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The Metro Dogs Of Moscow
JR (short for Jack Russell) is an embassy dog. His human, George, is a diplomat who has to travel for work. A lot. Now George is working at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. And while he fancies himself an adventurous globetrotter, he doesn't see why JR needs any more excitement than hanging out at the park with the other embassy dogs.
JR, however, has had quite enough of leashes and perfectly manicured parks' not to mention the boring embassy dogs. He decides to explore Moscow himself, and soon meets some wily Russian strays. JR is convinced that this is the life he's been looking for. Amazing city smells! Mouthwatering stuffed potatoes! And best of all, the freedom to travel on the Moscow metro!
Meanwhile, George has found himself a new girlfriend: the ravishingly beautiful Katerina, who JR suspects is too good to be true. And if that weren't trouble enough, JR's new friends are starting to mysteriously disappear.
When an embassy dog goes missing as well, JR knows he must use everything he's learned about his new home to solve the mystery of Moscow's missing dogs.
JR, however, has had quite enough of leashes and perfectly manicured parks' not to mention the boring embassy dogs. He decides to explore Moscow himself, and soon meets some wily Russian strays. JR is convinced that this is the life he's been looking for. Amazing city smells! Mouthwatering stuffed potatoes! And best of all, the freedom to travel on the Moscow metro!
Meanwhile, George has found himself a new girlfriend: the ravishingly beautiful Katerina, who JR suspects is too good to be true. And if that weren't trouble enough, JR's new friends are starting to mysteriously disappear.
When an embassy dog goes missing as well, JR knows he must use everything he's learned about his new home to solve the mystery of Moscow's missing dogs.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2013
7 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Rachelle Delaney
9 books70 followersRachelle Delaney is the author of several middle-grade novels, including The Metro Dogs of Moscow, which was a CLA Book of the Year Honour Book, The Circus Dogs of Prague, a finalist for the 2017 Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award, and Clara Voyant, shortlisted for the Red Cedar and Diamond Willow Awards. Alice Fleck's Recipes for Disaster (May 2021) is her newest novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 19, 2018
I enjoyed this one. We got it for our little friend who likes to hang out with our Jack Russell. It's a pleasantly written book with good canine characters--the pampered "Embassy dogs" and the stray "Metro dogs." The plot is clever and clips along briskly to a satisfying ending. It's slightly darker than I thought it would be for a middle school aged crowd, but that makes it a little less lightweight, I think. All the same, it is a children's book, so nothing very bad happens.
I had fun looking up the real landmarks and stories mentioned in the book:
Kroshka Kartoshka, the stuffed potato fast food stand that the dogs all love
The sad story of Malchik, the beloved Moscow Metro dog killed by a model
A New Yorker article about the real Metro dogs of Moscow, who navigate the subway system like human commuters do
I had fun looking up the real landmarks and stories mentioned in the book:
Kroshka Kartoshka, the stuffed potato fast food stand that the dogs all love
The sad story of Malchik, the beloved Moscow Metro dog killed by a model
A New Yorker article about the real Metro dogs of Moscow, who navigate the subway system like human commuters do
May 19, 2018
Fun and cute. A good story for both animal lovers and Russophiles
April 25, 2018
This book was funny, exciting, and interesting. I read it with my 10 year old daughter and we both really enjoyed it. We had mistakenly read the sequel first. I didn’t enjoy the sequel as much as I enjoyed this book, but I think I would have if we’d read this book first. My daughter also thought it explained some things about the sequel which she’d found confusing in he beginning. This story is great for young dog lovers.
August 4, 2019
What a delight! Okay, it's a kid's book and I read it to my 8-year-old granddaughter. We loved it. A Jack Russell Terrier whose owner works in the embassy in Moscow finds a way to sneak out and hobnob wth the strays in he city. Apparently it is true that some strays in Moscow ride the subway, and the author used that, and true stories about them to create this tale of canine adventure and intrigue. Find a kid and read it to them!
