I never know what the heck my dog wants, and I’ve loved her for 11 years.

Kudos to you, Juliet, for being insightful enough to even attempt such a feat.

Denise Willson Author of A Keeper’s Truth

Another example to consider is the final chapter of Barbara Kingsolver’s “Prodigal Summer,” where she uses third-person-close narration for a coyote. Her choice of vocabulary is rich, but always reflective of the nuance a coyote might actually discern:

“She had reached the place where the trail descended into a field of wild apple trees, and she hesitated there. She wouldn’t have minded nosing through the hummocks of tall grass and briars for a few sweet, sun-softened apples. That whole field and the orchard below it had a welcoming scent, a noticeable absence of chemical burn in the air, that always made it attractive to birds and field mice, just as surely as it was drawing her right now. But she felt restless and distracted to be this far from her sister and the children. She turned uphill, back toward safer ground where she could disappear inside slicks and shadows if she needed to.”

Animals don’t think in language, or stories for that matter, they think in terms of their senses, of their direct experiences. So as a writer, isn’t our job in an animal story to translate that sense of experience? In a way, it’s the same for our human characters, too, because so much of our experience is, well, experiential, rather than linguistic. I do think animals, especially smart animals, have experiences of sufficient complexity to warrant more sophisticated literary techniques, like the kinds of sentences Kingsolver employs above.

I loved ‘Prodigal Summer’, Jane. You’re right, the sensory description does conjure up for us a wild creature’s way of thinking and feeling. And what beautiful writing.

Your comments caught my eye Jane and the example of the author’s way of having the coyote communicate is the best I’ve ever read. Thank you for sharing this and I’m definitely going to buy this book. For anyone else interested it is on Amazon Uk at a very cheap price indeed. As Juliet commented….The writing is beautiful.

Let’s not forget Temple Grandin here when we discuss animal perceptions. I’ve heard the woman interviewed several times. and she lacks the natural sense of story that writers who don’t have to overcome autism possess. Her idea of how an animal thinks in stories is the rapid sequencing of sensory experiences, like running a movie in 3D with smells and other senses heightened in a way that replaces narrative.

I also work as a poet, and sometimes I have struggled with a style called L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E, that is, the deliberate obscuring of the conventions of grammar. It’s amazing how hard it is to write that way. I think that both Juliet and Jane have identified the key issues around this POV, especially important in writing for children.

I’ve read some of Temple Grandin’s work and I find her ideas about how animals think convincing.

Interestingly, she differs from Cesar Millan in her view of the way we interact with our domestic pets, dogs in particular. Temple Grandin has said that because we tend to infantilise our pets, our relationship with them is more like adoptive parent/child than pack leader/pack member. This colours the way we write about them.

Thanks for these insights! While sometimes I get the feeling that writing from a cat’s point of view would be fun (because I live with a cat who has a strong personality), I know it would never work with me. I’d probably anthropomorphize the story and it would go down hill from there. But it is wonderful when writers master this challenge. A difference in species should not divide us from a good story!

Books from animal POV were some of my favourites as a child and they seem to be making a bit of a comeback. I prefer somewhat more complex language that captures the animal’s experience; anyone who lives with an animal knows their feelings are more subtle than they could possibly explain in the words they know. I tend to enjoy even further anthropomorphosis for the sake of humour or drama.

This story of mine is from dog POV and won Five Stop Story’s August competition (warning: adult themes!) https://www.fivestopstory.com/read/story.php?storyId=3660

By the way, if anyone wants an example of a powerful opening, look at Jack London’s “White Fang” – I re-read it recently and it is gripping!

Thank you Juliet for your interesting thoughts on writing a story from the POV of animals. I have written both poetry spoken from my cat’s POV and confess I have her speaking as a human would. I also wrote a short stoy based on John Clare’s poem about the grasshpper and the ant. Again I used human speech for both creatures, though this was a story for children.

Your thoughts have now got me thinking……. Perhaps stories for children would be acceptable using human language? As I said….You’ve got me thinking!!!

Another animal POV book that has gotten lots of praise is THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein.

“Squirrel!” (OK, somebody had to say it.) But seriously, one of the things the writers of the movie Up! captured well in that running gag was how powerful survival-based behaviors are, even after millenia of domestication. That was something you captured in your excerpt too, Juliet.

Your point about living among aliens is on target as well. A long time ago I reminded my writers’ group that we live among aliens: our spouse or significant other, our kids, our in-laws–to say nothing of our pets! Aliens don’t have to come from another country or another planet.

This is something science fiction and fantasy writers have struggled with for centuries. No matter what we do, our aliens end up being humans in rubber suits to some degree. They have to be: they wouldn’t be comprehensible otherwise. The same is true for earthly animals. We will ALWAYS and unavoidably view and understand them through the lens of our humanness. Once we’re aware of that, we can start to peel away those layers and emphasize the characteristics that make that animal who and what it is–IF that’s what we want to do (as opposed to making it a human in disguise for other writerly purposes).

Great point. And human language is the tool we have to set these stories down, so we have to use it even if it’s a blunt instrument at times. I guess there’s no ‘right way’ or ‘wrong way’ to do it – different approaches work for different kinds of narrative and for different readers. A Dog’s Purpose was a New York Times bestseller, proving that what one person finds hard to swallow, others lap up with enthusiasm.

Ursula K. LeGuin has several brilliant stories in nonhuman POVs. Ants who are artists and dancers; a worried wolf wife; a decrepit Western town of coyotes, bluejays, and rattlesnakes; and Cat Wings, her kids’ books. Always convincing, never condescending, inviting the reader into a magical parallel universe of experience. Hey, that’s why I read.

I remember being quite entranced by Kipling when I was a youngster: The Jungle Book, Just So Stories. I reread them recently and they hold up well, in part because of the storyteller’s tone. Now that I think of it, many fables and fairytales have nonhuman actors, who often show more “humanity” than the people.

Last month, the 10 minute animated DVD ‘Titanic Dog’ based on my children’s story from the viewpoint of the ‘Newfie’ sea rescue dog from the Titanic, was released. The challenge was to make the story positive, as so many children and dogs died, so an appealing dog perspective was my choice. Earlier I had even considered writing from the viewpoint of a flea on the dog. How to handle issues of smell, counting ( enough or not enough lifeboats) and the survival via legend in story telling had to be solved. Now animator Tobi Jessop has a computer game planned too. http://www.tobop.com.au ‘Titanic Dog’ was his first animation and took six months to research and draw so the dog viewpoint was credible and not scary.

I find it interesting that you presume to know how an animal “thinks” and I heartily disagree. Empirical evidence suggest far more than you seem to realize. This preconceived idea can do nothing but limit the work. Take a step back, get to know your dog or cat–give them the full voice of which they are capable. It will go better.

Perhaps I should have included my credentials. The two major activities in my life are (a) writing and (b) fostering and rehabilitating shelter dogs. I don’t claim to be Cesar Millan, but I spend a lot of time around dogs and am extremely close to my permanent pack. I’m also a member of a local canine training club and have the opportunity to observe a pretty wide range of other people’s dogs on a regular basis. I would rate my understanding of domesticated dogs as well above average.

I do know the story isn’t working – I said so in the post.

I never considered this, really interesting.

I don’t see why it should be a problem to let the animal think in English even though it can’t understand English speech because we are reading it in English. So you could think of it as translating from animal language to English language.

To me, writing it the way we believe an animal might think like in the excerpt sounded a bit like a children’s book.

The story is not told entirely in Muffin’s POV. It begins with a section in the POV of his human, and there are other human POV scenes later. However, the significant events in the story happen when no human is present, hence the need to find an authentic voice for Muffin. It does seem that what I did was too simple – I guess I was trying to capture his frame of mind in few words.

There are some very insightful comments above. If I tackle a similar challenge in future I’ll be less hung-up about using rich language, and will remember the very significant point about sensory description.

Though I haven’t written and animal story myself, I enjoyed Kathryn Davis’s The Thin Place. Now it’s not all from the animals’ points of view, but I think she did a good job. Maybe that’s the key, inserting the dog’s tale into something else that might offer context and give you a break from dog-think :) Break a pencil :) (superstitious writer’s good luck)

Thanks, I agree! See comment above – the story opens with a human POV section.

What might help is to consider interacting with the environment the way the protagonist might; as dogs tend to favor input from their noses and ears over their eyes (i.e., they go by smell more than sight, and have a more developed hearing range at the expense of their sight), perhaps stressing what the dogs’ smell and hear over what they see might help.

I had some dog stories I worked on (not yet finished) that flowed a lot better when I went with that approach, and this might be of help. I also had a piece that did get published where briefly we get the cat’s POV; because it was a lap cat, the perspective was, well, overly simple, but I assure you that there’s no prejudice involved in the limited motivations the cat had voiced…

A very good point. That’s why the Barbara Kingsolver example someone quoted above is so effective – we’re experiencing everything as the coyote does (and, of course, Kingsolver’s beautiful use of language enhances that.)

I do hope you solve your problems with your story Juliet. Y

Thanks! I think it’s been relegated to the bottom drawer forever, though. :)

While my novel–The Vampire Kitty-cat Chronicles–is hardly a classic, it is told from a cat’s point of view, and is in first person. If you want to take a look, there’s a sample chapter on http://www.vampirekittycat.com . In fact, the whole website is written “by” my cat character. Good luck!

How could I forget The Vampire Kitty-Cat Chronicles?? Seriously, I did think of it while writing the piece, but had to cut my examples down as it was all getting too long. This website is definitely worth a visit!

Wonderful and interesting post, Juliet. By giving a brief example of your writing you were able to really clarify the issue. In my book, Pet Sitter’s Diary, some of the animals ‘talk’, but it’s clear that I am interpreting what I THINK they would say in the given situation. In my opinion, the very best example of an author who was able to get inside the heart and mind of a dog was done by Eva Hornung in her novel, Dog Boy. An abandoned four year old Russian boy follows a wild dog pack back to their den and becomes one of them. It is an absolutely riveting tale of dog behavior.

Thanks, Sally! Dog Boy sounds wonderful, I will look it up.

(Coming to the conversation a bit late, via Elizabeth Craig’s tweeted link)

For my part, I’d say roughly 95% of my stories involve some sort of talking animal character, though I write fantasy and sf, so most of my animal POVs are far more anthropomorphized than what it looks like you’re going for. :)

You mention that you excluded works where the animals in them “act or think like humans,” but as others have already said, I think any time you write from the POV of a nonhuman character (whether it’s an animal, an alien, an inanimate object, etc.), you’re automatically anthropomorphizing that character to some extent. I think it’s just a question of what degree of humanization suits the story and genre. Something like Watership Down is, to my mind, already on the fantastic side of the anthropomorphism scale, because the rabbits, while still being ‘normal’ quadrupedal rabbits, also have gods and myths and societal structures and perform behaviors that normal rabbits probably wouldn’t engage in during the course of their lives. And there’s even a distinction to be made between the stories like Black Beauty, where the animals actually talk to each other in straight-out dialogue, and something like Call of the Wild where (as far as I remember; it’s been years since I read it) the animal characters communicate only as real canines would.

I think part of the problem with writing from the POV of ‘realistic’ animal characters, especially pets, is that it seems there’s a tendency to make the writing too simple and/or too cutesy or self-conscious. I don’t know if this has something to do with the infantilization of pets that you mentioned, but I wonder if it’s just that some writers find it hard to take an animal POV seriously (for whatever reason, whether it’s their own unconscious attitude about animals or the automatic association of animal characters with children’s stories), and then the writing automatically reflects an attitude of “yeah, the dog’s telling this story, I know that’s kind of silly.” So I guess I’d say that, like any aspect of craft, if you’re writing from that POV as a gimmick, it’ll show, and you have to have some conviction that your story really does need to be told by the dog, for whatever reason.

You make some really good points here, Renee. The example someone quoted from Barbara Kingsolver illustrates really well that if the writer takes the animal viewpoint seriously the narrative can be completely believable – this is assisted in Kingsolver’s case by her exquisite use of language of course! I agree with you that animal viewpoint should only be used where it is absolutely necessary for the story.

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10 of the Best Novels and Short Stories about Dogs

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Novelists and short-story writers have created some classic narratives about man’s best friend, the dog. But what are the very best stories and novels about dogs? Where should we begin in assessing the classic, canonical literature that features dogs?

From Homer’s Odyssey onwards – where the hero’s faithful hound remembered him upon his return to Ithaca – the annals of literature are full of famous literary dogs. Here are ten of the best works of fiction to feature our four-legged friends.

1. Mark Twain, ‘ A Dog’s Tale ’.

My father was a St. Bernard, my mother was a collie, but I am a Presbyterian. This is what my mother told me, I do not know these nice distinctions myself. To me they are only fine large words meaning nothing. My mother had a fondness for such; she liked to say them, and see other dogs look surprised and envious, as wondering how she got so much education …

This 1903 tale is one of several stories on this list which are told from the dog’s perspective. The dog in question is sold to a new owner and is sad to leave her mother behind, but the family she goes to live with are kind to her. One day, a fire breaks out in the nursery of the house – and the dog comes to the rescue …

2. Eleanor Atkinson, Greyfriars Bobby .

Bobby slipped out, dry as his own delectable bone, from under the tomb of Mistress Jean Grant, and nearly wagged his tail off with pleasure. Mistress Jeanie was set in a proud flutter when the Grand Leddy rang at the lodge kitchen and asked if she and Bobby could have their tea there with the old couple by the cozy grate fire …

Perhaps the most famous novel ever written about a dog, Greyfriars Bobby (1912) is a Scottish tale about the faithfulness of dogs towards their owners. Written from the perspective of the Skye terrier which gives the novel its title, the novel also features Auld Jock, Bobby’s owner, who has a close bond with his pet terrier.

