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Doodlebugged Mysteries #5
Ruff-Housed
Sit. Stay. Be Polite with Strangers. What could be easier?
That’s what Doodle thinks when Molly signs him up to take the Canine Good Citizen Test, only to discover it’s no walk (or sit) in the park. Did he miss the memo about the explosions?
Add a bullying neighbor, several stolen dogs, and a big demonstration near the White House, and Doodle begins to wonder if he and Molly have bitten off more than they can chew.
Told through the eyes of a dog, Ruff-Housed is, on the surface, a light mystery with plenty of humor. But beneath that, the story deals with human side of immigration, animal rights, and estranged families.
Ruff-Housed won 2017 Dog Writers Association of America American Kennel Club Award for the best writing about the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program
Praise for the Doodlebugged Mysteries. . . .
“. . . the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and laugh-out-loud doggy observations. Highly recommended!” —Virginia Smith, best-selling author of the Goose Creek series, Amazon (Dog-Nabbed)
“Doodle is quite possibly the most entertaining narrator I've found in quite some time. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book today!” —Susan Holmes, Amazon (Out-Sniffed)
“The Doodlebugged mysteries are doggone charming.” Suzy Willis, Amazon (Bad-Mouthed)
That’s what Doodle thinks when Molly signs him up to take the Canine Good Citizen Test, only to discover it’s no walk (or sit) in the park. Did he miss the memo about the explosions?
Add a bullying neighbor, several stolen dogs, and a big demonstration near the White House, and Doodle begins to wonder if he and Molly have bitten off more than they can chew.
Told through the eyes of a dog, Ruff-Housed is, on the surface, a light mystery with plenty of humor. But beneath that, the story deals with human side of immigration, animal rights, and estranged families.
Ruff-Housed won 2017 Dog Writers Association of America American Kennel Club Award for the best writing about the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program
Praise for the Doodlebugged Mysteries. . . .
“. . . the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and laugh-out-loud doggy observations. Highly recommended!” —Virginia Smith, best-selling author of the Goose Creek series, Amazon (Dog-Nabbed)
“Doodle is quite possibly the most entertaining narrator I've found in quite some time. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book today!” —Susan Holmes, Amazon (Out-Sniffed)
“The Doodlebugged mysteries are doggone charming.” Suzy Willis, Amazon (Bad-Mouthed)
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2017
94 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Susan J. Kroupa
34 books50 followersBefore she let her writing go to the dogs, Susan J. Kroupa won awards for her fiction from such places as the Utah Arts Council Contest, Writers of the Future and the Deep South Writing Competition. Her stories have appeared in Realms of Fantasy and in a variety of anthologies, including Bruce Coville's Shapeshifters. Now, she is perhaps best known for her Doodlebugged Mysteries, a gentle cozy series featuring the irrepressible but obedience-impaired sniffer-dog, Doodle.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 21, 2017
A unique addition to the cozy mystery genre. It might be meant for "young readers", but those of us who love a cozy & love dogs will enjoy it, too.
Doodle is a bed-bug sniffing dog who is entered into the Canine Good Citizen Test. Lots of interesting characters, some human & some canine. Good fun all around.
I love that the book is written from the dog's perspective. The only problem that I have with the book is that I had trouble figuring out who the humans were. There is no explanation of their relationship & I had to read the blurb from an earlier book to figure out who the humans were, their age groups & their relationship to each other.
All in all, a very enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more adventures with Doodle!
Doodle is a bed-bug sniffing dog who is entered into the Canine Good Citizen Test. Lots of interesting characters, some human & some canine. Good fun all around.
I love that the book is written from the dog's perspective. The only problem that I have with the book is that I had trouble figuring out who the humans were. There is no explanation of their relationship & I had to read the blurb from an earlier book to figure out who the humans were, their age groups & their relationship to each other.
All in all, a very enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more adventures with Doodle!
August 18, 2017
Another fantastic read
"Ruff-Housed", the brilliant successor to Susan J. Kroupa's "Bed-Bugged", "Out-Sniffed", "Dognabbed", and "Bad-Mouthed", is simply wonderful! Doodle's humorous musings about his human companions again provide optimal comic relief to the serious challenges the humans are confronted with: a con-man neighbor with a vicious dog, a conflicted teenaged dognapper, dog-killing fanatics who claim to remove pets from their enslaved existence, lonely rich kids who lose their nannies, the only adults who have time for them.