September 8, 2017
My favorite part was when JR and the rest of the dogs all escaped from the bad person. My least favorite part was when Katerina tried to steal JR. My favorite character was Pie because he was funny. My least favorite characters was Katerina and Filip Filipov, because both were the bad characters. September 8, 2017
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
Top notch points on the atmosphere of Moscow and it's sights + sounds from it's beauty and grim side (which it self is a beauty) all from the point of an "Embassy" dog who has a nose for adventure. Like the brilliant and clever climax to the on going mystery of the missing dogs through out the narrative too.
January 30, 2025
I read this book in grade 5 or something and I just remembered it now but I know I absolutely adored it :)
January 3, 2013
“The Metro Dogs of Moscow” by Rachelle Delaney was a quick, fun read that would be a nice thing to enjoy on a leisurely day with your children or even just by yourself. It’s a novel that falls into place with many movies I’ve seen about a small dog with a big heart who has to go on a mission to help other dogs. It isn’t the most original of novels but it’s cute with innocent, pure-hearted characters and simple, evil villains.
The plot is very predictable in its simplicity—for anyone over the age of ten at least—but nonetheless it’s heartwarming and follows the tradition of someone realizing that they have unexpected friends where they least thought they would. The writing style is also very simple and perfect for any young, reluctant readers who aren’t looking for tons of description about one thing or intricate, complicated explanations about someone’s true motives.
There is a nice amount of characters that reoccur in the novel, and each one is different, if stereotypical, so there’s at least one character for everyone to enjoy. The snobby, but large-hearted Beatrix, the gentle, intelligent Boris, the tough, kick-ass Ania, the grumpy-turns-nice, kind JR, the submissive, cautious Pie and the mischievous, fun-loving Robert are a just a few pups that come to mind. Not to mention the humans—messy, flirty George, dog-loving, rich John, beautiful, intriguing Katerina, mysterious, elusive Filip Filipov… There’s no shortage of characters and each one provides great fun and amusement.
The setting was great fun as well—Moscow, Russia through the eyes of a dog was certainly interesting and, in many circumstances, provided great humour as our sheltered protagonist, JR the embassy dog, soon shows us. This is one novel I could easily see being made into movie that audiences of films like Lady and the Tramp, Bolt, 101 Dalmations, All Dogs Go to Heaven and Cats and Dogs would enjoy. A movie from the dog’s point of view where the dogs can talk and have to solve a predictable problem.
Overall, this book was very light-hearted, quick read. The kind of book that you’ll pick up and read one lazy Saturday afternoon in the sun while sipping some sort of yummy drink and giggling at the childish humour. It’s a perfect book for any child under the age of about twelve, especially a child who loves dogs or just animals in general. If you read it as an adult, you will easily be transported back to your youth and enjoy a book where you won’t have to think about anything that’s going on because it’s not a particularly difficult book. It’s a nice book that deals with the theme of knowing who your friends are and strength in numbers. And not judging a book by its cover (I mean this as in a theme in the book—I personally think the cover of the book itself is cute). So if you’re looking for a book with a deeper meaning that you have to read between the lines to get, I’d suggest reading something else. But if you’re looking for a light, fun read with a child-like simplicity, or simply a book for your child, look no further.
*book won in Goodreads First Reads giveaway*
The plot is very predictable in its simplicity—for anyone over the age of ten at least—but nonetheless it’s heartwarming and follows the tradition of someone realizing that they have unexpected friends where they least thought they would. The writing style is also very simple and perfect for any young, reluctant readers who aren’t looking for tons of description about one thing or intricate, complicated explanations about someone’s true motives.
There is a nice amount of characters that reoccur in the novel, and each one is different, if stereotypical, so there’s at least one character for everyone to enjoy. The snobby, but large-hearted Beatrix, the gentle, intelligent Boris, the tough, kick-ass Ania, the grumpy-turns-nice, kind JR, the submissive, cautious Pie and the mischievous, fun-loving Robert are a just a few pups that come to mind. Not to mention the humans—messy, flirty George, dog-loving, rich John, beautiful, intriguing Katerina, mysterious, elusive Filip Filipov… There’s no shortage of characters and each one provides great fun and amusement.