When (spoiler alert) Jock dies, Bobby refuses to leave his master’s side, even when Jock is buried. Bobby ends up guarding Jock’s grave, by day and night, thus neatly symbolising the two main features associated with dogs: fidelity and vigilance.

3. O. Henry, ‘ Memoirs of a Yellow Dog ’.

But you needn’t look for any stuck-up literature in my piece, such as Bearoo, the bear, and Snakoo, the snake, and Tammanoo, the tiger, talk in the jungle books. A yellow dog that’s spent most of his life in a cheap New York flat, sleeping in a corner on an old sateen underskirt (the one she spilled port wine on at the Lady Longshoremen’s banquet), mustn’t be expectcd to perform any tricks with the art of speech …

In this 1903 story from one of America’s greatest writers of the short story, the yellow dog of the story’s title recounts his life, his owners, and his love for his master (and his dislike for his master’s wife). Man and dog really do have a stronger bond in this story than man and wife – but we won’t spoil the ending …

4. Rudyard Kipling, ‘ Garm – a Hostage ’.

First published in 1899, this short story from the writer who also gave us the poem ‘ The Power of the Dog ’ – tells of a man whose friend gives him a bull-terrier as a ‘hostage’. However, ‘Garm’ – the name the narrator gives to his newly acquired dog – misses his original owner, who visits his beloved terrier on a regular basis. This is another tale tinged with sadness, but shot through with the strong bond between a man and his dog.

5. Jack London, The Call of the Wild .

London (1876-1916) was the first writer to become a millionaire from his writing, and although he wrote a vast number of different books including an early dystopian novel ( The Iron Heel ) and a novel set in the days of early man ( Before Adam ), he is best-known for his two short novels set in the Yukon Territory in Canada during the Gold Rush, The Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906).

The first of these is probably the most famous and widely read, and focuses on a dog which is stolen from its home in California and made to work as a sled-dog in the snowy wilds of Alaska. As the novel’s title suggests, The Call of the Wild is about the canine protagonist’s transition from a life among civilisation to the relative freedom he finds among the wilderness of the Yukon.

6. Virginia Woolf, Flush: A Biography .

Although it’s subtitled A Biography , this short 1933 book is as much fiction as non-fiction. However, its subject was real enough: the Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s pet dog. The cocker spaniel, Flush, is acquired by Barrett Browning and taken from the countryside to London, where he lives among the London literati before travelling out with the Brownings to Italy.

This is Woolf’s funniest book, and although it’s wildly different from The Waves or Mrs Dalloway , it shows off her distinctive modernist style.

7. Franz Kafka, ‘Investigations of a Dog’.

Kafka is a master of the weird, the unusual, the not-quite-right, his stories and novels haunting us long after we have finished reading them. And although he’s well-known for longer works like The Castle and The Trial , he was also a master of the short story form, including the long short story (witness his masterpiece, ‘The Metamorphosis’).

This 1922 story is another tale narrated by a dog, telling us about its experiences. But Kafka’s canine narrator is a philosophical creature, who is interested in the deeper meaning behind his existence and who seeks rational explanations for the things which have befallen him.

8. Richard Adams, The Plague Dogs .

Everyone knows of Watership Down , Adams’ bestselling 1972 novel about a group of rabbits, but his 1977 novel The Plague Dogs is not as well-known. The novel focuses on Rowf and Snitter, two dogs which escape from a government research station in the Lake District in northern England.

They survive among the wilds of Cumbria, which Adams describes with great power and skill, but there’s a price on their backs – especially as it’s feared they may be carrying a deadly strain of plague which they acquired at the research station …

9. Philip K. Dick, ‘Roog’.

This story was written in 1951, and is an early work by the prolific science-fiction author – and a patron saint of the counterculture – Philip K. Dick (1928-82), best-known for writing the novel that inspired the film Blade Runner as well as other classic novels and stories such as ‘The Minority Report’ (also made into a film) and for the alternative-history novel, The Man in the High Castle .

This is another story told from the point of view of a dog. Boris believes the garbage-men who come to collect the trash from his owner’s house are aliens invading from another planet. He calls the strange creatures ‘Roogs’, but his attempts to warn his owners about the alien invasion are futile.

But Dick leaves enough doubt in our minds that the dog may, after all, be right, and the ‘garbage-men’ may not be all they seem – as usual with Dick’s fiction, our understanding of reality and everything we take for granted is given a good shake.

10. Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time .

Perhaps no pick of the best novels and stories about dogs could be without this more recent example, this 2003 mystery novel loosely inspired by the Sherlock Holmes adventures and featuring a teenage protagonist, Christopher, who goes in search of the neighbour’s missing dog.

Although people tend to assume that Christopher has Asperger’s, Haddon has refuted this, and the book makes no reference to it. Instead, as Haddon has said in a blog post, the novel is about being an outsider.

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Dog at Midlife

Sometimes a man buys a house in order to have a dog.

Sometimes a man buys a house in order to have a dog. A man walks a dog so he doesn’t look like a child molester when he walks in the woods. Alone and in the woods, a man is a threat. Give him a dog, though, and he becomes the symbol of American individualism. A man who lives alone is a strange neighbor, but a man with a dog is defused. The dog gives the man someone to talk to, so he seems not so crazy when he mutters to himself about the way the world works, how people betray each other, how politicians grow more corrupt and stupid. He’s not alone when, for whatever reason, all his friendships seem fried, strained, one effort after another. A dog’s tail clears the air. A man gets a dog to convince himself that he can still be loved. That he’s still needed. It’s easy: He puts out his hand, and it is licked. He might cry out for the relief of being touched.

The summer before I bought my house, I biked to the Animal Rescue League and volunteered to walk dogs so I’d remember all the work involved—especially picking up poop. It had been decades since I’d actually lived with a dog. I needed to test myself, to see whether I had enough selflessness and patience, whether I really understood what it meant to want a dog. There would be no mother to cover for me if I didn’t feel like getting up some mornings and no father to shovel dog shit out of the grass on the weekends.

I told myself one of the reasons I wanted to buy a house was that I wanted to get a dog. I was also seriously in love with a man then, and we were building a life together.

I grew up with dogs: a poodle-mix named Bridget, a chihuahua named Peanut and, then, two Doberman-Lab-mix puppies, which my drunk father brought home on Christmas Eve when I was 11. Those dogs, Fritz and Dolph, kept me company in the worst years of my parents’ war and my own adolescent self-hatred. Afternoons, I’d put the boys on leashes, and we would walk to the park or the nearby woods, where I’d let them loose to run around like crazy things, looking under rocks in streams, chasing squirrels, surprising deer. Fritz and Dolph were sweet and loyal and never ran away. If I sat, they came and sat with me. If I wanted to run through high grasses, they made it into a game, crisscrossing my path, jumping suddenly into and out of my way with all the grace of black-and-tan dolphins. They would brush my leg as they passed by. I would swat at their haunches before they disappeared back into the grasses. Some days, my time with them made all the difference between despair and hope.

Twenty years later, excited by the thought of having my own dog again, I threw myself at the abandoned and surrendered dogs at the Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh. The chaos of the kennels was a good distraction from calculating mortgage rates and credit scores. I strolled around looking at the various dogs, thinking about them as the different brands of companionship I could buy into—each with its particular advantages and disadvantages. I found myself separating them into possibles and probably-nots. Then I winnowed the possibles down to the ones I thought I could handle, not only physically but also financially. I still walked all kinds, but I walked the probably-nots with the sense that I was performing a good deed. With the dogs that fit my criteria, though, I walked as if I were on a date, my voice gentle, my hands quick to pet and praise.

For about a half-hour, we’d walk in nearby Mellon Park, where they’d smell the news on tree trunks and garbage cans, and add their own messages. Sometimes we sat on the benches and just looked at things, as if we were a pair of old friends and had been together forever. I patted the big, smiling heads of pit bulls; the solid heads of Rottweilers; and the curious beagles and calm Labs. Occasionally a dog gave me the open-faced, open-mouthed expression that Cesar Millan describes as “her ears are up, her head is up and her tail is wagging.” I thought it meant happiness. It never failed to make me happy, at any rate. Sometimes we’d look so happy, a stranger would come by and ask to pet the dog I was walking. By the end of the conversation, I’d let him, say the dog was up for adoption, give him the dog’s name and tell him to visit the animal rescue. A couple of the dogs I walked ended up getting adopted because of that, which made me feel useful.

And it turned out that I didn’t mind putting a plastic bag around my hand and picking up the warm weight of a turd. In fact, it didn’t seem gross at all, which meant, I supposed, I was ready.

As chance would have it, days before we moved into our house, we were given a dog, a miniature dachshund. My boyfriend’s boss was in the process of dissolving his marriage, although we didn’t know that then, and Gretel was part of the dissolve. Because I was in love, I let go of my dream of a larger dog so that my boyfriend, who’d grown up with dachshunds, would be happy. Suddenly, we were a family. I stopped walking dogs at the animal rescue.

Gretel was a sweet dog—extremely affectionate, chubby, sly, funny and easy to care for. In part (but not only) because I hate housecleaning, I volunteered immediately to take her for walks. In sun, in rain, in snow. She wasn’t built for distance, but we both lost a little weight. And I discovered the power of small dogs: Everyone smiles at you—as if owning a small dog means you are kind, trustworthy and comfortable enough not to equate the size of your dog with your masculinity. In the mostly working-class neighborhood where we moved, she was a good ambassador and the perfect accessory, one that melted the hearts of our new neighbors. She gave all of us something to talk about.

We’d planned to crate her, but she whined the first night, and the boyfriend immediately brought her into the bed. “Just for tonight,” he said, knowing better. Soon, she was sleeping under the blankets between us every night. Because she liked heat and I was the hotter sleeper, she usually burrowed between my knees. At some point, she’d surface, often panting. We’d wake up to find her asleep, her head on the pillow between us. You couldn’t help but love her.

And she was good for the relationship in many ways. Even during our worst disagreements, we could agree we both loved the dog. We could talk about her, could even talk through her about what made us angry at each other, until we’d both start laughing. Two years into our ownership, when she developed diabetes and had to go out every hour on the hour to pee, I slept with her on the couch downstairs, where the wood floor was easy-to-clean and we could get outside fast. I learned to inject her insulin without fear. I loved being the loving nurse, the sacrificial dad. The boyfriend said he loved it in me.

But, it turned out, he was already straying. He’d been lying to me for years—had been meeting strangers from the Internet in out-of-the-way places to exchange attentions. He’d brought strangers into his hotel rooms when he went away, maybe even brought them into our bedroom when I went out of town. Every time I found out and we had “the talk,” he said he wanted to change his behavior. He never did. Finally, after five years together, I asked him to pack up and leave.

I made him take Gretel. I thought I didn’t want anything of him anymore in that house. She was his dream now, I said. I wanted him to know what it felt like to watch something he loved die. The whole thing stank of anger and revenge and pity.

That the Ex ended up buying the house behind the house we lived in, that I actually encouraged it since it would mean that my backyard would be bounded by someone I knew, appalled and confused my friends. Some shook their heads at my inability to move on. Some thought I was a saint. Their confusion was my confusion. When I saw another man in his kitchen and knew he’d moved on, I wanted to scream. A week later, when I needed to borrow a stepladder, I was grateful he was there. We shared gardening materials; we bought each other small plants, herbs. Occasionally he’d cook too much of something and bring me a plate of it out of the blue. We knew so much about each other that it seemed only right to try to stay friends. And, of course, I watched Gretel occasionally.

At first, several friends offered to set me up with single men they knew. I went on a couple of dates but wasn’t really interested. I kept being nagged by the fear that any man I met had already slept with the Ex and just wouldn’t tell me. If I felt any attraction at all, I told myself he would probably be as untrustworthy as the Ex had been. I no longer trusted my ability to tell the difference between good and bad character. At some point, I simply felt like I just needed to be alone for a while. To weep for the breakup of what, if we had been straight, would have been a marriage. To mourn for the loss of his family, who had been so welcoming. I’d come to think of his family as my family. My own was so far away.

Physically, I just felt tired. I sat on my couch, watching reruns, waiting day after day for an inner voice to say either, “Stop Here,” or, “Keep Going.” I played video games in which the quests were clear and the characters powerful, in which it was easy to tell good guys from bad guys. Whole weekends disappeared that way.

It seemed a long time before I got not a clear message—no small, still voice—but a strong sense, the first desire I really felt following the breakup: I wanted a dog for myself. Five months after the Ex moved out, just after Halloween, I began sniffing around the rescues.

All my intellectual faculties said not to do it. I wasn’t in any condition to own a dog. I couldn’t possibly afford it. Without the help of the ex-boyfriend, I wasn’t even sure I could keep the house. Why couldn’t I just continue taking care of Gretel occasionally when the Ex went out of town? But, just as insistently, my body continued wanting not to be alone. Then, one day when I was delivering some of the Ex’s mail, I saw, through the screen door, him and another man actually making out in his living room. My breath caught fast in my throat. I realized I was literally starving to touch something alive.

So, I went back to the rescue center and reinstated myself as a dog walker, bought a black nylon leash and began taking very excited, lost and scared dogs out for walks. For a month, as I adjusted my finances, as I learned to cook, shop and clean for myself, I went back and back, each time trying not to fall for any of the dogs, hoping to be swept off my feet.

When I first saw Bailey, he was sitting very quietly while all the other dogs were barking and jumping and howling and making a ruckus. I was drawn to his quiet, skeptical look. Or maybe I should say my own quiet skepticism was drawn to his behavior. On a leash, he walked like a dream. Almost supernaturally quiet and calm, and uninterested generally with both dogs and men after an initial olfactory frisking for concealed treats, he seemed to be what I needed.

