Douggie. Pam Flowers

      

      Douggie

      the playful pup who became a

      Sled Dog Hero

      written by PAM FLOWERS

      illustrated by JON VAN ZYLE

      Contents

       Title

       Douggie

       Epilogue

       Copyright

      From the beginning one puppy was different from the rest. He was big and black, his brother and sisters small and gray. While the others lay snuggled against their mother, this puppy wiggled constantly.

      That pup’s sure full of energy, thought Pam, the musher who owned the dogs.

      Even before he could open his eyes, the black puppy learned to recognize Pam’s scent and to love the gentle stroke of her hand.

      Each day the puppies grew bigger. Soon their ears stood up, except the black pup’s. His stayed flopped.

      All day long he chased one puppy after another until he wore them all out. Then, while they slept, he chewed on their tails.

      One morning Pam hunkered down close to the black puppy, who was tugging on his mother’s tail. “I’ve got the perfect name for you,” she said. “Douggie*, after Douglas Mawson, the famous Antarctic explorer. He was full of energy, too.”

      *“Douggie” is pronounced dug -ē (not doog -gē).

      When the puppies were three months old, Pam showed them a small, red harness. First, she put it on Roald, Douggie’s brother, who looked proud and confident. The other pups crowded around, eager to try it on next.

      When Pam slipped the harness over Douggie’s head he wiggled with excitement. In a flash he grabbed the strap between his teeth, jerked his head up, and flipped himself clean over.

      Pam sighed. “We’ll try again later.”

      To celebrate their six-month birthdays, Pam let the puppies try out for her team. Instead of pulling the sled, Douggie ran along barking in Roald’s ear trying to get him to play.

      Douggie was the only pup who didn’t make the team.

      The next winter, he tried again. This time he got so excited he chewed through the towline setting free the dogs in front of him.