The Loaded Dog

Young Australia series

by Henry Lawson, Daniel DePierre (Illustrator)

Gold miners Andy, Dave and Jim are sinking a shaft at Stony Creek. After an unsuccessful day's fishing, they decide it would be easier just to blow the fish out of the water. But their young dog becomes curious about their experiment, with explosive results!

A classic short tale of what happens when some rural lads decide to use explosives to catch fish. Suffice it to say that all does not go as planned.

Genres: Short Stories, Picture Books, Classics, Audiobook, Humor, School, Dogs

36 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Henry Lawson was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest writer".[1] He was the son of the poet, publisher and feminist Louisa Lawson.
For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_La... .

Reviews

[Emmeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cracker of a short story! (hawhawhaw #puns) I really enjoyed all of the characters, and the general Australianness that is always a pleasure to read about, from any author. This is one of the best short stories I've read in a while - the pace was excellent, and there was just enough humour to keep you interested, without being over-the-top. I'm definitely really interested in reading more of Henry Lawson's short stories!

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Loaded Dog" by Henry Lawson *****

I am giving this short story 5/5 stars on the basis that I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. This classic story carries the resonance of so much Aussie humour. Moments of comical genius, similar to "They're a Weird Mob" by Nino Culotta.

".. was just taking a third cautious sniff when -
It was very good blasting powder...."

".. the yelping of dogs. Two of them went home, to the place where they were born, thirty miles away, and reached it the same night and stayed there."
.......

[Elkaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a good laugh, this book and story is for you and your kids. It’s one of Henry Lawson's most popular short stories, about a group of gold diggers, trying to go fishing, but goes a little wrong.

The Dog, is the star of the story!

A great way, to learn about the past, through a little laughter.

[Loona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. It was a nice little story, but nothing special.

[Thu Diep · Rating 3 out of 5]

They say this story is very funny. Yet I didn't laugh or smile a single time through my reading.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice humorous read.

[Lee Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty hilarious. I can imagine this being done wonderfully as an old-fashioned silent comedy.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a laugh riot. Fishing with dynamite is always a fun notion; unfortunately, a hyper-active dog that is a great retriever, but poorly trained throws a terrible problem into the activity of blowing up fish. This is a hilarious fun romp that everyone should enjoy reading.

[Peter Macinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one piece of Australian humour before you die, make it this finely-crafted piece from the 1890s.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed studying this in my english tutoring lessons.

[Linette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so hard I nearly cried and then I handed it to my son who laughed even harder.I could hear the voices of the protagonists and see the dog running after them. Brilliant black humour.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

22/100 Glimpse of Truth Short Stories

Ticks all the short story boxes in my book. Very amusing.

[Joelle.P.S · Rating 3 out of 5]

boys building bombs
+
doofy dog
=
comic chaos

[Vivek Kumar]

just read it