The setting was great fun as well—Moscow, Russia through the eyes of a dog was certainly interesting and, in many circumstances, provided great humour as our sheltered protagonist, JR the embassy dog, soon shows us. This is one novel I could easily see being made into movie that audiences of films like Lady and the Tramp, Bolt, 101 Dalmations, All Dogs Go to Heaven and Cats and Dogs would enjoy. A movie from the dog’s point of view where the dogs can talk and have to solve a predictable problem.
Overall, this book was very light-hearted, quick read. The kind of book that you’ll pick up and read one lazy Saturday afternoon in the sun while sipping some sort of yummy drink and giggling at the childish humour. It’s a perfect book for any child under the age of about twelve, especially a child who loves dogs or just animals in general. If you read it as an adult, you will easily be transported back to your youth and enjoy a book where you won’t have to think about anything that’s going on because it’s not a particularly difficult book. It’s a nice book that deals with the theme of knowing who your friends are and strength in numbers. And not judging a book by its cover (I mean this as in a theme in the book—I personally think the cover of the book itself is cute). So if you’re looking for a book with a deeper meaning that you have to read between the lines to get, I’d suggest reading something else. But if you’re looking for a light, fun read with a child-like simplicity, or simply a book for your child, look no further.
*book won in Goodreads First Reads giveaway*
February 11, 2013
As a child who could not get enough of ‘the secret lives of animals’ narrative- think 101 Dalmations, The Rescuers, The Aristocats- I very much appreciated this fun romp which seems tailor made for an animated film adaptation from Canadian author Rachelle Delaney.
JR is the dog of George, who works for the Canadian embassy. George travels a lot, which means JR doesn’t get what he most wants in the world: a home. When they arrive in Moscow, JR decides not to get too attached to the city, since they’ll probably be leaving sooner or later. But then he has a chance encounter with a group of savvy stray dogs who introduce him to history, delicious Russian food, and most importantly, adventure.
The premise is like catnip (pardon the cat reference in a post about dogs) to kids. The secret lives of dogs in a foreign city is not only a genius concept, it’s one based on reality!
Delaney folds in bits of history and Russian culture throughout the narrative in a manner that is natural and not overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed the parts about ‘dog’ history, perfectly in keeping with the canine characters’ interests but also fun for readers.
Rachelle Delaney has a very classic take on the middle grade narrative. Her stories are gentle, well-paced, full of light humour, imagination, and carefully delivered character growth. I hesitate to use the term old-fashioned, because there is nothing stuffy or out-of-date about her writing. It is timeless rather than trendy. Her books would be comfortable alongside the work of Enid Blyton or Mary Norton. Younger readers (grade 2-4) who can handle novels but perhaps not older subject matter will be right at home with the Metro Dogs of Moscow, along with fans of the animal narrative, humour, and a unique concept.
JR is the dog of George, who works for the Canadian embassy. George travels a lot, which means JR doesn’t get what he most wants in the world: a home. When they arrive in Moscow, JR decides not to get too attached to the city, since they’ll probably be leaving sooner or later. But then he has a chance encounter with a group of savvy stray dogs who introduce him to history, delicious Russian food, and most importantly, adventure.
The premise is like catnip (pardon the cat reference in a post about dogs) to kids. The secret lives of dogs in a foreign city is not only a genius concept, it’s one based on reality!
Delaney folds in bits of history and Russian culture throughout the narrative in a manner that is natural and not overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed the parts about ‘dog’ history, perfectly in keeping with the canine characters’ interests but also fun for readers.
Rachelle Delaney has a very classic take on the middle grade narrative. Her stories are gentle, well-paced, full of light humour, imagination, and carefully delivered character growth. I hesitate to use the term old-fashioned, because there is nothing stuffy or out-of-date about her writing. It is timeless rather than trendy. Her books would be comfortable alongside the work of Enid Blyton or Mary Norton. Younger readers (grade 2-4) who can handle novels but perhaps not older subject matter will be right at home with the Metro Dogs of Moscow, along with fans of the animal narrative, humour, and a unique concept.
