In honor of
National Dog day, on Tuesday only (August 26, 2014), Bubba’s Ghost – A Sandi
Webster Mystery, and Awkward Moments – A Bogey Man Mystery, are being offered
for free in ebook format. CLICK HERE to take advantage of the free books.
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I’ve written
about including animals in books in other posts, and some things are worth
repeating. In my case, dogs take the lead. Bubba takes top billing in the Sandi
Webster mysteries. Sherlock and Watson (male and female) inhabit the Bogey Man
mysteries. Sometimes they play a peripheral role, and other times they’re up
front and in the thick of things. It happens.
Dogs can be alert
to things people miss. Their senses can take over where ours leave off. They
can sniff out trouble or danger while we sit quietly hoping it’s going to be a
quiet day.
There are
working dogs who help the disabled, search and rescue dogs, and cadaver dogs.
There are dogs used to locate drugs. They do all kinds of things. Did you know
that dogs can become depressed over the jobs they do? And yet they keep coming
back for more.
I could go on
and on, but honestly? I’m not an expert. There are many authors who know a lot
more than I do, but I enjoy including canines in my stories.
Bubba Smiling
Bubba (half wolf/half Golden retriever) has
been protective of Sandi and will always be there for her. He has a very toothy
dog smile that can set the bad guy’s teeth on edge, and strangers don’t know
what to make of him.
Sherlock and
Watson (yellow Labrador retrievers)… Well, Sherlock can be kind of a dufus sometimes. Watson watches him
with interest, and if she were a person she’d probably shake her head and tell him what a dufus he is. When the
need arises, they’ll be just as protective as Bubba.
In all
honestly, they provide more comic relief than drama. We have two rather large
dogs. To see them you’d think they’re brave, courageous and a threat to anyone
who gets in their way. I have to laugh at that description. They’re so friendly
the only injury you might receive would be from being knocked over as they
greet you. And, get this, they’re afraid of the dark. A tarantula could crawl
through the house and they’d try to play with it, but when the sun goes down? Oh,
they have some interesting personality traits, to be sure.
One day my
husband was out for a walk with the dogs and a coyote walked across the street
from them, pacing them. Interestingly, the dogs wouldn’t look at him, and he
responded in turn. He wouldn’t look at them. I don’t know if it was their size
or the fact that there were two of them and a human. And they’ve been terrified
of little barking ankle biters (small dogs).
Murphy & Sugar - Both have grown since this photo, but they still enjoy looking under the garage door
They love
lying on the floor of the garage and watching the world go by from under the
garage door. I guess they feel like if they can’t get out, nothing can get in.
Such bravery should be rewarded. Uh huh.
They’ve
learned a few things, like Leave It and Take It. If I put a treat on the floor,
they have to leave it there until I tell them they can take it. It’s humorous
to watch them because the female won’t look at the treat. She puts her head in
the air and looks everywhere else but at the floor. The male? He tips his head
down and won’t take his eyes off the floor. An earthquake could hit and his
eyes would never waver. Of course, when I say Take It, he tries to grab hers,
too.
Anyway, on
National Dog Day I think we should take stock of our pets and maybe give them
an extra treat for the day. Enjoy them. Give them some extra love and more
pats.
Do you have a
dog who deserves the best? Or do you have a funny story about your goofy dog? Like
I said, I have one about being afraid of the dark, but I’ll probably wait and
put it in a book. That comic relief comes in pretty handy sometimes.
Until next
week, make the most out of life with a canine (or a cat). I hope one of them
makes your day by making you laugh.
CLICK HERE to
visit Marja McGraw’s website
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I'm definitely a dog person. When I think of all the loves in my life, past and present, I think of Penny, the cocker spaniel I had when I was a little girl. We used to run and play in the backyard together and I always told her my problems. She would look up at me with her big, brown eyes and I knew she understood what I was saying. Back then, if I'd had to chose between my parents, my brother and my dog, I would've chosen Penny. :)
ReplyDeleteYou put a smile on my face this morning, Pat. Dogs are the most loyal, loving creatures if treated right. Penny was obviously a sweetheart. Thank you for stopping in today!
DeleteI love stories that include dogs. In my "Crow" books I decided to give my main character a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy because we'd raised several in the past and I love the breed. Well, about 50 pages into writing THE CROWS, I knew I had to have another Ridgeback. By the time I finished that book, my Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy was the same age as the one in the story. Alas, 12+ years later he's now crossed the rainbow bridge. Sigh. Time for another puppy?
DeleteDidn't it feel good to include your dog in the book, Maris? Oh, yes, I know how that feels. We lost our English Springer Spaniel about five years ago and said we weren't going to bring home another dog. Then we found Sugar, a yellow Lab, and a year later we brought home her brother-from-another-litter, Murphy. Yes, you'll probably end up with another puppy. : )
ReplyDeleteMarja
My dog, Bailey, is the love of my life. She's a black lab mix, and she's a poker. When she wants something, she'll poke me in the leg until I guess what it is, and give it to her. And she wakes me up every morning with a firm poke in my arm. I don't need to use an alarm clock with her around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chuckle, Evelyn. Ours stare into our eyes like they're willing us to read their minds while they bark. Not an attractive trait in a dog. : ) Thank you for stopping in today.
DeleteI gave my male protagonist a dog in the first novel I ever wrote, thinking that would show the heroine that the mysterious lord of the manor was a good guy after all. Besides, the dog was needed as a companion and rescuer of the heroine. And dogs show up other times in my novels, principally as beloved family members.
ReplyDeleteDogs can fill all kinds of roles, Pat. You've done well with yours. They do come through for us when we need them. Thank you for stopping in today!
DeleteDogs are great for story hour. Always enjoyed my Saint Bernard because she was anything but saintly. Thanks for reminding us all of those wonderful givers of love.
ReplyDeleteThank you and you're welcome! Cats count, too.
DeleteThanks for this, Marja. I realize that I've never put a pet dog (or cat) in any of my novels (maybe that's why they didn't get published?) or in my memoirs. I have published two well-received essays on two beloved dogs in my life. Will that earn me points with the National Dog Day people, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteLOL It sure earns points with me, Eileen! Thank you so much for stopping in today.
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