I am an unabashed dog-lover, and dogs make frequent appearances in my books. Are dogs romantic? They can be! Here are the roles that dogs have played in some of my books:
In A Bond of the Heart, single mom Dani Cooper lives across the street from an animal rescue. When disabled veteran Shane MacQuaid rents her garage apartment and starts helping out around the house, one of the shelter dogs tags along and contributes comfort and laughs to the story.
Engaged to the Single Mom and His Secret Child both take place at A Dog’s Last Chance, an animal rescue farm in Ohio. Working with a bunch of cute pooches together—or getting snowed in on the farm—definitely makes for some romantic moments!
The Nanny’s Texas Christmas (available for preorder) features Cowboy, ranch foreman Flint Rawlings’ dog. Cowboy gets a starring role when Flint’s son Logan runs away. It’s Cowboy who keeps the little boy safe and then helps Flint and Logan’s nanny, Lana, find the frightened child as darkness falls.
Why yes, I have a dog! If you visit my author page on Facebook, you’ll see my ten-pound Maltese mix, Porter, frequently featured. Maybe too frequently! Although he’s eleven years old, Porter is one of those permanent puppies. He provides all kind of fun for me and my daughter, cheers me up when I’m feeling blue, and keeps me company when I write.
Let’s share dog stories! Tell me about the dog(s) in your life (sometime today), and I’ll send one commenter a signed copy of Small-Town Nanny… which also features a dog!
Wemble says
Hi Lee. We used to have labrador pups when our oldest son was small. I distinctly remember coming across my son taking food out of the dogs mouth and moving to put it in his mouth- luckily I stopped him! Now, we enjoy our great friends dog Zoe, who is beautiful pure bred caramel coloured Border Collie. She is a great dog, and while she does not bring romance, she does give us loads of fun and laughs and loves our boys.
Jill Weatherholt says
Sadly, our home is dogless, Lee. So please, continue to post pictures of Porter on FB, so I can live vicariously through you. Porter is adorable!
Carlien says
First, I just want to say I love your stories!! My rottweiler had to be euthanized 2 months ago. Although she was big, in her mind she was still a puppy!! Loved to relax on her back for a tummy rub!! It was hillarious when I took her to the vet to see all the people scatter, just to have her on her back begging for love!! I miss her a lot!!
Renate says
Hi! Our 14 year old Sheltie Penny and our son’s 13 year old Sheltie Mocha weekly enjoy playing together and herd the grandchildren. Unfortunately due to age Penny is deaf, but she does understand hand signals. She is good with kids and enjoys greeting the neighborhood day care center kids when they go on their walks around do the neighborhood. If you try to tickle her rump, she runs in circles. This is her favorite game, even at 14 years of age.
Lee Tobin McClain says
Oh my gosh, that’s a great story! Kids and dogs are a great combination but sanitization must be maintained!
Lee Tobin McClain says
Aw, thanks, Jill! We’re gaga over Porter around here but I sometimes suspect I overdo my adoring posts about him on FB.
Lee Tobin McClain says
Oh no, Carlien, I’m sorry for your loss. Big dogs can be the most gentle of all. One of Porter’s dark secrets is that he attacked a rottweiler/pit bull mix during obedience class… that dog just hid behind his owner looking confused about the little white mop trying to bite him!
Lee Tobin McClain says
They sound so cute, Renate! We could all take a lesson from our dogs about enjoying ourselves in a playful way as we get older.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
I grew up with Shelties. My hubby and I had two shelties of our own until they passed six years ago. We tried to move to collies, but the bigger dog brought out allergies in both my boys. So now we’re dogless and we visit our collies at my parents house every week. I miss having dogs.
kaleen21 says
I have had a fear of dogs all my life so I don’t have a one but my son constantly ask for one. My sister has a dog and my son loves him so that’s his interaction with a real life dog. Her dog Chip grows on me and I can say I am not scared of him but I do get the occasional jitters when he come too close to me.
Beth Gillihan says
When I was growing up I had a mutt(he was a weiner dog, terrior and something else mixed). He was probably 20 pounds and a fabulous dog. Now we have a black terrior mix whose name is Hobo. He is a rescue dog and spent his first few months living on the streets. He is 14 pounds of pure entertainment and joy!
Diana says
Due to severe allergies, our only dogs are stuffed. We’ve had a menagerie of other pets though. I enjoy reading about them and had some as pets growing up. My husband gets his dog time with the neighbors dogs :-)
Kelly Youngblood says
We have two dogs…Kopus (Icelandic word for dog) is a beagle bassett mix. He is seven. Sebastian, or Bass for short, is a min-pin pug mix, a beautiful brindle color. He is almost three. I love that they always seem to know when I am down or sick. They will stay very close to me those times, hardly leaving my side, even when going to the bathroom. LOL. Kopus has separation anxiety but usually calms right down if he realizes I am staying home. They are certainly part of the family.
Jill Weatherholt says
Never!
