The Adventures of Long Dog D'Silvo and Son

By Lori Feldberg

In this sequel to The Adventures of Long Dog D’Silvo, Long Dog, the underdog Dachshund hero, continues his adventures as leader of the Doggie Gang. He’s been joined by his son, Fellow, a pup who Long Dog hopes might have inherited his unique capabilities. Fellow’s fearless confrontations with bullies and criminals often land him and Pop Long Dog into trouble. Fellow hates swimming too; not exactly a good aversion for a sea faring dog! Eventually he learns to use his ears to stabilize himself in the water, but it appears that he’ll never have the super hearing his daddy has. Fortunately, Fellow has another unique “ear” quality that allows him to open cages and reach things from high places. He also hates ice cream headaches, but who can resist!

Keep up-to-date with all of Long Dog’s antics online at lorifeldberg.com.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Dec 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781486609086

Book preview

1.

Fellow Meets the Doggie Gang

Sylvester Longfellow IV—simply called Long Dog by his boy, Peter D’Silvo—chafed at his confinement on the Sea Maiden. He loved sailing, the sea breeze whipping his ears back and the clean salty scent filling his nostrils. Practically from the first moment he’d come on board as a pup, then joined the sailing group’s band of dogs, Long Dog had been given freedom to come and go; he’d even become the Doggie Gang’s leader.

Since a potential owner had returned the final pup from the two litters he’d sired in one of the ports, Long Dog had been confined to the yacht. Mrs. D’Silvo had been adamant: Fellow was his pup, so he could look after him! Unless Peter was able to take Fellow off the yacht on a leash, then neither of them got off for a run. It wasn’t fair!

Long Dog gave his head an annoyed shake, whomp-whomping his ears against his head. His annoyance wasn’t just over the confinement, but rather from yet another attack he had to endure from the pup, who just now pounced on him with a growl. Sheesh! He’d never been that rambunctious, had he? Admittedly, after he was adopted from the pet shop, leaving his sisters behind, he had been alone with the D’Silvos. Peter had played with him and taken care of his needs. He couldn’t remember ever harassing his boy, but then he’d had the members of the Doggie Gang to run and get into trouble with.

Pups were a lot of work, constantly demanding attention and wanting to play. He didn’t have a choice except to put up with the mauling and the constant questions.

Was I this much trouble? Long Dog grumbled to his boy as the two of them sat on the high perch afforded by the locker on board the yacht berthed in the marina. Of course, Peter had no idea what Long Dog was saying and simply patted him on the head. Behind them, Sylvester Longfellow V, his name generally shortened to Fellow, growled and jumped while he attacked his daddy’s tail. Long Dog was forced to quickly stand up to fold it under his belly. He groaned as the pup then leaped on his back and tried to catch one of his ears to chew on.

Enough! Long Dog snapped and caught one of Fellow’s ears, giving it a good yank that jerked the youngster off his feet.

The irritating pup nearly rolled off the locker. After a wild scramble, Fellow settled a long look on his daddy. Then he set his tail in slow motion while he crawled forward, belly low. Sorry, Pop, didn’t mean to make you cranky.

Long Dog sighed and allowed Fellow to push his way between him and Peter, where he could give them both a lick to show how sorry he was. Peter, of course, wasn’t upset at all and soon Fellow was on his back, feet paddling the air while he got a vigorous belly rub. Long Dog didn’t get many belly rubs now that the pup was part of the D’Silvo family. He heaved another sigh.

His boy must have understood, because next thing he knew, Peter had rolled him onto his back too and was going back and forth, rubbing first one tummy and then the other.

Long Dog heard the voices of the Doggie Gang, dominated by Tiny’s invitational woof to come and play, though the St. Bernard’s big bass voice drowned out neither Pedro’s higher pitched Chihuahua bark, nor the less constant feminine voice of Prissy, the Sealyham Terrier. Of course they couldn’t understand why Long Dog wasn’t coming to join them.

Long Dog raced to give his explanation, pushing his snout into the space under the gate to howl his unhappiness. Naturally, the pup was right on his heels and gleefully took up the howl with his puppy yowl-yelp until Long Dog glared at him.

Sorry, Pop Long Dog. I know it’s because of me that we can’t go, but look on the bright side—you and me can run around the deck all we want. It’s so much fun!

Long Dog wasn’t appeased by running around the deck. They’d been doing that ever since Fellow had become a temporary member of the D’Silvo family who was still hopeful of a full adoption. The troublesome pup seemed to deem it his duty to chase after him wherever he went. Long Dog hadn’t had a moment’s peace—you bet he was cranky!

Okay, Fellow, Peter D’Silvo said as he ran up, leash in hand. I know you want to run, and it’s time for you to meet the other dogs. Right, Long Dog?

I’m more than ready! Long Dog told him in a series of sharp barks. He continued in a more subdued throat-rumble. Maybe once you see that the pup’s safe with us, you can let us come and go, eh?

Peter just clipped the lead onto Fellow’s collar and unlatched the gate.

Eager to be off, Long Dog charged through the opening. The pup did too, and nearly succeeded in knocking them both off the gangplank. With a yelp, Long Dog regained his balance. Just then a trough of water between the waves lowered the yacht’s position on the water in a belly-to-backbone plummet. Fellow’s feet lifted off the wooden plank, but Peter’s quick jerk on the leash prevented the pup’s dunking.

Fellow, you gotta be careful around water. Keep your mind on walking the plank first, Long Dog growled.

Fellow cringed at the choppy movement that followed the swell. Hey— Fellow’s yelp was cut off as Peter started dragging him down the gangplank, leaving the little dog with no choice except to follow.

He would learn, Long Dog knew, but right now it was time to meet the Doggie Gang. He saw the trio exit the wharf and head up onto the sandy beach. Wait! We’re coming! His excited yelp halted the dogs. Long Dog raced ahead to greet the members of the gang in a wild tumble with Pedro, followed by an indulgent roll with Prissy and a lot of tail wagging and drooling from Tiny, not to mention excited yips, yelps, barks and friendly growls.

Help! He’s going to eat me!

Long Dog turned at the distressed cries of his offspring. Tiny had him pinned to the sand with his big pink tongue while Peter watched, unconcerned, from a few feet away, the unattached leash dangling from his hand.

Howdy, Pup, Tiny paused to say, you must be Fellow. You look even smaller than your daddy was when he first joined us. Glad to finally meet you. The St. Bernard gave him another long lick, rump to head so that the young Dachshund’s long coat stood up every which way.

He’s cuter than you too, Prissy yipped, poking her snout under the pup’s rear and lifting him off his crouching legs. He’s got cow-licks all over.

Pedro next offered his opinion. He’s got your long ears too, amigo. Can he swim? Do they pop up? Has he got super hearing, too?

Too early to tell what his ears do, Long Dog returned. And, of course he can’t swim yet, but I’m sure he’ll learn. He is, after all, my son, he couldn’t help bragging.

Tiny’s tongue flattened the pup’s head to the ground so that Fellow had to struggle to keep from suffocating in the sand. Pop, help!

It was Prissy that stepped in and saved him as she yipped at the much bigger dog. "Okay, let him up,