Milton, My Father's Dog

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Fraser thinks he should never have let his parents go out puppy hunting
without him. What he wanted was a cute little puppy he could teach to
obey, heel, sit, fetch, and wait at the side of the rink while he played
hockey. What he gets is a 1-year-old English Sheepdog that smells bad,
licks his face, gets hair and mud all over his clothes, and knocks him
over or drags him wherever he pleases. The dog is called Milton.

Fraser is so upset, he will not even admit Milton is his dog. He calls
Milton his father’s dog because Fraser’s father is always
apologizing for him. And there is a lot of apologizing to be done. When
the family goes on a trip, Milton wrecks the house. When they give
Milton a dog house, Milton will not go inside. When Fraser takes Milton
to the hockey rink, Milton will not wait obediently on the side but
insists on being part of the game.

Milton never changes, but fortunately Fraser does. As Fraser grows
older he discovers that his added size and strength suddenly allows him
to keep Milton in line. Fraser and Milton finally become friends, but
Milton is still his father’s dog.

Eric Copeland wrote and illustrated this entertaining variation on the
age-old “a boy and his dog” theme. The “boy” in this story,
however, turns out to be Fraser’s father. Recommended.