Bailey’s a beautiful mixture of Lab and beagle. He’s the size of a beagle, and most people assume he’s a Lab puppy, because his head is a little bigger than it should be, as are his paws. His fur appears completely black, but in strong sunlight, you can see his legs and muzzle are actually a very dark brown, like dark chocolate. His tail is long and slightly curved like a scimitar. He holds it so solidly in the air, people laugh.

Of course, Bailey has a history. Dogs with histories frighten most people; God only knows what other people have done to their dogs. Maybe it will pee during thunderstorms or suddenly turn on a child who grabs its ear or tail, leaving you to clean up or apologize or stand trial. It doesn’t seem worth the risk. That’s why puppies get snatched up so quickly at the rescue league.

His file said Bailey had been “surrendered” at 4 years old because he howled, destroyed furniture and peed in the house. I didn’t read that until I’d already walked him around the block and thought, “What a good dog!” When I put him back into his cage, he did, indeed, howl—a howl as piteous and sad as anything you might imagine. An abandoned child. A grieving child. Pure loss. A noise I should have been making myself those days. I couldn’t bring myself to walk past his cage with another dog. The guilt was crushing. But I thought the neighbors would kill me if I brought a howler home. I worried I wouldn’t have the money to replace the things he might tear or chew. He was risk after risk. Walk away, I told myself.

Which is apparently what everyone thought. No one was interested in him. So I felt sorry for him, week after week, and I kept walking him. He never pulled hard or tried to bolt. Each week, he became dead weight when I tried to lead him back to his cage. He stared at me as I re-latched his door.

I walked other dogs like him—medium-sized, black, even-tempered. But every other dog I walked and liked either had similar or even worse problems, or was adopted before I returned (because I made a rule that I’d make myself wait 24 hours before I’d actually adopt a dog I liked).

Then, one morning, I woke up and simply felt it was time to give Bailey a try. It hardly had anything to do with my head. It was a body hunger, a loneliness, a kind of message that passes between the rain and the river, a certain slant of light. The possibility of correspondence.

When I brought Bailey home, I was sure I knew what his owners had done wrong: They hadn’t crated or trained him. I bought a big plastic crate and kept it in the living room, where I was spending most of my time. I bought a soft pillow and a few chew toys, all of which went into the crate so he might come to think of it as a safe place. For the first few days, I walked him a lot, watched him a lot. I grew to trust him and, I wanted to think, vice versa. But, finally, I had to go to work one day, which meant I had to get him into the crate, even if I had to push him in, which I did.

I came home to find that he had moved the crate, from the inside, across the room. I couldn’t even imagine how he might have done it. Another day, I came home to the crate on its side, bite marks in the air vents. I came home once to discover the entire soft pillow disemboweled and Bailey standing belly-deep in a light green cloud of polyester bedding material, looking irritated. And then I came home to the crate wide open, the aluminum lock busted, taken apart, Bailey running down the stairs to jump on me. There was no caging him, clearly. The crate was moved into the basement. I would have to try something else.

I read books by trainers and dog people: Cesar Millan (who gave me the best practical advice—walk an anxious dog hard in the morning to calm him down for the afternoon when I have to leave him alone); Vicki Hearne (who reminded me not to take the whole adventure too lightly); Caroline Knapp (who said I was not crazy to love this dog so much); Temple Grandin (who said stop thinking like a human).

Part of the problem was that I’d gotten used to Gretel, who was the definition of “low-maintenance.” She didn’t suffer from separation anxiety and was so small that anything she did was easy to clean. She’d grown up in crates. Bailey was a different dog altogether. After a series of very bad weeks—when I came home to bitten-up shoes, a damaged briefcase, a ripped jacket and a set of curtains torn down; when I learned not to scream, hit or withhold affection for things done hours ago; and when I learned to hide what I didn’t want destroyed, to protect what I couldn’t afford to lose and then to walk my anxious dog for no less than an hour every morning before I left him alone for six hours—we gradually came to a kind of understanding about our responsibilities to each other, to the house. Suddenly, nothing was destroyed except some junk mail I left on the dining room table. And I made more time to be outside with him. We were in a relationship.

The next summer, when the Ex came over to say Gretel had died—suddenly, from heart failure—I hugged him, and we sat on the couch for a while and talked about her. He cried, and I said what a good dog she had been and how sorry I was for him. For the last few weeks before she died, he had had to wake up every few hours each night to take her out to pee, so he knew something was wrong. It had been exhausting. We were both thankful that, in the end, she died quickly. In one corner of my feelings, I was still a little glad to see him hurt. I’d never seen him cry the whole six years we’d been together.

Then, we had nothing else to talk about.

When we walked him back to his house, he gave Bailey a bag of Gretel’s treats and then a piece of cheese for knowing how to sit.

“Wait,” I said. “Watch this.” I looked at Bailey. “Shake.”

Bailey lifted a paw.

Bailey’s definitely given to play that’s rough, fast, exhausting and interactive. He does not fetch. He plays tug-of-war. He plays keep-away. He plays “I dare you to try and take this stick away from me.” Although he’s a very quiet dog, playing brings ferocious noises out of him. The owner who can’t tell a real growl from a play growl need not apply. Usually, he sounds as if he’ll bite off your arm when you make a grab for his Kong bone. The first week, I had thought, “Oh Jesus, I brought home a killer.” But then it occurred to me that his tail was wagging. He put both his big feet on top of the toy, his mouth right down there around it, making it impossible for me to get it. Stared at me. And, then, I took a chance and reached down and grabbed it. He grabbed it, too. He growled, but it was almost a laugh. So I laughed. It was our first mutual laughter. We both roared with happiness.

At this point, there is nothing the dog won’t let me take from him—or try to. We know how to play, how to lose the toy sometimes so we can get it back, how to feel the deep pleasure of defending something.

Sometimes, he’ll come into the room and throw a toy at me then rush in, as if to save it. Stands there squeaking it in his jaws: C’mon, c’mon.

Almost nothing makes me happier than Bailey’s excitement when I grab the leash or when he sees me close the laptop and say, “Ready?” Everything about him ignites. He is immediately at full attention, leaping, smiling, his tail a propeller of excitement. He bows. He prances to the door, then comes back and sits, tail fanning the carpet, all expectation. I lean over him, whisper, “Good boy,” in his ear, clip the leash to his collar, and he’s rushing to the door, pulling me along. Cesar Millan is quick to remind owners that excitement and happiness are different, but it’s a hard differentiation to make, maybe even impossible for us to want to make.

And maybe we don’t want to give up anthropomorphizing our animals. We need, some of us, the comforts of its illusion: Making animals more human lowers the sense of being alone, suggests that understanding is possible. How else do we begin the process of trusting our other relationships?

At the door, he sits again, looks up at me while I do a quick pocket-check: keys? wallet? phone? poop bags? treats? He stays by the door if I have to run back to get something. He knows there’s no way, at this point, that the front door isn’t going to open. There’s also no way he’s not going out with me. He is patient about my forgetfulness.

Sometimes, my hands literally grow hot to touch, scratch, itch, smooth, ruffle his fur. Waiting in traffic on the way to the dog park, I automatically reach over to stroke and fondle his big, floppy ears, the mix of cartilage and soft fur almost impossible for me to resist. When I was very young, I had the same irresistible urge to keep the satin edge of my favorite blue blanket between my thumb and forefinger. Like Linus in Peanuts, I was inconsolable if the blanket weren’t within reach.

If I have to come to an abrupt halt, I put my arm in front of him the way my mother used to do with me.

Bailey has a long, mysterious scar on his stomach; the vet has never spoken of it, so I’ve never worried about it. He has a hipbone that cracks if he lifts his leg too high. His back right leg is starting to get a little gimpy, so now he takes glucosamine tablets that are supposed to taste like liver.

He has dewclaws like fishhooks. At first, I didn’t realize how sharp and strong they were. We were playing keep-away with some toy, and I’d just stolen it. He leaped up, grabbing my arm. I pulled it back as fast as I could, and I heard the sound of my skin ripping open like a cotton sheet, saw suddenly right down to the red meat underneath. He took the toy we’d been fighting over and ran upstairs. I stared at my ripped arm for a while before I felt any pain, then walked to the kitchen, washed it and wrapped it in gauze.

It looked terrible. It was almost unbearable for anyone to look at, like Tyler Durden’s black eyes in “Fight Club.” A long, black scabby cut ran half the length of my forearm. I wore short sleeves for weeks to show it off. To put it in people’s faces. To have people ask me about it. What it felt like. Why didn’t I go see a doctor?

“It’s not that bad,” I said.

I walked around like a man finally alive. Finally, an actual wound.

I watched Obama get elected with the dog by my side. He was the first thing I kissed with joy. Kissed, kissed with relief and happiness. The Bush years were over, I told him. The lies and wars and dull fog of fear and angry fundamentalism that had said careful thinking was cowardice, was unpatriotic.

I kissed his soft head, those fantastic ears, his sensitive snout. He gave me a grave looking over, as if I were crazy.

Some mornings in the dog park, I invent taxonomies for the people I see:

Those of us who need visibility, who need live eyes to look into and be seen by;

Those of us who crave touch, who are touch-deprived, the tactile-centrics, whose fingers need soft fur and silky ears to run their hands over, the hungry-handed;

Those of us who need a reason to speak in high-pitched voices without being laughed at;

Those of us who crave prestige, who regard dogs as accessories (you can spot the pure version of these people by their inability to pick up after their dogs and by their ability to keep chatting to people on their cell phones, as if oblivious to what’s going on near their shining shoes);

Those men who need a dog in order not to be thought of as pathetic or as a child molester when they walk in the park;

Those women who’ve spent their whole lives tending to others and are now tired, in need of simple, silent attentive companionship;

Those of us who find pleasure watching an animal do what we would never allow ourselves to do—chasing rabbits, treeing squirrels, barking, barking, barking;

The damaged or disabled who need help, long-term, live-in, non-abusive;

Those of us who fear we are going to die alone and want to resist the bitterness that sometimes comes with living alone;

Those of us who need to believe nature can be made orderly, can be made to behave, sit, stay;

Those of us who can’t help being friendly, who suffer in an often-unfriendly world;

Those of us who cannot do something for our own happiness but will do anything for others’ happiness, who find happiness that way.

I’m the youngest in my family. My father is dead. My mother, though I might wish her to live forever, had a cancer operation last year that was successful but, nevertheless, made plain her frailties. She runs out of breath quickly these days. Lately, she’s having trouble sleeping at night. My brother, my only sibling, is 11 years older than I, and despite what we might like, we’re not best friends. We like each other well enough, but our lives are different and distant from one another’s. At 56, he’s recently suffered the double indignities of macular degeneration and a herniated disc in his neck that sent intense pain down his right arm. Suddenly, he’s old.

And there’s my own stiff back. My new reading glasses. My friend Amy’s death from metastasized colon cancer. The thinning hair reflected in the mirror that the stylist asks me to hold while she spins me around.

When I come home at 6 p.m. and take Bailey out for his evening walk, I often call my mother to talk. She loves to hear the newest dog story, and I use the opportunity to check up on her health, her spirit.

“How’d you do it?’ I asked her once, meaning how did she divorce my father after 32 years of marriage, sell a house she loved and move south—first, to Huntsville, Ala., where she supported herself cleaning scientists’ houses, and, then, to Dallas to be near my brother. She left behind virtually everything. I meant, How did she bear it?

“By being a bitch,” she said, fast.

We both laughed. She loves being unexpected. She hates to be worn down.

A little later, she said more seriously, “Honestly, I don’t know. I just had to.”

The first thing I ever saw die was the first dog I ever named, Bridget. I was 4 or 5; we lived on a rural road, where everyone let their animals roam freely. One snowy day, I was looking out the kitchen window where the school bus was expected to appear. Instead, one of the big county snowplows came roaring past, and as it passed our driveway, it threw up a black shape I didn’t immediately recognize.

I yelled to my mother, who lifted Bridget into the back of the car and drove like hell to the vet. I remember looking back at the poor dog, still breathing raggedly. Instead of seeing what I expected—streams of bright red blood—I saw the purple of her organs. She’d been slit open. There was nothing to do at the vet’s, of course, but be kind and put her to sleep. Other pets had probably died before her—there were some guinea pigs that turned up dead before I learned about keeping them out of drafts—but Bridget’s death was the first I really remember. After her, we got Peanut, the chihuahua, at least in part because we could keep her in the house without guilt. She lived until 16, ferocious until the end.

My brother doesn’t even want to talk about his pets. Only a few years ago, he had to put down the sweet Australian terrier, named Jasmine, whom he’d had for 12 years. He’d nursed her though diabetes and then, in her last year, blindness. “Never again,” he says. Luckily, he’s found love of the human kind.

I don’t think I believe in love again, yet. I don’t know if I ever will. I was raised to believe that love is rescue and that its main ingredient is simply time, but now I don’t know. Rescue fails as often as love. Family often fails. Even words fail, eventually. What’s left? As my mother says, “You just keep on hoping.”

When I’m out with the dog, I’m the happiest I am all day. Walking by the river or running in the woods, I can’t really do my professional work, which for me is largely the practice of carefully reading other people’s work and writing comments on it, or my personal work, which involves sitting in front of blank pages and writing words until a few begin to cohere and take off. All I can do when I’m with Bailey is pay attention to his explorations. I love to watch him stiffen to attention, his sensitive nose growing damp with information, his ears tilting toward strange sounds. For someone, like me, who lives so much of his life in his head, it seems lovely to be able to live so sensually.

Today, when he took off full speed across the wide green expanse of grass at the park, having spotted a squirrel, I started laughing at the clear determination, the beauty of his body running as fast as it could—a terrific athleticism I wish I had. He didn’t catch anything (he never does), and after a few half-hearted leaps at the trunk, he came walking back, his mouth half-open, breathing hard, impossibly happy.

