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Lance’s Dog Patch
A blog by the author of: Lance: A Spirit Unbroken


7/29/2019 5 Comments

​Can Dogs Talk?

Early in the process of writing Lance: A Spirit Unbroken, I joined a critiquing group. It was the single best thing I could have done to improve the final product. Subjecting my work to others’ criticism wasn’t easy for me, but better to learn from fellow writers before publishing, than learn the hard way from readers after publishing. In those early critiquing sessions, I was told to do two things: get rid of the big words and write less formally. The former was relatively easy to accomplish; the latter required a leap of faith on my part but I'm confident the book became a lot more conversational by the time it got published.
Along the way, one of my fellow critiquers suggested that I make Lance a talking dog. Other members of the group rolled their eyes, but he was dead serious. I thought about his suggestion, but not for too long. To do such a thing would have changed the trajectory and the mood of Lance’s story and, in my mind, diminished the serious purpose I had for writing the book. That purpose was to raise awareness re: animal maltreatment and, hopefully, inspire the reader to action.
Though Lance and I did not have oral conversations (except for the occasional bite!), I feel there were times when he and I communicated mentally, beyond his obeying a command or understanding words like “treat” or “hike.” For example, not once, but twice, he escaped from his abusive owners’ property and showed up on my doorstep. Wasn’t that a silent cry for help? 
In the book, Lance occasionally "talks" to me, not in quotes but in italics. I’ve wondered at times if a reader might find my communication with Lance a stretch, but so far no one has commented to that effect.
How about you? Do you have “conversations” with your dog? What has your dog “told” you?
5 Comments
Larry Deibert link
8/1/2019 09:37:24 am

Yes, I believe my dog, Riley, spoke to me often. Obviously he could not crfeate words, but his actions and certain ways of barking altered me to many of his feelings and thoughts. I translated these feelings and thoughts into words in my book "The Life Of Riley." Walter and I share the joy of taking care of our dogs and the terrible loss we felt when we lost them. Riley has been gone 53 months and I miss him as much now as I did the day he died.

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walter stoffel link
8/13/2019 10:39:31 am

Larry, My current dog Buddy walks over to where his harness is hooked on thw wall--a clear sign he wants to go for a walk.Sometimes, actions speak louder than words!

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Joyce
8/1/2019 03:18:42 pm

Of course my dog speaks to me. He speaks with body language, facial expression, and the occasional vocal sound. He tells me he loves me, thanks for saving me, I'm happy, tired, scared etc.
Dogs are the most remarkable creatures God ever created for us to enjoy.

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walter stoffel link
8/13/2019 10:42:40 am

Joyce, My dog Buddy literally cries when my daughter and her fiancee are about to leave after a visit. If they sit back down he stops. He says a lot without uttering a word of English.

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Jenn
10/2/2019 07:53:19 pm

I totally agree with you all! We had a black Lab named Anakin. When we came home after several hours, his bark sounded as if to say "WHERE WERE YOU? WHERE WERE YOU?" . Our current chocolate lab jumps up and down and it sounds like he is saying "I HAVE TO POOP! I HAVE TO POOP!" . His sister, the more serious Sheltie, just stares at us as if she is a jedi using her mind to tell us, "I need to go out right now!!!" She wakes my husband out of a deep sleep sometimes with that trick. I love all their different personalities and the way each has its favored communication method :)

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    Author Biography
    ​​

    Walter Stoffel is a substance abuse counselor and GED teacher in correctional facilities. When not behind bars, he likes to read, travel, work out and watch bad movies. Major accomplishment : He entered a 26.2-mile marathon following hip replacement surgery and finished—dead last. The author currently lives with his wife Clara, their dog Buddy (another rescue), and cat Winky (yet another rescue).

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Lance: A Spirit Unbroken  ©2017-19 Walter Stoffel.
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