In book five of the series Doodle, a labradoodle specifically trained to hunt for bedbugs, helps Molly and her friends when they are confronted with animal fanatics, criminal activity, unhappy children, and clueless though well-meaning adults. Molly, friends, and Doodle recognize troubling situations, try to inform the clueless adults, and then take things into their own hands. Unexpected problems arise. Eventually the clueless adults show that they can help.
Josh values Doodle as his employee without whom he would have no bedbug detection service. Molly, Josh's daughter, sees Doodle as a family member and confidant. Doodle is intensely loyal to his human family, Josh and Molly, even though humans generally puzzle him with their imprecise use of language and illogical actions. Doodle has a bemused tolerance of human weaknesses and appreciates Molly's pampering. As a matter of pride, he always uses his trained nose to sniff out all bedbugs Josh asks him to look for.
As with the previous four Doodle volumes, this is a lovely book, funny due to Doodle's reflections on human actions ,but with a serious look at current problems. Most importantly, it is an optimistic book, showing its middle-grade readers that problems can be solved, that clueless adults will listen and help. Family situations may not be perfect, but good people make a difference. The happy ending is believable and satisfying.
Dog owners will appreciate the accuracy of the canine behavior described. Non-dog owners will find themselves wondering if they don't perhaps need a Doodle in their homes and in their lives.
Buy this book for yourself, no matter what age group you belong to, and then buy some more as presents for people who could benefit from this enjoyable and uplifting read.
"Ruff-Housed", the brilliant successor to Susan J. Kroupa's "Bed-Bugged", "Out-Sniffed", "Dognabbed", and "Bad-Mouthed", is simply wonderful! Doodle's humorous musings about his human companions again provide optimal comic relief to the serious challenges the humans are confronted with: a con-man neighbor with a vicious dog, a conflicted teenaged dognapper, dog-killing fanatics who claim to remove pets from their enslaved existence, lonely rich kids who lose their nannies, the only adults who have time for them.
In book five of the series Doodle, a labradoodle specifically trained to hunt for bedbugs, helps Molly and her friends when they are confronted with animal fanatics, criminal activity, unhappy children, and clueless though well-meaning adults. Molly, friends, and Doodle recognize troubling situations, try to inform the clueless adults, and then take things into their own hands. Unexpected problems arise. Eventually the clueless adults show that they can help.
Josh values Doodle as his employee without whom he would have no bedbug detection service. Molly, Josh's daughter, sees Doodle as a family member and confidant. Doodle is intensely loyal to his human family, Josh and Molly, even though humans generally puzzle him with their imprecise use of language and illogical actions. Doodle has a bemused tolerance of human weaknesses and appreciates Molly's pampering. As a matter of pride, he always uses his trained nose to sniff out all bedbugs Josh asks him to look for.
As with the previous four Doodle volumes, this is a lovely book, funny due to Doodle's reflections on human actions ,but with a serious look at current problems. Most importantly, it is an optimistic book, showing its middle-grade readers that problems can be solved, that clueless adults will listen and help. Family situations may not be perfect, but good people make a difference. The happy ending is believable and satisfying.
Dog owners will appreciate the accuracy of the canine behavior described. Non-dog owners will find themselves wondering if they don't perhaps need a Doodle in their homes and in their lives.
Buy this book for yourself, no matter what age group you belong to, and then buy some more as presents for people who could benefit from this enjoyable and uplifting read.
December 27, 2017
This mystery series is a bit of a hybrid. Aimed at children with its young sleuth, it can also appeal to adult readers who enjoy a decent puzzle, a curious and intelligent tween and a delightful dog. That dog, Doodle, actually narrates the story so it's all from a doggy point of view, an approach that will remind fans of the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn although this is more mildmannered, not as rambunctious.
Doodle works with Molly's dad as a bedbug sniffer but, this time, Molly has entered him in a Good Citizen trial which should be a piece of cake for this smart dog. Besides his bedbug sniffing prowess, advancing through the Canine Good Citizen system could certify him as a therapy dog for rest homes which would be a really nice thing to do. Unfortunately, there's an explosion of sorts at the test and that naturally gets everyone all riled up. Before it's all said and done, Molly and Doodle, along with her friend, Grady, and his dog, Snippet, will get involved in all sorts of adventures including dognapping, lonely children, fanatic animal activists---you name it---and it's all told by the funny and loveable Doodle. Anyone looking for an entertaining, fluffy (no pun intended) read will like Ruff-Housed.