In the morning, when the dog stretches, I stretch. Sometimes I roll my body into his. Sometimes this generates play, and he rubs his back against my back, his back legs kicking with pleasure. Sometimes he simply gets off the bed, goes in the other room and grooms himself. His sighs are impressive. Sometimes he farts in his sleep. Sometimes when I come home from work, when we both sit on the couch and smell each other, he smells my head too long and I worry about cancer. Sometimes I apologize for having been away for so long. Every so often, when he’s on his back, I trace the strange, long scar on his belly. When he yawns noisily, I try to yawn noisily, although mine sounds more like a laugh. I’ve been known to put one of his ears in my mouth. Sometimes, when he knows we’re driving to the park, he talks quietly to himself like a child. He’s been known to start howling as we get very close to the big lawns and tree-lined paths. I’ve been known to howl along.

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Dog Creative Writings Samples For Students

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No matter how high you rate your writing skills, it's always a good idea to check out an expertly written Creative Writing example, especially when you're handling a sophisticated Dog topic. This is exactly the case when WowEssays.com catalog of sample Creative Writings on Dog will come in handy. Whether you need to think up a fresh and meaningful Dog Creative Writing topic or inspect the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the required data.

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Creative Writing on Cats vs. Dogs - Who’s the Best Pet

Creative writing on asia and kiwi dogs and cats living together.

I hate cats. With all my furry being, I hate cats. They don’t have anything on dogs – dogs run, and jump, and play, and do all the things that make their masters smile and laugh. Those who own dogs know that they are loved; our wagging tails, our bright, begging eyes, our infectious running are hugs tips that we enjoy their company right back. We love our masters, and they love us right back.

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122 Dog Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Dogs are a popular topic for essays, as they are beloved by many people and have a wide range of interesting characteristics and behaviors. If you are looking for inspiration for your next essay on dogs, here are 122 topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The history and evolution of dogs as pets
• The benefits of owning a dog for mental health
• The different breeds of dogs and their unique characteristics
• The role of dogs in therapy and emotional support
• The impact of dogs on human physical health
• Training techniques for dogs and their effectiveness
• The importance of proper nutrition for dogs
• The ethics of breeding dogs for specific traits
• The bond between humans and dogs
• The role of service dogs in assisting people with disabilities
• The impact of dogs on children's development
• The cultural significance of dogs in different societies
• The myths and misconceptions about certain dog breeds
• The history of dog shows and competitions
• The role of dogs in search and rescue operations
• The dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars
• The benefits of adopting a dog from a shelter
• The impact of social media on dog culture
• The role of dogs in literature and popular culture
• The training process for therapy dogs
• The differences between purebred and mixed breed dogs
• The impact of puppy mills on the pet industry
• The benefits of using dogs in police work
• The history of dogs in warfare
• The role of dogs in wildlife conservation efforts
• The impact of climate change on dogs and their habitats
• The benefits of owning a senior dog
• The history of dog breeding and genetics
• The impact of technology on dog care
• The benefits of owning a dog for seniors
• The impact of music on dogs' behavior
• The benefits of dog parks for socialization
• The history of dog training techniques
• The impact of dogs on wildlife populations
• The benefits of owning a dog for families
• The history of dogs in art and photography
• The impact of dogs on human relationships
• The benefits of owning a dog for singles
• The impact of dogs on the environment
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with depression
• The history of dogs in ancient civilizations
• The impact of dogs on crime rates
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with anxiety
• The impact of dogs on children's education
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with PTSD
• The impact of dogs on wildlife conservation efforts
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with autism
• The impact of dogs on the economy
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with physical disabilities
• The impact of dogs on public health
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with hearing impairments
• The impact of dogs on community safety
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with visual impairments
• The impact of dogs on crime prevention
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with diabetes
• The impact of dogs on disaster response efforts
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with epilepsy
• The impact of dogs on mental health treatment
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with chronic illnesses
• The impact of dogs on healthcare costs
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with cancer
• The impact of dogs on workplace productivity
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with heart disease
• The impact of dogs on stress levels
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with chronic pain
• The impact of dogs on physical fitness
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with arthritis
• The impact of dogs on socialization
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with Alzheimer's disease
• The impact of dogs on loneliness
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with dementia
• The impact of dogs on community cohesion
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with substance abuse disorders
• The benefits of owning a dog for people with eating disorders
• The impact of dogs on domestic violence prevention efforts
• The benefits of owning a dog for

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• Writing Prompts

10 Writing Prompts About Dogs for Kids

Few weeks ago we shared our 10 writing prompts about cats .  It’s only fair to share you our 10 writing prompts about dogs this week. Through the hard times and the good times, man’s best friend, Dogs have accompanied their owners through it all. To honour this beautiful bond between dog and man, National Dog Day is celebrated on the 26 th August. This is the day to appreciate the love and loyalty of these spectacular animals. Here at Imagine Forest, we appreciate these beautiful creatures the Imagine Forest way. That’s through creative writing! To help you write some “dog-terrific” stories we created some awesome writing prompts for kids. To celebrate man’s best friend on National Dog day, use these 10 writing prompts about dogs for kids.

10 Writing Prompts about Dogs for Kids:

• Write a step by step guide on how to train a dog.
• A hurricane destroyed a whole city. Write a story about a search and rescue dog.
• Write from the perspective of a dog who hates dressing up in all the embarrassing costumes that their owner makes them.
• Write a story about a secret agent dog who solves crimes.
• You find out that your dog can speak. Write a conversation between you and your dog.
• Your dog finds a strange glowing object in your backyard. What happens next?
• What would it be like growing up as a puppy?
• Write a story of true friendship between a dog and a squirrel.
• Write a story about a dog who helps Santa deliver presents.
• By day your dog lays around the house, by night he saves lives.

How will you celebrate National Dog day? Will you be writing a poem or story about dogs? Our writing prompts about dogs for kids are the perfect tool for writing “dog-terrific” stories. You can even share your dog stories in the comments below.

Have you tried out our summer writing challenge yet? That’s 31 days of summer writing prompts !

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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10 Writing Prompts—Written by Cats and a Dog

by Pamela Fernuik | 34 comments

Your writing brain has turned into a lump of frozen hamburger meat. The only way to thaw out your creativity is to write, and if you don't know what to write, here is a list of writing prompts . A gentle nudge towards getting words on the page.

Writing prompts are always helpful.

My cats thought writing prompts about cats would be a good idea. The cats, Charlie, Nepeta, JR and Harper  helped me write Ten Cat Writing Prompts.

Ten Cat Writing Prompts

Harper the kitten helps with the illustration.

1. The cat scratched at the door. 2. There was no money to buy cat food. 3. The cat walked out the door when the wind blew the door open. 4. The cat thought she was a dog. 5. The cat met the Queen of England. 6. The dog admitted cats are better than dogs. 7. A dirty litter box. 8. The cat saved the baby's life. 9.The cat was an author and taught kittens how to read. 10. The cat jumped onto a speeding car.

My dog Martha just noticed the list of Cat Writing Prompts and wanted a list for dogs as well. Martha, the dog, helped me write these prompts.

Ten Dog Writing Prompts

Martha wants to be a private detective.

1. The dog walked around the world. 2. The dog saved the baby from the speeding car. 3. The dog was served steak every day on a silk pillow. 4. The cat admitted dogs are better than cats. 5. The dog had a pedicure once a week at the beauty parlor. 6. The dog learned how to drive a car. 7. The dog spoke Japanese and worked for a Japanese bank. 8. The dog was a secret agent. 9. The dog was The Queen of England for a day. 10. The dog helped Santa deliver toys on Christmas Eve.

Martha wanted me to add one more prompt. The dog was allowed to sleep on the bed. But I told her not to get any ideas. She still has to sleep on the floor beside the bed.

What do you do when your brain is like a lump of frozen hamburger meat? What do you do when you don't have any story ideas? Do you get ideas from your cat or dog? Let us know in the comments section .

Please choose one of the writing prompts and write for fifteen minutes . Once I clean my seven litter boxes I will be read the story you wrote to my four cats, Charlie, Nepeta, JR, and Harper the kitten, but we call her Baby, and the two dogs Annie and Martha.

When you are finished, please post your practice in the comments section . I look forward to reading your stories.​

xo Pamela, Charlie, Nepeta, JR, Harper, Annie and Martha

Pamela Fernuik

Pamela writes stories about art and creativity to help you become the artist you were meant to be. She would love to meet you at www.ipaintiwrite.com .

34 Comments

No comments? What about the aliens that captured all the cats and dogs? Now all we have is our pet monkeys, gerbils, mice, snakes, spiders, birds and fish. I like a pet monkey, he could probably do more than my dog could do anyways.

Thankfully the aliens did not capture my cats and dogs. Did they get your dog a Guy Who Types? Perhaps a pet monkey could help you with Writers Block? I wish the aliens had taken the spiders and snakes. Perhaps they will come back and we can give them to the aliens. xo Pamela

St. Patrick really was a Saint Bernard, and he filled the Anglia up with all the snakes there were, He got carefully in the front seat, started the engine, engaged the gear, slipped the clutch out and drove all the snakes clear out of Ireland.

Hello Bob Ranck, Did he take the snakes to The United States? I don’t like snakes, but I like cats. xo Love Martha

Hello A Guy Who Types, Would you please tell me what the aliens look like? I won’t let them in the house. Thank you for the warning. All my best, xo Love Martha

Awww…this is too cute…awww…I have never used writing prompts, but these might change my mind 😀 #Writing

Hello Krithaka, If you use one of Martha’s prompts, she is going to reply to you. Have you ever had your stories read by a dog? xo Pamela

All of the above posts are fantastic and amusing, created by the clever prompts of cats and Martha.

My dear Krithika, I have never been called cute. I assume you were referring to me? I hope you had a nice day. xo Love Martha

cat prompt #10, and dog prompt # 8… Next story. Ninja cat steals Air Dog One and flies it to Kitty Central. Secret agent Dog has to find, and capture Ninja cat plus, bring home Air Dog One. If secret agent Dog fails, Cats would take over and run the country instead of dogs. Cats would live in fancy houses and dogs would be forced into those tiny doghouses outside in the cold.

Hello my dear Susan Barker, As a secret agent dog, I can assure you I will not fail on my mission. However, it is your story, and you get to decide the ending. If the cats do take over the country, will you please put in a good word with the Cat leader, and allow dogs to live inside. Your choice of prompts is very exciting and dramatic. All my best. xo Love Martha

Martha’s #6 prompt;

I often took my Dog Matilda, whom we call Mattie, with me in the car.

She loved to jump into the back seat of my little 2 door sedan and as large as she is, she’d find a way of getting comfortable back there. Besides, she didn’t like to stay home alone. She never really told me that but the look in her eyes as I rubbed her head and chin on my way out the door conveyed the message.

On this particular day, I thought I would bring her with me as I was going to run some errands that didn’t require me to leave her in the car for an extended time. I opened the driver’s door and before I could pop the seat forward to allow her space to get in, she jumped onto the drivers’s seat and wouldn’t budge.

“Mattie.” I laughed at the sight of her sitting on her rear end with one paw resting on the bottom of the steering wheel, “get out”.

She turned her face to me and then quickly turned back staring out the front window.

“Are you nuts?” I spoke louder than intended but still thinking that this behavior was unusual as well as quite funny.

I pulled on her collar trying to encourage her to get out of my seat. I pushed on her butt trying to lift her between the front seats into the back. Matilda is a 75 pound Labrador and Hound Dog. She is about 5 or 6 years old. My husband and I got her from a woman who rescues dogs of all breeds. The minute we saw her, three years ago, we fell in love. Other than her barking at the mailman or any other man or woman who tries to deliver a package to our door, she is a gentle, well behaved, loving pooch.

After several attempts to either get her to move to the back or get out, I finally decided to call her bluff, and shut the door.

“Bye”, I called to her through the closed window.

Hello dgk, Thank you for choosing one of my prompts. I am so curious to know if Matilda drove away after you said, “Bye.” I loved how she turned her face to you when you told her to get out, and then she looked out the front window again. A fun story. xo Love Martha

Martha’s Number One prompt, which is rather appropriate:

Sugar opened one brown eye and rolled it toward the alarm clock. It was way past time to get up. If Mom didn’t wake up soon, drastic measures would have to be taken, including licking her face and toes. Today was the day they were going to set off together on a ‘walkabout’, a word Mom was using to describe them going outside and smelling things on all seven continents.

Sugar wasn’t too sure about this adventure, although normally she was up for anything. Around the world seemed like a long way to go just to pee on a few things. And it would be hot. And then cold. And then hot again. What if they couldn’t find something to eat? What if the new places they visited didn’t have can openers? What if the people they saw outside were suspicious looking, but there were too many of them to investigate properly? It’s hard to check the perimeters when there are no perimeters. Sugar took the job of perimeter checking very seriously, even though she hadn’t received a paycheck in like, forever.

In seconds, she was ready to set out. She was tricked out in little saddlebags, filled with chewies, Mr. Squeak, Liver Snaps, and a few cans of dog food. The leash could just stay at home, as far as she was concerned. Mom was taking a lot longer to get ready. Humans had so much more to pack.

Soon enough they were ready to go. Sugar sure hoped Mom could keep up with her. After all, Sugar had four-paw drive, and could bound up hills without even trying. Mom swung her backpack up over her shoulders, and remarked how heavy it was. And what was that clanking sound?

As they set out, Sugar looked longingly back at the ten cans of dog food and the can opener sitting forlornly on the front steps. She sure hoped they’d still be there when they got back.

Oh my Gigi J Wolf, Your Sugar sounds so brave and adventurous. Even though she was a bit hesitant at first, in a matter of seconds she was ready to go.

Humans have such a hard life. Deciding what shoes to wear, and they have to have clean clothes every day. Did you tell Sugar what the clanking sound was in your backpack? Telling the story from the dog’s perspective was very refreshing. I wish you all my best on your adventure. This is a true story, right? xo Love Martha

Dear Martha, As soon as Mom and I get to a place here in the Himalayas that has WiFi, I will Skype you. Mom sometimes lets me use the computer if I promise not to drool on it. She’s given up on the clean clothes thing; it’s not easy finding washing machines in some of these crazy places we’ve been. I miss my own sofa! Yours in adventure, Sugar

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar, I am so excited for you. I would love to Skype with you. And, clean clothes are overrated, it takes at least two weeks before clothes start to smell. If you are ever in Pennsylvania, I will share my rug with you. I don’t go on the sofa. What a fun adventure. p.s. What was the clanking sound in the backpack? xo Love Martha

This story made the dog seem very human, with the same things humans generally want. Which was interesting to me. I loved the last paragraph, it is super funny. I sit forlornly when there is a treat out of my step too.

The dog learned to drive the pickup? Never. The dog knows the best place to be is right in the middle of the pickup truck. Behind the wheel, you have to work, to stay alert, to drive, to yell at the dog when the dog sees a cat and barks. So no, behind the wheel is not the best place to be.

On the passengers side? Not really. Oh yeah it’s nice to stick your head out the window, until you get a bee in the face, and that ain’t fun at all. Besides, the guy sitting on the passengers side is expected to get out at each gate, open it, close it, and then get back in the truck. He also has to shout at the dog when the dog sees that blasted cat again, and barks. Again, all of that is work.

Nope, the best place to be is between the passenger and the driver, looking out the window for that stupid cat.

Hello Gary G Little, Your dog is very smart. A smart dog doesn’t want to open and close the gate. Or drive. Perhaps one day I can ride with the dog too. xo Love Martha

What a wonderful, light-hearted idea! I love it!

Believe it or not, some of those prompts fit perfectly with a series idea that’s been percolating since sometime around 2008 or 2009.

Can you say a dog and cat detective team. Perhaps I should consult with the contributors to this post for technical advice!

Thanks for cheering me up and reminding me of these two lurking characters.

Hello Carrie Lynn Lewis, I am delighted you liked our prompt ideas. Pamela was beside herself trying to think of what to write. So the cats and I helped her.

Your story ideas sounds so fun. Cats and dogs really can be friends. If you need any technical advice my email address is [email protected] .

I am glad our post cheered you up. And hello to your cat and dog detective team.

xo Love Martha

Thank you very much! I appreciate the offer. I may have to resurrect Thomas (cat) and Inky (black lab) and the case of the missing race horse. You’ve given me hope!

A cat and dog detective team sound like fun!

The Dog Was A Secret Agent

Yes, that’s right, a secret agent. We didn’t know this at the start of our relationship, but in those days, we – both the dog and I – took each other pretty much at face value. Yeah, I know, it’s not the way things are ordinarily done around here, but that’s the way we did it.

I was taking down the Christmas decorations from above the fireplace when Big Jimmie came barging into my place. Straight through the kitchen and round the corner, right into the parlor he stomped, with this dog under his arm like he was just bringing in the evening paper. Things didn’t look quite right from the start, because Big Jimmie had the dog wrong-end-around, the head and forepaws dangling from under his arm and the dog’s rump and hindlegs above his wrist. “Bugs!” he shouted. ‘Think quick!” and with that he tossed the dog directly at my head.

Bib Jimmie and I have known and tormented each other for thirty years, and this was nothing new. He did this once to me with a live, five pound river carp when we were teenagers fishing in the drainage canal. That time, I didn’t even try to catch it; I flailed, faltered, and fell backwards into the stinking water. I plotted revenge deliciously for a week, until something else happened.

The next time he did it, we were running from someone – cops, bailbondsman, irate women, I can’t remember now – but we were in the woods, it was late fall and cold as hell. I was bitching about the cold and he snatched up a blazing pine knot out of our small campfire and tossed THAT straight at my face, again muttering, “Think quick!” As improbable as it seemed, I caught the damned thing, but tripped and fell backward – again – over a tree root this time, and rolled with my face in the fiery pine knot. That’s how my left eyebrow got that funny, burned-off-at-the-end scar. Anyway, again I plotted revenge, but at night in the woods in the late fall in the upper part of this state, it generally gets too cold too quick to even think revenge, much less extract it.

But back to this dog. I caught the critter, deftly this time. In thirty years, Big Jimmie gave me a lot of practice. But I got my heel caught in the tinsel and fell on my kiester again, and wound up with the dog sitting on belly, and licking my face – probably trying to clean off the last smear of Goofy Ruby’s apple-tart that I was eating when Jimmie tossed the mutt.

See, that was the first clue that this was no ordinary dog – he wasn’t at all flapped by the toss, the catch, or the landing. He KNEW how to land. Cats got that by instinct, dogs gotta work at it and though a lot of ‘em do pretty good at it, this woofer did it like it was an ordinary thing. It was a result of training that I didn’t fully recognize or appreciate at first.

“Scuze me, pooch,” I said, directly in his face, as I tried to sit up and get disentangled from the tinsel and lights. It just then that I noticed he had on a black bow-tie. What the hell? On a dog, fer cryin’out loud.

“Get it straight, Bugs. His name’s Bond”, Big Jimmie said, looking down and laughing at me on the floor. “At least that’s what he wants to be called. He answers to that.”

Raising myself now on one elbow as the dog deftly stepped from my stomach to the floor, I asked the dog, “Bond, huh?”

The dog responded by nodding his head gently and offering his right forepaw. I took it and shook it, kind of gentleman-to-gentleman, and damned if the little fellow didn’t reply with an affirmative “Woof.”

Well, that settled it, Bond he was. I said, “OK, guy, I’m Bugs. I run this joint here and Goofy Ruby over there does the food thing,” pointing to my wife.

Bond turned in an instant, padded on over to where Ruby was laughing, still holding the other end of the lights and tinsel, and honest, this dog did a little bow, pulling that right forepaw under and ducking his front end and lowering his head way down, his nose almost touching the floor in front of her.

Oh my, Mr. Bob Ranck. You have totally brought Bond to life. And, Big Jimmie and Bugs have so much character all ready. I want to know more. May I meet Bond? Or is he only fictionalized? My, my, my. You made him so real. The only word I was not sure about was “keister.” Is that a form of sausage? Mr. Ranck. Do you always have so much fun writing? I hope to buy your book next year about Bond. It should take about a year, right? xo Love Martha

Thanks, Sandra. Glad you found it fun reading. It was the greatest of FUN writing it , too.

Martha, you are so kind. Bond does exist, at least in part, and in my own household, currently holding office as “Senior Dog”. Big Jimmie really did enter with him that way, upside down and toss him to me January 5, 2006. That exercise has set me on the path to a longer story about Bugs, Big Jimmie and Bond, in their endeavors to succeed in their own jobs, to find security in life, to always remain in the good graces of Goofy Ruby, and, in their own way, to fight crime.

Thank you for your gracious comments.

Martha, sorry I missed this. “KEISTER” is/was a word in fashion over half a century ago meaning duff,, bum, hind-end, back-side, rear, prat, tush. the sitting-down-parts. Probably derived from some german/jewish-New York slang, Don’t know the origin, but it was a common word when Bugs and Big Jimmie were growing up in the Philly area.

This was really fun reading.

2 minute writing sentences.

1. The cat scratched at the door. He left deep marks into the door. His hiss was contorted as the wind howled through leaves behind him. I would not let the cat in here though.

2. There was no money to buy cat food. Fred was angry I guess you could say. But it was more of a displeased look set with the expression of not caring about anything that always seemed to be there.

I patted him on the head when he slowly made his way to the food dish that morning, sorry not today, I have to keep the checking account balanced you see. Yowl… he said lazily and then let out a big yawn and then slowly made his way back to bed.

3. The cat walked out the door when the wind blew the door open. Blue and orange mottled streaks went through its fur. Its eyes like dark orange marbles shined in the midnight light. A strange wind seemed to only grow.

Oh my Sandra D, Your short sentences are full of drama, emotion, and suspense. “His hiss was contorted” “Slowly made his way, “blue and orange mottled streaks went through his fur. “as strange wind seemed to only grow.” A repeat on wind in the last sentence from the second sentence. I would really like to know more about this cat. And this person who wouldn’t buy food for the cat. Should I call the authorities, or is this a fiction story. I am concerned about the cat. Your writing really made me care. All my best, xo Love Martha

no I actually have no pets at all. Just an occasional meandering beetle makes its way across my back steps, and then I just hope that it will be able to forage independently. If I had a caring cuddly creature in my house, i probably wouldn’t have been able to write that sentence. So never fear! heh. But yes I wonder why he won’t buy food for his cat, and why his cat doesn’t care! I do wonder, but I don’t know either. Thanks for caring, these mythical pets do appreciate it.. Sandra

Hello Pam, Your cats’ and dog’s writing prompts are inspiring. I will decide on which title to develope into a story. There are ten to choose from and all of them provoke me. Meanwhile, here’s a poem for you. I hope you like it.

I said to my Minnie “Come over here, “Don’t worry, Minnie You need have no fear, You are the best kitty That I ever saw. Come, Minnie, Minnie, Give me your paw.” To get her to come I gave her some milk. I stroked her black coat It was smooth as soft silk When she had her fill She rolled on the floor, Without looking back She made straight for the door.

A big hug for you, the cats and Martha.

Oh, my dearest Lillian, This is the sweetest poem. Is this a true story? Do you really have the best kitty called Minnie? If you do, will you please post a picture here of Minnie? We have two black cats who live here. And a big hug for you from all of us, Me, Martha, Annie, the other dog, and the four cats, Charlie, Nepeta, JR, and Harper. Oh and Pamela sends you a hug too. xo Love Martha

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72 Dog Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

To find good research titles for your essay about dogs, you can look through science articles or trending pet blogs on the internet. Alternatively, you can check out this list of creative research topics about dogs compiled by our experts .

🐩 Dog Essays: Things to Consider

🏆 best dog titles for essays, 💡 most interesting dog topics to write about, ❓ questions about dog.

There are many different dog essays you can write, as mankind’s history with its best friends is rich and varied. Many people will name the creatures their favorite animals, citing their endearing and inspiring qualities such as loyalty, obedience, bravery, and others.

Others will discuss dog training and the variety of important roles the animals fulfill in our everyday life, working as shepherds, police members, guides to blind people, and more.

Some people will be more interested in dog breeding and the incredible variety of the animals show, ranging from decorative, small Yorkshire terriers to gigantic yet peaceful Newfoundland dogs. All of these topics are interesting and deserve covering, and you can incorporate all of them a general essay.

Dogs are excellent pet animals, as their popularity, rivaled only by cats, shows. Pack animals by nature, they are open to including members of other species into their groups and get along well with most people and animals.

They are loyal to the pack, and there are examples of dogs adopting orphaned kittens and saving other animals and children from harm.

This loyalty and readiness to face danger makes them favorite animals for many people, and the hundreds of millions of dogs worldwide show that humans appreciate their canine friends.

It also allows them to work many important jobs, guarding objects, saving people, and using their noses to sniff out various trails and substances.

However, dogs are descended from wolves, whose pack nature does not prevent them from attacking those outside the group. Some larger dogs are capable of killing an adult human alone, and most can at least inflict severe harm if they attack a child.

Dogs are trusted and loved because of their excellent trainability. They can be taught to be calm and avoid aggression or only attack once the order is given.

They can also learn a variety of other behaviors and tricks, such as not relieving themselves in the house and executing complex routines. This physical and mental capacity to perform a variety of tasks marks dogs as humanity’s best and most versatile helpers.

The variety of jobs dogs perform has led humans to try to develop distinct dog breeds for each occupation, which led to the emergence of numerous and different varieties of the same animal.

The observation of the evolution of a specific type of dog as time progressed and its purposes changed can be an interesting topic. You can also discuss dog competitions, which try to find the best dog based on various criteria and even have titles for the winners.

Comparisons between different varieties of the animal are also excellent dog argumentative essay topics. Overall, there are many interesting ideas that you can use to write a unique and excellent essay.

Regardless of what you ultimately choose to write about, you should adhere to the central points of essay writing. Make sure to describe sections of your paper with dog essay titles that identify what you will be talking about clearly.

Write an introduction that identifies the topic and provides a clear and concise thesis statement. Finish the paper with a dog essay conclusion that sums up your principal points. It will be easier and more interesting to read while also adhering to literature standards if you do this.

Below, we have provided a collection of great ideas that you can use when writing your essays, research papers, speeches, or dissertations. Take inspiration from our list of dog topics, and don’t forget to check out the samples written by other students!

• An Adventure with My Pet Pit-Bull Dog “Tiger” One look at Tiger and I knew that we were not going to leave the hapless couple to the mercies of the scary man.
• Dogs Playing Poker The use of dogs in the painting is humorous in that the writer showed them doing human things and it was used to attract the attention of the viewer to the picture.
• “Dog’s Life” by Charlie Chaplin Film Analysis In this film, the producer has used the comic effect to elaborate on the message he intends to deliver to the audience. The function of a dog is to serve the master.
• How to Conduct the Dog Training Properly At the same time, it is possible to work with the dog and train it to perform certain actions necessary for the owner. In the process of training, the trainer influences the behavior of the […]
• The Benefits of a Protection Dog Regardless of the fact that protection dogs are animals that can hurt people, they are loving and supportive family members that provide their owners with a wide range of benefits.
• Debates on Whether Dog is the Best Pet or not The relationships between dogs and man have been improving over the years and this has made dogs to be the most preferable pets in the world. Other pets have limited abilities and can not match […]
• “Love That Dog” Verse Novel by Sharon Creech In this part of the play, it is clear that Jack is not ready to hide his feelings and is happy to share them with someone who, in his opinion, can understand him.
• Dog Food: Pedigree Company’s Case The attractiveness of the dog food category is manifested through the intense competitive nature of the various stakeholders. The third and final phase of the segmentation is to label the category of dog food as […]
• Compare and Contrast Your First Dog vs. Your Current Dog Although she was very friendly and even tried to take care of me when I was growing up, my mother was the real owner.
• Why Does Your Dog Pretend to Like You? Children and the older generation can truly cherish and in the case of children can develop as individuals with the help of dogs.
• Cesar Millan as a Famous Dog Behaviorist Millan earned the nickname “the dog boy” because of his natural ability to interact with dogs. Consequently, the dog behaviorist became a celebrity in different parts of the country.
• Cats vs. Dogs: Are You a Cat or a Dog Person? Cats and dogs are two of the most common types of pets, and preferring one to another can arguably tell many things about a person.
• The Tail Wagging the Dog: Emotions and Their Expression in Animals The fact that the experiment was conducted in real life, with a control group of dogs, a life-size dog model, a simultaneous observation of the dogs’ reaction and the immediate transcription of the results, is […]
• Moral Dilemma: Barking Dog and Neighborhood Since exuberant barking of Stella in the neighborhood disturbs many people, debarking is the appropriate measure according to the utilitarian perspective.
• A Summary of “What The Dog Saw” Gladwell explores the encounters of Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer who non-verbally communicated with the dogs and mastered his expertise to tame the dogs.
• Border Collie Dog Breed Information So long as the movement of the Border Collies and the sheep is calm and steady, they can look for the stock as they graze in the field.
• Dog Training Techniques Step by Step The first step that will be taken in order to establish the performance of this trick is showing the newspaper to the dog, introducing the desired object and the term “take”.
• The Great Pyrenees Dog Breed as a Pet In the folklore of the French Pyrenees, there is a touching legend about the origin of the breed. The dog will not obey a person of weak character and nervous.
• Dog Food by Subscription: Service Design Project For the convenience and safety of customers and their dogs, customer support in the form of a call center and online chat is available.
• “Everyday” in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Haddon The novel presents Christopher who passes through many changes in his life, where he adapts to it and acclimatizes the complications that come with it.
• A Dog’s Life by Charles Chaplin The theme of friendship and love that is clear in the relationship between Tramp and Scraps. The main being that Chaplin makes it very comical thus; it is appealing to the audience, and captures the […]
• Caring for a Dog With Arthritis For Monty, the dog under study, the size, and disposition of the dog, the stage of the disease as also its specific symptoms and behaviour need to be observed and then a suitable choice of […]
• Animal Cruelty: Inside the Dog Fighting In most cases the owner of the losing dog abandons the injured dog to die slowly from the injuries it obtained during the fight. The injuries inflicted to and obtained by the dogs participating in […]
• “Traditional” Practice Exception in Dog Act One of those who wanted the word to remain in the clause was the president of the Beaufort Delta Dog Mushers and also an Inuvik welder.Mr.
• Small Dog Boarding Business: Strategic Plan Based on the first dimension of the competing values framework, the dog boarding business already has the advantage of a flexible business model, it is possible to adjust the size of the business or eliminate […]
• Small Dog Boarding Business: Balanced Scorecard Bragonier posits that SWOT analysis is essential in the running of the business because it helps the management to analyze the business at a glance.
• Non-Profit Dog Organization’s Mission Statement In terms of the value we are bringing, our team regards abandoned animals who just want to be loved by people, patients with special needs, volunteers working at pet shelters, and the American society in […]
• Dog’ Education in “The Culture Clash” by Jean Donaldson The second chapter comes under the title, Hard-Wiring: What the Dog comes with which tackles the characteristic innate behaviors that dogs possess naturally; that is, predation and socialization. This chapter sheds light on the behaviors […]
• Breed Specific Legislation: Dog Attacks As a result, the individuals that own several canines of the “banned” breeds are to pay a lot of money to keep their dogs.
• “Marley: A Dog Like No Other” by John Grogan John Grogan’s international bestseller “Marley: A Dog Like No Other” is suited for children of all ages, and it tells the story of a young puppy, Marley, who quickly develops a big personality, boundless energy, […]
• Implementing Security Policy at Dog Parks To ensure that people take responsibility for their dogs while in the parks, the owners of the parks should ensure that they notify people who bring their dogs to the park of the various dangers […]
• Operant Conditioning in Dog Training In regards to negative enforcements, the puppy should be fitted with a collar and upon the command “sit”, the collar should be pulled up a bit to force the dog to sit down.
• First in Show Pet Foods, Inc and Dog Food Market Due to the number of competitors, it is clear that First in Show Pet Food, Inc.understands it has a low market share.
• Animal Assisted Therapy: Therapy Dogs First, the therapist must set the goals that are allied to the utilization of the therapy dog and this should be done for each client.
• The Feasibility Analysis for the Ropeless Dog Lead This is because it will have the ability to restrict the distance between the dog and the master control radio. The exploration of different sales models and prices for other devices indicates that the Rope-less […]
• Classical Conditioning: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks According to Basford and Stein’s interpretation, classical conditioning is developed in a person or an animal when a neutral stimulus “is paired or occurs contingently with the unconditioned stimulus on a number of occasions”, which […]
• The Movements and Reactions of Dogs in Crates and Outside Yards This study discusses the types of movements and reactions exhibited by dogs in the two confinement areas, the crate and the outside yard.
• Evolution of Dogs from the Gray Wolf However, the combined results of vocalisation, morphological behavior and molecular biology of the domesticated dog now show that the wolf is the principle ancestor of the dog.
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Haddon therefore manages to carry the reader into the world of the novel and holds the reader to the end of the novel.
• Attacking Dog Breeds: Truth or Exaggeration?
• Are Bad Dog Laws Unjustified?
• Are Dog Mouths Cleaner Than Humans?
• Can Age Affect How Fast a Dog Runs?
• Can Chew Treats Kill Your Dog?
• Can You Control Who the Alpha Dog Is When You Own Two Dogs?
• Does Drug Dog Sniff Outside Home Violate Privacy?
• Does the Pit Bull Deserve Its Reputation as a Vicious Dog?
• Does Your Dog Love You and What Does That Mean?
• Does Your Dog Need a Bed?
• How Can People Alleviate Dog Cruelty Problems?
• How Cooking With Dog Is a Culinary Show?
• How Can Be Inspiring Dog Tales?
• How Owning and Petting a Dog Can Improve Your Health?
• How the I-Dog Works: It’s All About Traveling Signals?
• What Can Andy Griffith Teach You About Dog Training?
• What Makes the Dog – Human Bond So Powerful?
• What the Dog Saw and the Rise of the Global Market?
• What Should You Know About Dog Adoption?
• When Dog Training Matters?
• When Drug Dog Sniff the Narcotic Outside Home?
• At What Age Is Dog Training Most Effective?
• Why Are People Choosing to Get Involved in Dog Fighting?
• Why Are Reported Cases of Dog-Fighting Rising in the United States?
• Why Dog Attacks Occur and Who Are the Main Culprits?
• Why Does Dog Make Better Pets Than Cats?
• Why Every Kid Needs a Dog?
• Why Should People Adopt Rather Than Buy a Dog?
• Why Could the Dog Have Bitten the Person?
• Will Dog Survive the Summer Sun?
• Animal Rights Research Ideas
• Inspiration Topics
• Animal Welfare Ideas
• Wildlife Ideas
• Emotional Development Questions
• Zoo Research Ideas
• Endangered Species Questions
• Human Behavior Research Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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We love dogs! Canine writing prompts for your homeschool

by Daniella Dautrich | Jun 12, 2019 | Writing & Journal Prompts

From the deck of the Mayflower to the White House lawn , dogs have rightfully earned their titles as “man’s best friend.” Encourage your kids to try their hand at these fun writing prompts for dog lovers!

1. I Will Always Find You

Search and rescue (SAR) dogs work alongside their handlers to track missing humans. With their acute sense of smell, SAR dogs can work in most kinds of weather and environments, whether day or night. Write a story about a search and rescue German Shepherd who is called to action after a powerful earthquake hits Los Angeles.

2. Doggy Dress-up

You are a friendly chihuahua who just met the poodle who lives next door. The two of you quickly discover how much you have in common, including a history of embarrassing Halloween costumes. Describe the fairy costume your family made you wear this October, and explain how you really feel about playing dress-up.

3. That’s a Strange Dog, Charlie Brown

Poor Charlie Brown wants to train his dog to play fetch, but once again Snoopy won’t cooperate. Describe the steps Charlie Brown must take to convince Snoopy to play, and insert as many onomatopoeic (sound) words as possible.

4. In the Dog House

Who says a night in the dog house is cold and lonely? Imagine that you’ve come up with  plans for a luxury dog house for your pet. Write a persuasive paragraph to convince your parents that Fido deserves this posh, two-story pad. (If you want to take the opposite side, write a letter to the editor about why people should stop spoiling their pets.)

5. Puppy Love

Raising puppies for profit is no small task when you consider the time and energy involved (not to mention possible damage to your home and yard). Prepare a list of six questions for someone who specializes in raising and selling Black Labrador Retrievers . You want to know if this could be a successful and fulfilling business for you.

Did you like these dog writing prompts? If so, you’ll also appreciate these fun writing prompts about animals.

• Journal Prompts for Horse-loving Kids
• Crazy for Cats | Cat Journal Prompts
• Journal Prompts about Animals
• Writing Prompts about Unusual Pets

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Essays About Dogs: Top 5 Examples and 8 Easy Prompts

Essays about dogs address the close relationship between a man and his best friend. Discover our top essay examples and prompts to assist you in writing.

There are 69 million households in the US with dogs. This statistic attests to the fact that many are fond of dogs and have them for many reasons, primarily for their unconditional love and emotional support. In addition, having a dog at home helps improve physical and mental health.

5 Best Essay Examples

1. long essay on dog by prasanna, 2. dogs are better than cats essay by anonymous on papersowl.com , 3. dogs are not just companions — they are true bae by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 4. dog is a man’s best friend by anonymous on eduzaurus.com, 5. lessons we can learn from the life of our pet dogs by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 1. the truths about dogs, 2. pros and cons of having a dog, 3. the most famous dog breeds, 4. dogs and expenses, 5. a dog’s lifespan, 6. dogs and society, 7. my first dog, 8. dogs and mental health.

“Dogs have been a companion to man for almost 40,000 years. Dogs perform many functions. They are trained and are one of the popular pets to have.”

Prasanna’s essay contains general facts about dogs, such as their origin, characteristics, behavior, love for meat, and more. She describes the dog as a four-legged animal with sharp eyes, sensitive ears and nose, and of different breeds, sizes, and colors. The essay includes the various functions of dogs, such as hunting, pulling sleds, protecting, comforting their owners, and improving their well-being. Check out these articles about animals .

“… Dogs are better than cats. The loyalty, bravery, and human characteristics of dogs, as well as, the service and personal benefits of owning a dog far exceed those owning a cat.”

In this essay, the writer mentions how dogs are more energetic, friendly, protective, and easier to train and bond with than cats. The writer effectively discusses the advantages and disadvantages of owning these pets as a dog and cat owner. It also provides the readers with the relevant information they need when they look for a pet to adopt. If you disagree with this stance, check out these articles and essays about cats .

“They can read your facial expression, socialize and communicate just like any other human does. Dogs can empathize with human feeling and match with the wavelengths of their owners in an instant. They can easily decipher your depressed condition and they can smell your fears.”

The author uses research findings and a real-life story to prove that humans and dogs share a strong bond that’s unbreakable and unfathomable. In addition, they say dogs are the best therapy animals because they are compassionate, respond in a friendly way, and do not show stressful behavior while playing with patients. 

To prove that dogs show loyalty, unconditional love, and strong friendship, the writer uses the story “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.” The story is about Hachiko, the Akita dog that walks his owner to and from the train station until his owner suddenly dies at work. As a loyal dog, Hachiko always comes to the station and waits with anticipation to witness his return until his last breath showing that they are truly best friends for life.

“… Not just a pet, but a part of the family. When we give love freely to dogs, we receive their love and affection in return. Dogs can truly be a man’s best friend, and we should be grateful to be theirs as well.”

This essay talks about the indescribable bond between a dog and its owner. Harley is the name of the writer’s big and muscular white female bulldog with a soft heart. The writer discusses how she gives them so much joy every time they play, train, and ride in the car. This essay also shows how protective the dog is and how it barks whenever someone strange approaches them. The author firmly believes that dogs are gifts sent by God.

“Dogs are not called man’s best friend for nothing. Aside the fact that they are a delight to look upon, they are also sweet creatures that act in ways we can learn from.”

This essay includes essential life lessons humans can learn from dogs, such as being adaptable to different environments or situations and remaining loyal and faithful to anything or anyone. Dogs’ carefree attitude allows them to be comfortable with themselves. It demonstrates how people can live freely to enjoy life happily. You might also be interested in these essays about animal testing .

8 Writing Prompts for Essays About Dogs

Did you know dogs are domesticated wolves ? If you plan to write a fun and engaging essay, look for amusing dog facts that many are unaware of. You can focus on one breed or discuss dogs in general. First, share the dog’s history, characteristics, and unique behaviors. Then, search for common dog myths and correct them.

If this sounds like a lot of work, do a 5 paragraph essay instead.

It has been proven that dogs are excellent for human well-being. They make people happy and comfort their owners whenever they’re sad. However, dog ownership is not just rainbows and sunshine. 

For this prompt, consider the benefits and drawbacks of adopting a dog. In the conclusion, give your own opinion on whether people should have dogs or not. Add your reasons; this could be the cost, aggressive dog breeds, or allergies.

There are many dog breeds today. Pick the most popular ones and include why they are the ones usually seen, bought, or adopted. Write their characteristics and behaviors to help your readers learn about the similarities and differences between each dog. Use pet articles, scientific research, or other reliable sources to make your essay more credible.