August 27, 2013
I came to love this book much more than I initially thought I would. My first reaction was along the lines of, "Oh, it's just another cute animal story," which it is. However, I think what makes this book more than just a cute story is its strong narrative style. Similar to the original (and my favorite) story, "101 Dalmatians," this book describes life in Moscow entirely from a dog's perspective, encouraging the reader to interpret human behaviour as a dog would see it. One of my favorite examples is how dogs refer to their owners as "their humans." While cute, the dog's-eye view is also realistic, portraying dogs as reasonable thinkers, which I think makes the story more interesting rather than an overdose of animal cuteness.
The story is very character-driven: JR (the Jack Russell) comes to realize that he, like his owner, has a problem letting other people/dogs come into his life. JR experiences very real and familiar emotions: longing for a more stable life, a little jealousy in wanting to keep his explorations with the strays a secret from the other embassy dogs, and the guilt associated with wanting/needing to do the right thing for his friends. Despite the fact that all of the primary characters are dogs, I think that readers will sympathize (maybe even empathize?) with JR as he becomes more self-aware.
The pacing is relatively relaxed, though it does pick up as the story takes a dramatic turn and JR takes initiative to save the day. What's especially great about this book is its appeal to both young and older readers: the author takes a horrible reality as the evil against which they fight, yet presents it in a way that is (age) appropriate for readers of any age.
Overall, a great read for anyone Gr. 3+ (and adults of course!)
The story is very character-driven: JR (the Jack Russell) comes to realize that he, like his owner, has a problem letting other people/dogs come into his life. JR experiences very real and familiar emotions: longing for a more stable life, a little jealousy in wanting to keep his explorations with the strays a secret from the other embassy dogs, and the guilt associated with wanting/needing to do the right thing for his friends. Despite the fact that all of the primary characters are dogs, I think that readers will sympathize (maybe even empathize?) with JR as he becomes more self-aware.
The pacing is relatively relaxed, though it does pick up as the story takes a dramatic turn and JR takes initiative to save the day. What's especially great about this book is its appeal to both young and older readers: the author takes a horrible reality as the evil against which they fight, yet presents it in a way that is (age) appropriate for readers of any age.
Overall, a great read for anyone Gr. 3+ (and adults of course!)
July 26, 2013
I loved the Metro Dogs of Moscow by Rachelle Delaney for many reasons.
It has a wonderful sense of humour that children and even adults can enjoy. The humour is never condescending and it respects childrens' need to laugh and have fun. The characters, especially the main characters, both dogs and people are interesting and so well described that you come to care about them very quickly. JR, the wonderful little jack russell terrier, was just such a treat and one of the best dog characters I have ever found. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his antics and his expressions.
It is a mystery and introduces children to the genre in a really fun and clever way. By the time the mystery is solved, the reader has grown to love the characters and is delighted with the resolution.
It is also interesting that the author has placed this story in Moscow, Russia. The story line is clever and the setting is an unusual one. Children reading novel this would be interested in some of the locations but could enjoy the story entirely on its own merit. It is a great story set anywhere but Russia does add interest.
It has a wonderful sense of humour that children and even adults can enjoy. The humour is never condescending and it respects childrens' need to laugh and have fun. The characters, especially the main characters, both dogs and people are interesting and so well described that you come to care about them very quickly. JR, the wonderful little jack russell terrier, was just such a treat and one of the best dog characters I have ever found. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his antics and his expressions.
It is a mystery and introduces children to the genre in a really fun and clever way. By the time the mystery is solved, the reader has grown to love the characters and is delighted with the resolution.
It is also interesting that the author has placed this story in Moscow, Russia. The story line is clever and the setting is an unusual one. Children reading novel this would be interested in some of the locations but could enjoy the story entirely on its own merit. It is a great story set anywhere but Russia does add interest.