Doodle works with Molly's dad as a bedbug sniffer but, this time, Molly has entered him in a Good Citizen trial which should be a piece of cake for this smart dog. Besides his bedbug sniffing prowess, advancing through the Canine Good Citizen system could certify him as a therapy dog for rest homes which would be a really nice thing to do. Unfortunately, there's an explosion of sorts at the test and that naturally gets everyone all riled up. Before it's all said and done, Molly and Doodle, along with her friend, Grady, and his dog, Snippet, will get involved in all sorts of adventures including dognapping, lonely children, fanatic animal activists---you name it---and it's all told by the funny and loveable Doodle. Anyone looking for an entertaining, fluffy (no pun intended) read will like Ruff-Housed.
September 3, 2017
Doodle and Politics
The author has done a great job of portraying how a dog's mind works. Her books have made me take a second look at how my dog reacts to things. All of the books are entertaining and this one is no exception. There are serious moments as well that add a little tension.
The author has done a great job of portraying how a dog's mind works. Her books have made me take a second look at how my dog reacts to things. All of the books are entertaining and this one is no exception. There are serious moments as well that add a little tension.
August 29, 2019
I really liked this last one of the series; however, I was very disappointed that there was not a happy ending for blind Dan. I was hoping the last chapter would prove he was still alive. I don't like stories where a dog dies. Yes, I know it is just fiction. But I like happy endings for all dogs!
September 12, 2020
One of Favorite Series!
Susan Kroupa is a great author who also must be a great dog lover. This one has great storylines with interesting characters and challenging mysteries to solve. I am definitely looking forward to the next book to see what Molly, Tanya, and most of all what adventures Doodle will encounter.
Susan Kroupa is a great author who also must be a great dog lover. This one has great storylines with interesting characters and challenging mysteries to solve. I am definitely looking forward to the next book to see what Molly, Tanya, and most of all what adventures Doodle will encounter.
October 25, 2020
Cute dog
The best thing about the story is the dog's continual misinterpretations of or failure to understand her people's figurative language. Otherwise I found the human relationships to be confusing.
The best thing about the story is the dog's continual misinterpretations of or failure to understand her people's figurative language. Otherwise I found the human relationships to be confusing.
July 17, 2024
Sooooo much!
I loved this Doodlebugged Mysteries sooooo much. It is great to see all the action and good endings for most. I think there are future detectives in three young people. These well trained dogs can find more than just bed bugs.
I loved this Doodlebugged Mysteries sooooo much. It is great to see all the action and good endings for most. I think there are future detectives in three young people. These well trained dogs can find more than just bed bugs.
February 17, 2020
I have read all of her books, and they are so very enjoyable. I will never look at my dog the same way any more! Susan is so very entertaining, you don't want to put the book down!
December 27, 2021
What A Wonderful Book!
I really like this series. The dogs are wonderful and the stories are very enjoyable. I'm ready for the next one.
I really like this series. The dogs are wonderful and the stories are very enjoyable. I'm ready for the next one.
January 31, 2024
Love these books.
Started reading this series for some light entertainment. Enjoy them so much, I just finished the third one. And look forward to more of them!
Started reading this series for some light entertainment. Enjoy them so much, I just finished the third one. And look forward to more of them!
December 30, 2020
Continuing Warm Adventure
I've enjoyed Susan J. Kroupa's 5th book in rd series. The writing is light and well thought out. These are great books for dog lovers of every age.
I've enjoyed Susan J. Kroupa's 5th book in rd series. The writing is light and well thought out. These are great books for dog lovers of every age.
January 29, 2022
Doodle Dog
Another fun book to read by Susan J. Kroupa....I love this silly dog and look forward to reading the next book.
Another fun book to read by Susan J. Kroupa....I love this silly dog and look forward to reading the next book.
July 17, 2018
Missing dogs and grudges
A good read but not as good or fun as the other in the series. Dogs getting stolen bring the team into action. Can they help or is it already to late?
A good read but not as good or fun as the other in the series. Dogs getting stolen bring the team into action. Can they help or is it already to late?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews