Scuffles

Scuffles
Ruth and Latrobe Carroll, il. Ruth Carroll
1943, Henry Z. Walck, Inc.

There wasn't anybody in his family for him to play with. His brother and sister were older than he was. They had left home to earn their living.

A playful little puppy is sent to school to learn what work he's meant to do, and samples a range of careers owing to his mixed ancestry.

A nicely done picture book with an amusing dog's-eye view of the world. Various dogs have different jobs, from Scuffles's brother working on a fishing boat to his mother caring for a little old lady, and all subscribe to the theory put forward by Dr. Noseworthy, the elderly St. Bernard who runs the school: "the happy dogs are the busy dogs." When Scuffles washes out of herding and running classes, he ends up in pet class, where puppies are taught games to play with their owners, and tactics for training their owners.

If your master forgets to give you water, pick up the water bowl in your mouth and carry it to him. He will understand. If he forgets to take you for a walk, go get your leash and show it to him. If he doesn't go out with you even then, talk to him. Speak right up. Be polite, but firm.

I believe my dog attended this class.

Dogs
Scuffles - puppy
Dr. Noseworthy - old St. Bernard
Professor Scentry - Rough Collie
Professor Swift - Greyhound
Professor Paw-Spring - Poodle
Miss Curl - Cocker Spaniel

Other Books
Peanut
Salt And Pepper
Tough Enough
Digby The Only Dog
Tough Enough's Trip
Tough Enough's Pony
Tough Enough And Sassy
Bounce And The Bunnies
Tough Enough's Indians
Runaway Pony, Runaway Dog
The Bumble Pup
Managing Hen & The Floppy Hound
Hullabaloo The Elephant Dog

Peanut
Ruth and Latrobe Carroll, authors and illustrators
1951, Henry Z. Walck, Inc.

Once there was a pet store in a very big city where a man sold very little dogs.

A city family buys a tiny dog, one small enough to live in a geranium, to fit their lives. But when they move to the country and acquire a large dog, poor little Peanut is neglected and goes in search of new friends.

Out in the wide, wide fields, he felt very small and alone. He whimpered to himself, "Now cats and foxes are hunting for breakfast and maybe I'm breakfast."

Sweet illustrations and a simple story. The plot - the little boy forgets all about Peanut when he has a big dog - is a bit sad and ignoble, and the tiny dog's adventures are a bit scary for a little kid.

Dogs
Scuffles - male tiny brown and white dog, like a dollhouse spaniel
Jupiter - male harlequin Great Dane

Other Books
Peanut 1951
Salt And Pepper 1952
Tough Enough 1954
Digby The Only Dog 1955
Tough Enough's Trip 1956
Tough Enough's Pony 1957
Tough Enough And Sassy 1958
Bounce And The Bunnies 1959
Tough Enough's Indians 1960
Runaway Pony, Runaway Dog 1963
The Bumble Pup 1968
Managing Hen & The Floppy Hound (1972)
Hullabaloo The Elephant Dog 1975