Valerie Comer says
I’m more a cat person than a dog person, if I’m allowed to say that in present company! But we’ve nearly always had a dog because my husband loves them. Our current dog is an eight-year-old Lab cross, who’s really slowed down in the last year or two. He’s put up with a lot of lovin’ from the little grandgirls!
I did write Domino, a Border collie puppy, into Raspberries and Vinegar. He was the catalyst in that romance, so maybe I can be forgiven for not being personally crazy about dogs!
Lee Tobin McClain says
Elizabeth, between your comment and Renate’s, I had to go look up Shelties. They are beautiful!
Lee Tobin McClain says
It’s good that you can borrow a dog for your son. I love almost all dogs, but I was once bitten by a Dalmatian, so I am afraid every time I see one of those.
Lee Tobin McClain says
Awww, I had a weiner dog too, when I was growing up. Her name was Snoopy. But I love the name Hobo… would you mind if I called a future book dog by that name?
Lee Tobin McClain says
Other pets can be equally endearing. Before my life was stable enough to allow a dog, I had birds. They are very smart (the parrot types) and get super attached to their owners.
Lee Tobin McClain says
Isn’t it amazing what close companions our pets can be? Right now, my little rescue Porter is tucked tightly into the chair by my side. He always wants to be close.
Lee Tobin McClain says
People do seem to fall into two groups: cat people and dog people. I actually have a cat (aptly named Trouble) but I just don’t like him as well as the dog. We’ll have to agree to disagree. :)
Winnie Thomas says
No dogs in my life. We have people with allergies in our family, so we have to limit exposure to dogs and cats. We had a couple of outside dogs when I was growing up and some outside cats. I have 15 grandchildren, though, and I think they’re more fun than animals. :)
Margaret Nelson says
My dad loved dogs, but my mom and I were cat people. So I grew up with dogs, which were okay, but I really love my cats :-) My biggest complaint about dogs is when they’re slobbery… When we lived in Cambodia, we needed a dog for a watch dog. Friends brought us this tiny little puppy (my husband’s shoes were bigger than he was). He wanted so much love, but he had FLEAS, which ate me up, so I couldn’t give him any love until he got big enough for flea shampoo and flea collars. Another friend names him Frodo, but he should have been named Dodo :-) He wasn’t a very good watchdog, because he welcomed people, but barked at bugs and rain :-)
Sharon Kay says
When my folks were first married they got a dog. His name was Elmer. He was king of the castle for 2 years before I was born. My folks were concerned how he would take to having a baby in the family, especially since I was a preemie and very small. The day they brought me home from the hospital my aunt and uncle came to see me. They started to walk into the bedroom where I was sleeping but Elmer wouldn’t let them pass. He immediately became my protector. He and I were best buds for 15 years when he finally died. We all learned so much from having a dog.
Lee Tobin McClain says
Wow, fifteen grandkids must keep you busy and entertained… WAY more fun!
Lee Tobin McClain says
Elmer and Frodo! both sound like great dogs.
Kay Singletary says
Hi, Lee!
I’ve had dogs all my life from sweet little Shelties to a 150lb Rottweiler who thought he was a lapdog. Seriously, the dog (named Bose, German for evil or bad) would scare anyone who came around with this size but if it thundered he was on my lap on the couch with his head on my shoulder. LOL. This was the same dog though that I would come home from work and find the cable man or gas man stuck in my backyard because Bose would be so sweet and let them in the yard but as soon as they tried to leave Bose would live up to his name and snarl so they would stay. Never bit any one but no one ever tried to really leave so I guess we got lucky. With the signs posted in the yard, on the fence, etc., we were told if something did happen, we wouldn’t be liable due to trespassing but still it was interesting to say the least to see the two different sides of him. I miss him but love all my babies.
Terri Green says
I have a 3 pd toy yorkie named Fee Bee. If you ask my kids if we have a dog, they will say no. They say she’s not a real dog. Our cat puss n boots is bigger then Fee Bee. Fee Bee is 12 , she’s getting old but she still loves to chase the squirrels up the trees. She acts like such a tough girl until it gets windy or rains then she shakes like an old washing machine. She follows me every where I go. When you look into her eyes you can see her love for you
Trixi says
All of our animals (except one cat) have been rescue animals from the shelter. We only have one dog now, Rosie & she’s a chihuahua/terrier mix about 18 yrs old. I always question who rescued who, lol!
My husband is a dog person and I’m a cat person, so I think we balance each other out :-)
judy leonhart says
I have Parkinson’s Disease and choke easily. One night I was having a problem getting my breath and my dog, Lewie, was sleeping on my bed and he kept nudging me but it wasn’t working. So, he put his paw on my hand, as if to say “I’ll go get( my son,) itll be OK”. Now, everytime I start choking, Lewie cames to comfort me. Lewie is a Shepherd mix and will be 5 y.o.
Rita Marcott Navarre says
Our home is dogless at this time, but we have had many pets when our children were growing up.
Beth Erin says
I love dogs and I love reading stories with dogs as characters! I’m a small dog person, we have a West Highland Terrier.