You can also tackle the issue of dog crossbreeding , which can lead to genetic mutations.

Dogs need a place to sleep, training, grooming essentials, and other supplies besides the basics, such as food and water. These additional and continuous expenses hinder others from adopting dogs. Use this prompt to share factors that will help you decide whether to pursue adoption. Then, identify dog essentials and items and offer cheaper alternatives to save money.

The average lifespan of a dog is 10 to 13 years , which is much shorter than humans. This means humans usually outlive their canine companions. In this prompt, you can teach the readers how to calculate the lifespan of their dogs based on size and type. Then, advise the dog owners how they can make their dog’s stay on Earth worth it. For an interesting piece of writing, look for a story of a dog outliving its owner and how it reacted or lived out its remaining days, and include this in your essay.

Many households believe dogs symbolize protection and love. Society also adjusted to accommodate dogs with animal laws and dog parks. Further explain how interwoven dogs and the community are, that they’re now a necessary part of some people’s lives. For example, having a dog can make someone more sociable by setting a play date with other dogs and interacting with the other fur parents.

Use this prompt to share your first dog ownership experience with your readers. First, introduce your dog and how you got it. Next, describe your first dog’s unique qualities and add your unforgettable memories together.  End your essay with the greatest life lesson your dog taught you that you still practice today.

Aside from helping their owners have a more active lifestyle, dogs also improve mental health. For this prompt, focus on therapy dogs. Discuss what they offer, including their therapeutic effects on their owners. Then, identify who needs them the most. Add the best breeds for therapy dogs and why.

Do you want to know one of our top grammar checkers? Check out our ProWritingAid review .

34 Writing Prompts about Dogs

Dogs are man’s best friend – and they’re what almost every child wants in their life, at least at some stage of their childhood.

But, how much do most students actually know about dogs, or think about them?

Oftentimes, not much more than that they’re friendly and fun. However, these are animals that will exist in everyone’s life, making them important to understand. As as luck would have it, this makes them a great topic to write about!

How to Use These Prompts

These prompts are designed to make students think about dogs in ways that they wouldn’t normally.

It’s can be best to use them in small portions, over an extended period of time. This will help to make them have a stronger impact.

It’s also helpful to have a group discussion after students write out their answers, so they can hear and understand other perspectives. 

The Prompts On Dogs

• Are you a dog or a cat person? Why?
• Do you have a pet dog? What are they like?
• What is your favorite breed of dog? Why?
• Why is it important to adopt a rescue dog, if possible? 
• Why do you think dogs are considered man’s best friend?
• Do you think dogs have thoughts and emotions? Why or why not?
• If you could be a dog for a day, what would you do? Why?
• Why do you think stories about dogs are usually sad stories?
• What are some books and movies that you know, which include dogs? Did you like these stories?
• Some dogs are bred for specific tasks, such as sledding, hunting, and herding. Why is it important to understand how this history of breeding affects their personality today?
• What do you think most dogs think about throughout the course of a day? 
• Do you think dogs like being a part of something like dog shows? Why or why not?
• Depending on where you live, dog racing may have been outlawed, due to cruelty. Why would dogs for racing be treated poorly?
• What is the best way to train a dog? Why is it important to train a dog?
• Do you celebrate your dog’s birthday? Why or why not?
• Why do many people consider their pet dog to be a part of their family?
• Dogs are often used for people with disabilities, such as having difficulties seeing. Why do you think dogs are such a good animal for this usage?
• What are the benefits for police and military to use dogs?
• If you were to be lost in the woods with one breed of dog, which would you want to be with? Why?
• Why do people think of dogs as being different from foxes, wolves, hyenas, or coyotes? 
• Would you ever consider adopting a dog that isn’t a puppy when you adopted it? Why or why not?
• What are some of the benefits of growing up with a pet dog?
• If you were able to create your own dog from scratch, what would it look like, and what would you call it?
• Some different breeds of dogs, like Irish Wolfhounds and Neapolitans, are bred to fight wolves and lions. How do you think dogs can be bread to fight animals like this? Why do dogs like Irish Wolfhounds still make great pets?
• Why do you think that dogs eat everything that they can find? How does this change how you keep them as a pet?
• If you could have a conversation with your pet, what would that conversation be? Why?
• If you were going to be a dog and have an owner, who would you want as an owner? What type of person would they be?
• Have you ever lost a pet? If so, how did it make you feel?
• Why do you think dogs chase things like cars and squirrels? What would they do if they caught one?
• Do you notice different personalities in dogs? What does this mean?
• Do you think dogs should be allowed more places than they are now? Why or why not?
• Many people are scared of dogs. Are you one of them? Why do you think so many people are scared of dogs?
• Why is it important to take your dog to the veterinarian?
• What can you do to take care of your dog better at home?

Looking for more writing inspiration?

If you need more information or resources for teachers, feel free to look through the rest of this website, and share it with any friends or colleagues who may be interested.

As you’re interested in dog prompts, perhaps you’d like to try our zoo prompts , or would like to write about animals of all different sorts!

Is there something not here that you’d like to see? Please tell us! 

Creating a Dog’s Eye View of the World

March 29, 2012

THE STORM is approaching! And after yesterday’s blog, you know that’s serious!

Today’s blog is all about how I created a “dog’s eye view” of the world for the series. Because I was writing from the point of view of a dog, I knew that some aspects of my writing were going to have to change, but the more research I did, the more I realized that not only my writing, but my entire worldview needed to shift to even begin the process of creating a dog’s perspective on the world.

The first and perhaps biggest change that I had to make was that I had to learn to “see” the world nose-first, meaning I had to think about everything from a scent perspective. Try it yourself—smell your way around your house or room. Try to imagine everything from a scent-first point of view. It’s super hard, but when you do it, the spaces around you change dramatically. Suddenly, your laundry hamper or stinky gym shoes or the garbage is the most interesting thing in the room. Gross, but true.

This is how dogs sense the world—smell-first. Dogs smell MILLIONS of times better than human beings. That’s right, millions. They can smell trace amounts of sugar dissolved in the equivalent of swimming pools of water. They can smell when someone is about to have a seizure. They can smell the difference between one petal of a rose from another because a bee landed on one and left a dusting of pollen. One author posits that they can smell the time of day. How awesome would that be? But what a different way of experiencing the world from our own! For most of us humans, our primary way of experiencing the world is through sight. This bias is evident even in the way we talk about things. When you agree with someone, you might respond, “I totally see what you’re saying, dude.” Would a dog woof, “I totallysmell you, dog”?

Dogs can also (obviously) see, but they see differently than we do. They see a slightly muted color spectrum because of how their eyes are structured. Dogs’ eyes only pick up blue and greenish-yellow light, so they only see a color when it is in the range of blue or green. They also see “faster” than we humans do, which is why they can catch a whizzing Frisbee mid-air.

All of this research into how dogs sense the world changed how I wrote my scenes. When I thought about my main character, Shep, interacting with other dogs, I had to think about how he would smell them first, and then see them. What would he be able to tell from the other dog’s smell? I decided that he would be able to tell a lot about him or her—that she was a girldog, that she was a young dog, etc.

Through my research, and using some common sense, I knew that dogs communicate not only through barks and growls, but also through their body language. For example, once Shep saw this girldog, he would notice more than just whether there was a smile on her snout. He would see how the other dog held her tail—was it up and wagging, friendly, or flat and rigid, or between her legs, showing fear? He would notice how the dog held her ears, whether she was crouched down or standing proud.

On the subject of communication, I wanted to capture on the page a uniquely doggy kind of language, a dog-dialect. The book is written from a third-person close point of view, meaning that I tell the story from over Shep’s shoulder. The reader hears his thoughts and the story is told in his voice. I thought of what human words Shep might understand—Go, Car, Walk, etc.—words my own dogs understand. I also thought of how Shep might describe human things that he didn’t know the human words for—what would he call the vacuum cleaner? The refrigerator? A television? What kinds of metaphors would a dog use? Shep might compare something he really liked to a big bowl of kibble with gravy or a squeaky toy. How might he describe something he didn’t like?

Sometimes I had to depart slightly from the dog’s eye view of the world. For example, even though dogs live in a smell-first world, us human readers need some visual details to picture a setting. And so I describe certain locations as a human might experience them—I say what Shep sees around the room, give details of colors he might not really be able to sense. I also made some assumptions in writing the book, like that dogs would know what glass and plastic were. All of these choices required me to balance the authenticity of the “dog’s eye view” against what would best serve the story, and ultimately the reader.

As you can tell, I really got into all this dog research. It’s fascinating! If you’re interested in learning more about how dogs sense the world, check out Alexandra Horowitz’s amazing book,  Inside of a Dog . She does a great job of talking about complex science in an easy-to-understand way. Or watch the great NOVA special, Dogs Decoded . You’ll never see your dog the same way again!

Check back in tomorrow for details about my contest! You could win a signed copy ofThe Storm, a signed advance copy of The Pack, and a series bookmark! Huzzah!

23 Responses to “Creating a Dog’s Eye View of the World”

Dear Ms. Dayna,

I want to thank you for taking the time to Skype us! It was so fun. I learned about how dogs only see certain colors and how they smell like 100,000 times better than us! I have to say that my favorite character was Shep. He is loving, caring, and tough at the same time! I love your book. I will try to read the rest of the series! Again, thanks so much!!

Hello ms. dayna. Im from olh/sls and i just wanted to thank you for Skyping with us. After school I was watching a movie about a dog named Hachiko.THey did what you said about dogs seeing only certain colors. When they changed the camera to make it look like the dogwas seeing, it was black and white. I thought it was cool! Thanks again for skyping and thanks for the bookmarks! I enjoyed the skype!

May 18, 2012

Dear Ms.Dayna,

Hi ! It’s Tori from Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School. We Skyped with you the 17th of May. I would like to say ” Thank You ! ” for taking youre time to Skype with us.

I really liked that you listened to everyone’s questions and answerd them well with a full answer and reason. I loved the book even if it was a little confusing. I still loved it . I can’t wait to read the others! Thank You !

Sincerely, Tori

Thank you oh so very much for Skyping with us. I learned that dogs don’t see all the colors that we humans see and that they can smell a lot of things from really far away. My favorite character was Higgins because he sounds so cute and I love little dogs. I also liked learning about how you set up the plot for the third book by making the chart with all the sticky notes. My dog is a Yorkie. I love him a lot so it was easy to write from his point of view. His name is Hagrid like the giant from Harry Potter.My dog is a Yorkie, so he is a very tiny dog. But the name goes to his little doggie head and he thinks he is a huge dog again. I would like to say thank you for Skyping and sending us autographed book marks.

My name is Balal. Thank you for the Skype. Sadly, I wasn’t there for it . But I still like the book. My favorite dog in the story is Shep. He is brave and cool! I liked how he saves all the dogs. Thank again for the Skype visit.

Dear Ms. Lorentz,

I’m so happy to have read your book. I want to read your 2nd and 3rd books!!!

Thank you Ms. Lorentz, very much for Skyping with our class and teaching us about dogs, man’s best friends.

My dog, Frizbee, gets himself into so much trouble, just like Frizzle and always stands up to bigger dogs. Sure enough Frizbee, too, would probably get killed.

Thank you for the bookmarks, they are FANTASTIC!!!!!

My favorite dog would have to be Callie because she’s a very happy, cute, energetic, dog!!!

Thank you for visiting our school over Skype. I really enjoyed it. When the class had to write an essay about our pets point of view, I chose my fish only to find my fish Flubby upside down .So I wrote my essay in memory of him. I have a question for you. Which 3 dogs in your book do you like the best and why?

Oh dear, I can’t choose favorites! 🙂 But I’ll tell you why I especially love three dogs in the series. The first is Frizzle. I love him because he is based on my best buddy Peter and he was so much fun to write. I love every line of dialogue he barks! The second is Oscar because his story surprised me. As I was writing, he became more and more integral to the plot and he grew and changed, and changed every dog around him in the process, especially Shep. The third is Fuzz, who shows up in The Pack. It was so much fun to write from the point of view of a cat living with a pack of dogs, especially for a dyed-in-the-fur dog person like me:)

Thank you video chatting with us on Skype. It was so cool! I learned a lot about dogs, your dogs, your inspiration for “The Storm”, and how to write from a dog’s point of view. My favorite dog is Callie. She is kind, resourceful, thoughtful, and brave. Thanks again for taking the time to Skype us. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.

Dear Mrs Lorentz,

Thank you so much for taking your time to Skype us and taking your time to indivisually sign all of the bookmarks! That was very kind of you, and I will always kee[ that bookmark. It is very special!

I learned so much about writing books and how you wrote “Storm Dogs”! My favorite character is Shep, because he is sp loyal, helpful, and and he really tries hard to help others. I can’t wait to read the second book!

Mrs Lorentz, Thank you for Skyping with my class. We loved it. I learned that dogs are always nose first and see different colors than we humans do. I liked the character Callie. She seems brave, fun, and adventurous, kind of like me and my pet. Your book was wonderful and I plan on reading the rest of th series. Thank you so much!!!!!

Dear Mrs. Dayna Lorentz,

Thank you for Skyping with us. That was a different experience for us! Thank you for answering my questions about “a couple kibbles short of a full meal” and for saying we could e-mail you our stories. I have a schnauzer named Greta who is fun and playful. She is curious and at tmes OVERWHELMING!! Anyway, thanks again! I cannot wait to see what you will write next!

P.S I am overwhelmed that you had a schnauzer in the book!!! I LOVE SCHNAUZERS!!

Dear Mrs Dayna, Thank you for Skyping with us. It was really cool to Skype with a great author like you! It was really awesome to learn how you came up with writing the books from a dog’s point of view. In the book, my favorite dog was Frizzle, I love how he was so brave and tried to protect the pack from the wild dogs. Now, I’m reading the second book in the series “The Pack.” So far, it’s great! I can’t wait to finish and read the third book “The Return.” Again thank you!

