The Story of a Pet Dog

by Osamu Dazai

Is a dog truly man's best friend? This story is one man's struggle with that question.

Genres: Short Stories, Japan, Japanese Literature, Classics

16 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2017

About the author

Osamu DAZAI (native name: 太宰治, real name Shūji Tsushima) was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. A number of his most popular works, such as Shayō (The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), are considered modern-day classics in Japan.
With a semi-autobiographical style and transparency into his personal life, Dazai’s stories have intrigued the minds of many readers. His books also bring about awareness to a number of important topics such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.

Reviews

[RKanimalkingdom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

A very short novel based on a small period in the life of this magnanimous author. Osamu Dazai hated dogs. The terror that rode up his body when he met with one is a feeling that can only be understood by those who feel the same. I too, dislike dogs. Maybe not with the same vengeance that our author here did, but it is safe to say that I am quite wary of dogs and will prefer not to approach or at least, approach with great trepidation.

Such was the author's life that when confronted with the object he greatly feared, that object became attached and followed him back home. And here begins our tale of a man who must deal with his unwanted guest. It reminded me greatly of stories where people of different backgrounds learn to put down their prejudices and bond, yet, it remained ever rooted to reality. When you greatly despise something, anything they do irritates you.

Everybody reacts to fear in different ways. For Dazai, it was to suppress it down in hopes that they wouldn't be able to sniff it out. This caused the battle between fear and hate to constantly clash causing him to further despise himself as he ended up acting a fool (in his opinion). But this book isn't just him penning out his emotions. While he did hate dogs, they become a metaphor for his greatest fear, humans.

The beauty of this book is the layer of subtlety it displays. Although being very blunt and open in writing style, it's what he writes that pulls you in and makes you think. It's a book that demands analysis, otherwise you will have missed the entire point. Such is Dazai's writing style and it reminded me a little of Akutagawa's in that both are able to succinctly tell a lot in very little and what they write forces the reader to question what's in front of them. They are authors whose books are ones you must read over and over again. Read and think. Read and think.

One of Dazai's strengths is in ending on a striking chord, and this book doesn't fall flat and so, I will leave you with it to think over for yourself.

"I am a friend to the weak. The artist began there, and that's still his greatest aim. I had forgotten this simple idea. Not only me. Everyone has forgotten. I think we'll take Pochi with us to Tokyo. If my friends laugh at Pochi's figure, I'll slug'em. Got any eggs?"

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is genuinely the worst cover i’ve ever seen in the world, so bad that it’s taken me months to even add it to my goodreads. what an eyesore. an amazing story though, free on apple books and probably a few other places. absolutely adored it. i love dazai’s works so much, this one is extra good. if you liked no longer human, this will work for you too.

[sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did he hate dogs so much😭

[mmmmmeerrrrrrnnnnnnnaaaaaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

do i not get it….? people seem to see this as a positive book, while to me it was a bit depressing

[Estelle Shearon · Rating 5 out of 5]

still thinking ab this book like 2 years later he HATED that damn dog

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

the farther the worse. perfect.
[4,5]

[Mitchell Meharg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dude HATESSSSS dogs

[Joly · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is so funny if you simply read it literally 10/10

[ms mosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m such a fan of Osamu Dazai’s work, though I wish I had the analytical skills to fully do his writing justice. You’ll have to bear with my amateur take, but I hope it conveys how much I appreciate his unique storytelling.

I started reading The Story of a Pet Dog a couple of years ago but only recently finished it, so my memory of the beginning is a little foggy. That said, I’ve always been drawn to the melancholic tone of Dazai’s writing, and this short novel is no exception. I love how candid he is, as if the story is his personal rant—a raw outpouring of his unfiltered thoughts.

As for the ending, I’m not confident I can offer any deep insights, but I found it fascinating how his perception of Pochi shifts. At first, Pochi seems like a beast or even a burden, but when Dazai witnesses the dog’s vulnerability, it feels like he begins to see him as a victim of circumstance, just like humans. It’s as if Pochi’s suffering humanizes him. I’d love to hear how others interpret the ending, especially the narrator’s change of heart.

[ioana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed this. I loved the recurring theme of not only man v. nature, but the play on dogs being man’s best friend. I think dog resembles the uncontrollable wild that man, despite his civilizations and industry, could never control. Nature always wins. Pochi remained and cared for by the narrator and his wife, a solemn bond formed. Nature wins. Nature always wins against man.

[ExoDoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover is quite questionable lol but the story was worth a read! I like these kind of stories where nothing really happens but at the same time it’s so deep that I can’t stop thinking about it after I finish.

[Justin Hughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 4.5 out of 5, but I round up.

A short, atmospheric story by Dazai. It wasn’t overly complicated, but it did leave me with a feeling of thought.

I would say not to expect too much, but also just enjoy it. The flow of the translation was nice and the words didn’t get in the way of the story.

[Maya Fujii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this ages ago, short and cute.

[Mourning_elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny and the plot really interesting. We can still feel the same with this story all the time.

[Ele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bon… Le perso est clairement chelou mais parfois il n’a pas tord… j’ai eu peur a la fin mais biensur Pochi n’allait pas mourir (en plus il resemble a mon chien je le sens)

[zuzanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what drove me to read this on the tram today, a month after my dog died but I don’t regret it.

[desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what i thought itd be but i liked it and again, i love his writing style

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

pochi a real one

[Rismanisme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seorang pria yang takut anjing, memelihara anjing.

[Dina H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

WTF 😂

[Anna Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘You [Pochi] may have a personality disorder.’
A disgusting thought came to mind, ‘They say that the dog comes to resemble its owner.’”

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newsflash: local neighbour tries to avoid dogs and fails miserably

[Charlyn Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This conscience of this man through his day to day life is very relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this short book.

[Okimui · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Wait until he finds out about cats

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

iconic kiedy tak bardzo nienawidził swojego psa, po czym przypomniał sobie, że psy przypominają tylko swoich właścicieli

[julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a fearful disstrack on dogs. also, poor Pochi.
and why is it rated so well?

[Vasil Krastanov Krastanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tva e dosta stranno ama mi haresa.
Ako chetesh tova si sigma.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ebook]