January 10, 2015
Do I think this is going to go down in history as the next best great children's book? No. Do I think young readers are going to enjoy the story while they're reading it? Yes. JR is a wonderful character. He's a small, simple dog with a good heart. The book's central themes of not judging based on appearances and learning what true friendship is about will hit home with young readers. They'll enjoy the mystery of the missing dogs and they'll love the characters that are introduced.
This isn't a complex book and it will easily be devoured by pre-teens since it's quite short and the language isn't too difficult. As far as I know, there aren't that many children's books based in Moscow, so I did find the setting to be original, even if the plot wasn't. It's a cute read with some very cool elements in it. I especially liked how the dogs had such human personalities. (Is it wrong I hope that our pets are really like that?)
Overall, I think it's a perfect book for younger readers and Delaney shows some real promise.
I received this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program.
This isn't a complex book and it will easily be devoured by pre-teens since it's quite short and the language isn't too difficult. As far as I know, there aren't that many children's books based in Moscow, so I did find the setting to be original, even if the plot wasn't. It's a cute read with some very cool elements in it. I especially liked how the dogs had such human personalities. (Is it wrong I hope that our pets are really like that?)
Overall, I think it's a perfect book for younger readers and Delaney shows some real promise.
I received this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program.
July 10, 2017
I found this book flat and quite a slog. It would have benefited from some illustrations of some of the significant landmarks in Moscow--as it's very difficult for kids, the target audience, to visualize much of the foreign setting. The lack of children in the novel is a drawback as well. George, the owner of the central character, J.R.--a Jack Russell terrier, is a Canadian embassy worker, and he does little but cook and go to art exhibits. Not enough incident to keep me interested, and the middle-grade readers I know either abandoned or were unimpressed with the book. I would've preferred a novel that focused on the stray dogs of Moscow in a more realistic way--i.e. without the animal fantasy elements of dogs talking to each other. None of the dogs really seems to have a distinctive character. Not recommended.
February 24, 2014
The metro dogs of moscow is a very detailed book that takes you in to the heart of mother Russia. it explains the characters very well and actually teaches you about russia. JR, a canadian embassy dog always travels with his single owner george. In this book JR and George travel to moscow. JR quickly finds some new friends and He becomes friends with a group of other embassy dogs, and a group of not so clean homeless mutts. But when dogs start quickly disapearing all the dogs must team together and find out whos taking them. its truly a great book, but i just wish it could,ve been longer
January 10, 2015
I am confident that middle-grade readers will enjoy "The Metro Dogs of Moscow" by Rachelle Delaney more than I did. The intended audience will likely be drawn in by the likeable dog-characters and light, cute story. JR is a bored dog, wishing for some stability and friendship in his life beyond his embassy-working owner who likes to move a lot. He figures out how to leave his apartment off-leash and explore the big city of Moscow and he makes some great (dog) friends along the way. However, when dogs start disappearing, JR and his friends need to solve the mystery.
Shortlisted for the 2015 MYRCA.
Shortlisted for the 2015 MYRCA.
June 12, 2025
This book offers a truly fascinating and often surprising glimpse into the lives of a remarkable group of urban animals navigating a unique existence within a sprawling metropolis. The detailed observations provide compelling insights into canine intelligence, adaptability, and the complex social structures that emerge even in seemingly harsh environments. Nevertheless, it's a wonderfully insightful and often touching exploration of the resilience and ingenuity of these animals, offering a fresh perspective on urban wildlife. If you enjoyed her previous books, this will be a great continuation.
December 11, 2020
I won a copy of this book through goodreads firstreads. I am 25% through this book and far it is really cute. I can definitely see my son reading and enjoying this book when he is a little older. It is really well written and suprisingly easy to picture the story through the main character JR's, a jack russel, point of view.
I just finished it and loved it! It was a great little story that covers a full range of emotions from euphoria to grief and everything in between especially humor.
I was also really pleased to see that the author writes/edits for the David Suzuki Foundation!
I just finished it and loved it! It was a great little story that covers a full range of emotions from euphoria to grief and everything in between especially humor.
I was also really pleased to see that the author writes/edits for the David Suzuki Foundation!