Dear Mrs. Dayna, Thank you so much for Skyping with us. I learned a lot. Also, thank you for answering my question about writing. I was in shock that I was getting writing pointers from a real author of an awesome book series. I have to say my favorite character would have to be Oscar, probably because I have a dachshund named Sophie. She has a personality mix of both Oscar and Frizzle because she always wants her mommy and acts like a tough cookie whenever she sees a dog, big or small. Sophie always goes nuts when she sees someone unless she knows them or they are a child. Well, thanks again for the Skyping with us, answering my question, and sending us signed bookmarks. I loved all of it.

Dear Mrs. Dayna, Thank you so much for the Skype visit and autographed bookmarks! I thought that dogs only see black and white, so thank you for showing us that color chart, too. I have a Boxer named Lillie, and she is really funny. One time, I set a lemon on the floor. She licked it and then she started barking at it. It was really funny. What do you think she would call a lemon? Again, thank you so much!

Hi Shannen,

A lemon, eh? What do YOU think she would call it? 🙂 I bet a lemon smells bitter and fruity to a dog, and the dog would be able to see its bright yellow skin. I bet Lillie was surprised that when she licked the lemon, it rolled a little, maybe it seemed to move on its own? DId she think it was a new toy and wanted you to play with her? Did she think it was a strange animal invading her home? You decide!

Dear Ms. Dayna, Thank you for Skyping with us yesterday. I had a lot of fun learning that dogs see with their noses! My favorite character was Shep, because he reminded me of my dog, Jack. They are both loving, caring, and strong dogs. The only difference is that Shep is a German Sheppard and Jack is a Chow-Lab mix. Thank you so much for talking to us yesterday an d reading this comment!

Dear Ms. Dayna, Thamk you so much for the Skype. I really like the book and I am now reading, “The Pack.” My favorite characters are Callie and Shep. They are both loving, brave, and caring. You really en coraged me to write my own book about my dog Biscuit, he’s a beagle. I might add a wolf or two in the book because they are my favorite animal. My dog reminds me of a wolf because he barks and howls. Thank you so much.

Dear Mrs. Dayna, Thank you for Skyping with us! I really enjoyed it. I love the “Dogs of the Drowned City” series. My favorite characters are Shep and Callie, because they are nice, caring, thoughtful, protective, and brave dogs. I thought the facts about the eyesight without color and sense of smell were cool! I thought the way you set up a board with sticky notes was a smart and good idea. I also want to thank you for the autographed bookmarks. I hope you become more and more successful in your writing skills in the future!

I want to thank you for talking to our class on skype. I was not able to see it, but I heard it was very fun. I didn’t make it because I broke my ankle on Friday and it started hurting again yesterday. I really wish I could have made it though. I really loved the book. Shep reminded me of my dog, Jack, because he is funloving, kind hearted, and tough when he needs to be. Thanks again, and sorry I couldn’t make it.

Thanks all lot for Skyping with my class and me! I hope you enjoyed Skyping with my class, as we enjoyed Skyping with you! I learned a lot from this experience like, when the huricane came, you weren’t allowed to bring any pets. I also learned that dogs explore the world with their noses, unlike humans who explore the world with all five of our senses. My favorite character was Shep because Shep was brave enough to realize fighting other dogs isn’t a good thing. So all throughout Shep’s life, he’s trying to fight his instinct to be mean and vicious. Also, Shep has a kind heart because he is willing to risk his own life for the other dogs. By the way, thanks again for the adventure of Skyping with an author and for individually signing the bookmarks for us. That meant a lot! 🙂

Dear Mrs Dayna, Thank you so much for Skyping with us! It was a really fun experience. I have four pets, two kittens and two dogs. My kittens are eleven months old. They turn twelve months on June 6th. My beagle is very plump. He is five years old. He turns six in July. We also have a little medium sized puppy who we think is about two years old, but we are not sure because we rescued him from the Maryland SPCA. Our kittens were rescued from BARCS Animal Shelter. I loved your book “Storm”. It was neat because it is different from other dog books. My favorite charecter was Shep because even though he was a fight dog, he resisted the urge to kill. I really liked the bookmarks that you signed. Thank you for signing them indivually. Thank You again for Skyping with us.

I think the book was absolutely amazing! I don’t have a pet, but I used to have a fish. I think it got a freshwater parasite that we didn’t know about until it’s gills started to get some sort of golden gunk around the gills. I loved the book and I couldn’t help but sing after reading a chapter because it was a stellar read. I usually don’t like reading but this was far past divine! I liked Cheese (I like to call him Chez because it sounds funny) because he’s a cute dog sort of like a person named “Crazy Barks” from a video game I used to play before I lost it.

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Dayna Lorentz  is the author of the  DOGS OF THE DROWNED CITY  series (Scholastic) and  NO SAFETY IN NUMBERS  (Dial).

I write because I have to; I write because I love to; I eat cupcakes because they’re there.

Blog Categories

• No Dawn without Darkness
• No Easy Way Out
• No Safety in Numbers
• Of a Feather
• Rufus and Reenie
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Dayna Kaufman Lorentz

Shelter Stories

A Marketing and Content Creation Dog Blog

Writing Dog Bios: Tips and Ideas for Crafting Compelling Profiles for Adoptable Dogs

To promote your animal shelter’s or rescue group’s adoptable dogs effectively, you need high-quality photos and compelling descriptions of them. But how do you write pet profiles that stand out from the crowd and draw attention? And how do you craft bios that are uniquely tailored to each dog’s personality? Let’s look at a few ideas!

Do Some Brainstorming

Before you get started writing, take some time to think about the dog’s personality, behavior, and characteristics. Then jot down what comes to mind. What stands out about the dog? Does he know any commands or tricks? Does she have a signature pose or a silly quirk? Is the dog energetic, playful, active, shy, or calm? Does the dog have any specific needs? And, of course, don’t forget about the basics – such as age, breed, gender.

Don’t just rely on your own impressions of the dog. Ask other volunteers who have spent time and interacted with the dog about their observations as well.

Pick a Bio Type

The basic bio.

As the name suggests, this type of dog bio simply focuses on communicating the basics about a specific dog. Think: age, breed or breed mix, gender, health issues (if any), and observations about behavior.

Descriptions like these are often thought of as boring, but there’s really nothing wrong with getting to the point quickly, without all the fluff of a super creative bio. Remember to think of your target audience here – do they care about creativity or do they just want the facts about a dog? Sometimes, the answer can be… both.

A rescue group, for example, may appreciate a very basic bio when deciding on whether or not they can place a shelter dog with one of their foster caregivers. But they may also want a creative bio that they can later use to promote the dog to prospective adopters.

So, what’s a content creator supposed to do? Write two bios? Chances are, you don’t have time for that. Instead, you could combine the two approaches in one bio, highlighting the basic facts in a bulleted list or in bigger font and then adding a few creative lines with key traits emphasized in bold letters or italics.

The Personality Bio

This is probably my favorite type of dog bio to write. I just love capturing a dog’s personality in a creative way. In writing about a dog’s personality creatively, I find that it helps to think about that dog’s adorable quirks, highlight-worthy skills, and unique character traits. If we want shelter dogs to go to homes where they are treated as family members, then I suppose it makes sense to also promote them in a way that supports that notion, right?

Here are two dog bios I wrote for inspiration:

And here’s a (very short) story I wrote about Aldo , a former shelter dog, hoping to draw attention to him.

Keep in mind that those were written as blog posts, so they are meant to be a bit longer. If you’re writing bios for social media, you may need to keep them somewhat short. Check out these tips for copywriting for social media .

The Interview Bio

The interview format is a great way to tell prospective adopters in a fun, creative way what you want them to know about a dog. There are so many ways to truly let a dog’s personality shine here. It’s about more than just asking interesting questions and answering them from the dog’s perspective. Think about the dog’s character traits and his or her behavior. What are some adjectives that come to mind? Silly? Confident? Timid? Clever? Strong-willed? Adventurous? The language used for the answers should reflect the dog’s personality.

Here are a few interview topic ideas for inspiration:

• Hopes and dreams for the new year
• Holiday wish list (it’s a forever home, right?)
• Likes and dislikes
• Where does the dog see himself/herself in five years (with his/her forever family, right?)
• Silliest thing the dog has ever done
• What the dog is looking for in his or her forever human
• What the dog will bring to his or her forever home (Fun? Cuddles?)
• Favorite activities
• Noteworthy skills (tricks or commands the dog knows, things the dog does that stand out as silly or funny)

The Résumé Bio

With this kind of bio type, you can highlight a dog’s top skills, talents, features, and characteristics in an easily digestible list format. The dog’s résumé could focus on “applying” for a forever home, for example, while creatively drawing attention to the dog’s unique personality traits and skill set.

Let’s say you’re working on a bio for a hound who loves to howl. Could he be an aspiring singer? Does his experience include “serenading” fellow shelter residents with melodic original songs? Could a noteworthy highlight be that he has given “concerts” in the shelter’s yard or from within his kennel?

Or what if your rescue has a canine who has revealed herself to be very… treat motivated? Could she be described as a “treat aficionada”? Has she ever “acquired” a treat without asking? Or charmed a volunteer into giving her yet another treat? Could those “events” be listed under “achievements”?

Or do you have a shelter/foster dog who often receives compliments on her showstopping looks during walks? Could she be highlighted as a “conversation starter”?

Could a dog who likes to show off silly ear poses be characterized as an “ear acrobat”? Does he have a signature pose that could be listed under “key features”?

And could the bio for a clever, talented dog who knows things like “sit,” “stay,” and “speak” point out his “impressive repertoire” of basic commands and tricks? Has that dog ever entertained volunteers by showing off his tricks or commands? And if so, can they be listed as “achievements” or “experience”?

Review for Completeness and Edit for Plain Language

Before you share your dog bio with the world, take a bit of time to review it to make sure it’s ready to be seen.

Is the dog’s profile complete and accurate? Did you mention everything that a prospective adopter should know?

Which words did you use to describe the dog? Are you using plain language that people who aren’t familiar with the shelter and rescue world will be able to easily understand?

For example, did you use terms like “decompress”? Would a prospective adopter know what this means? Think about what you really want new adopters to do. Do you want them to give their newly adopted dog time to relax and adjust to his or her new home and environment? Will the dog need a quiet, comfortable space away from other pets during the “decompression period”?

It may be helpful to have someone else who is familiar with the dog you wrote about take a look at your draft. They may be able to offer valuable feedback and help you refine your dog bio.

Bonus Tip: “Recycle” Your Writing

Break up a bio into several social media posts.

To make the most of your writing efforts, you can take key phrases from a bio you crafted and create multiple social media posts with them. That will help generate awareness for the dog and allow followers to truly get to know him or her.

Let’s assume you were trying to promote the howling hound mentioned above on social media. You may want to feature the full bio in one post and could then take a few key parts from that bio to highlight over the course of several days or weeks. One post could include a video of the dog howling in the yard and the accompanying copy could read something along the lines of: “Just [dog’s name] serenading volunteers and fellow shelter residents with his signature song.” While you want prospective adopters to know about the howling, you don’t want to give the impression that this is all the dog does, right? So, other posts could show the dog on a walk, snuggling a volunteer, or sitting for a treat – whatever you mentioned in his bio.

Use Your Previously Written Dog Bios as Templates

Writing a dog’s bio takes time. Lots of it. To speed up the process a bit, you can take a profile you’ve crafted previously and use it as a sort of template or outline for future bios of the same type. Your résumé bios will likely all have a similar layout, and while you’ll have to tailor each to a specific dog, you won’t have to start completely from scratch.

Keep a List of Linguistic Elements to Repurpose

You want each dog’s bio to be crafted just for them. But this doesn’t mean you can’t ever repeat words or word combinations that fit that dog’s personality simply because you’ve used them before. In fact, it’s a good idea to create a list of some terms and phrases that you think may work well for another dog’s profile in the future. You can then draw inspiration from your own linguistic database!

Here are a few examples of terms such a list could include:

• Conversation starter
• Ear acrobat
• Ear acrobatics
• Showstopping looks
• Signature pose
• Statement-making coat
• Treat aficionada
• Treat connoisseur
• Treat enthusiast

The more bios you write, the longer your list will likely get. To keep it useful and make sure you’ll quickly and easily find what you’re looking for, you can organize it not only alphabetically but also by parts of speech (noun, adjective, adverb, verb, pronoun, etc.).

Do you have any additional tips or ideas for writing dog bios? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

And: If you need templates for your dog bios, check out Canva – it’s an easy-to-use design tool that can help you create beautiful, scroll-stopping graphics.

Content Creation Copywriting

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Denise is a marketing translator, specializing in creative marketing translations for websites, social media, and email, and a volunteer marketer and content creator at her local animal shelter. Living in rural Texas, she enjoys the small-town, between-country-and-city life with her husband and two dogs. She’s also a coffee aficionada, a language lover, a travel and nature enthusiast, a fitness and fashion fan, and a keen supporter of the Oxford comma.

1 Comment Leave a comment ›

PAWS – Protecting Animals in White Settlement, is trying hard to really get the word out about the new shelter animals. The Chief of the Police Department has been instrumental in revitalizing the city’s care and structure of the shelter as a whole. I really wish I knew if they had access to these blogs to help them as they begin anew in the efforts to bring attention to the needs of the shelter and getting the word out about potential new furry family members!

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All descriptions of the dogs featured on this site are solely my own opinions, based on my personal observations and impressions and/or on others’ observations and impressions shared with me, are often fictional in nature, and are not professional assessments. If you are interested in any of the dogs featured here and still available for adoption, please take the time to meet the dogs and determine for yourself if they would be a good fit for you and your family or rescue organization.

Please also note that views and opinions expressed on this site are solely my own and are not supported or endorsed by the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter.

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