October 26, 2014
I didn't mind The Metro Dogs of Moscow. It was a nice hearted, light read with lots of adventures and loyalty.
This story centres on JR who has just moved from Canada to Moscow with his human George. George is a Globetrotter, meaning he loves traveling around the world and seeing new places, on the other hand JR would rather stay settled in his cozy, warm flannel bed by the duck pond back in Canada. After seeing a stray dog steal a coil of sausages he gets inspired to go out off leash at night!!! A recommend book with lots of detail and mystery!
This story centres on JR who has just moved from Canada to Moscow with his human George. George is a Globetrotter, meaning he loves traveling around the world and seeing new places, on the other hand JR would rather stay settled in his cozy, warm flannel bed by the duck pond back in Canada. After seeing a stray dog steal a coil of sausages he gets inspired to go out off leash at night!!! A recommend book with lots of detail and mystery!
January 6, 2013
Ah! The life of an embassy dog. So simple, so carefree, if only human's could have it so easy. The Metro Dogs Of Moscow is a wonderful book that I won from Goodreads.com, and it's a great story that you could really sink your teeth into. It well deserves two paws-up, and a wag of the tail for it's brilliant author Rachelle Delaney. I certainly hope she plans a follow-up book on J.R. the Canadian Embassy Dog.
August 4, 2016
Technically a re-read but I wanted it fresh in my mind for the Silver Birch kids who are coming in to discuss!
A very fun romp through the streets of Moscow with the infamous stray dogs as a guide, and our embassy dog JR as our eyes and ears. There's a mystery afoot, and it's up to the dogs to suss out what's happening and to save the day. Great fun, although kids will likely need a little pre-reading in order to understand about life in Moscow.
A very fun romp through the streets of Moscow with the infamous stray dogs as a guide, and our embassy dog JR as our eyes and ears. There's a mystery afoot, and it's up to the dogs to suss out what's happening and to save the day. Great fun, although kids will likely need a little pre-reading in order to understand about life in Moscow.
September 3, 2012
It’s the perfect little mystery for kids! While the villain might be a tad on the obvious side to the adults reading, I think the kids will have a really fun time working out all the little clues. Rachelle Delaney has created the perfect blend of funny and heartwarming and I think it’s a book that both boys and girls will enjoy equally.
December 3, 2012
The Metro Dogs of Moscow is wonderful mystery novel for kids. This is a book that girls and boys will enjoy. There are clues throughout the book to point out who the villain is. I love how the entire book is told through perspective of JR the Jack Russell Terrier.
I won this book from goodreads giveaways. I cannot wait to share this book with my children.
I won this book from goodreads giveaways. I cannot wait to share this book with my children.
February 27, 2014
Highly entertaining mystery about JR, a Jack Russell terrier, living in Moscow. Naive and innocent, JR discovers the secret as to why the Metro dogs of Moscow go missing. Perfect for middle grade readers. Lively action, comedic moments and a gently introduction to Russian culture will make this novel a favorite.
March 31, 2014
Metro Dogs of Moscow is a decent book. The book features a dog named JR (a Jack Russell). He is an embassy so he lives a very tame lifestyle. One day though he decides to head out sans leash and explore with the metro dogs of Moscow. This is a decent book but couldn't keep my attention. I give this 3 out of 5 stars.
February 10, 2014
in this book jr is new to the city of Moscow he is a wealthy dog. He meets some street dogs but he knows if the rich dogs find out he will get in trouble. They go on a crazy a crazy adventure in this book a good mystery.
March 20, 2016
A cute story about an dog that travels with his owner who works at the Canadian embassy in Moscow. Lots of action, and a solid message about everyone having something to contribute. Appropriate for any age.
September 7, 2012
Great read for the middle grade set. Just loved the perspective of JR the Jack Russel. Lots of fun.
Want to read
December 18, 2012The Metro Dogs of Moscow sounded like a fun book so I decided to enter the first-reads giveaway and to my surprise I am a winner! Looking forward to reading this book.
December 23, 2012
Best in show. (In a gritty, Moscow-subway sort of way!)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews