The Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too

In Short

Alfred Elwes’s 1857 anthropomorphic novella frames the life of Job, a generous and resolute dog, as a memoir told to a respectful circle of friends. Set in the canine city of Caneville, the narrative charts Job’s progress from a precarious childhood in a decaying riverside kennel through years of selling matches, carting meat, surviving a oceanic flood, and battling city outlaws. Along the way, Job pairs with the taciturn butcher Nip and earns the affection of the gentle Fida. The book endures for its warm humor, sincere morality, and memorable allegory of human social striving.

The Story

Job begins his life in dire poverty, sharing a wretched, damp kennel above the river with an old female doggess. When a floorboard collapses, the young pup plummets into the rushing water; surviving by learning to paddle, he earns a severe ear-biting from his frantic guardian to warm his blood. Left entirely alone in the dark after the doggess dies, Job listens to the comforting whispers of the wind and river, resolving to step into the world with hope and do his duty.

He takes up selling matches on the streets of Caneville, but finds little success until he rescues a wealthy puppy from drowning. The pup’s mother, the pompous Lady Bull, is too absorbed to notice the savior, but her innocent young companion, Fida, praises Job’s selflessness. Impressed by Job’s bravery, Sir John Bull hires him as a estate guard, granting him good clothes, warm meals, and his own bed.

Eventually, Job partners with Nip, a grizzled, taciturn hound who speaks only in sudden jumps of words. Nip cuts the meat while Job pushes a wheelbarrow through narrow lanes as a "walking butcher." Job initially suffers acute embarrassment when Fida spots him wearing his greasy apron, but a note from her reminds him that honest labor is never shameful.

Disaster strikes when a violent storm deluges Caneville. Torrential rains turn the streets into surging rivers. Job drags the exhausted Nip inside their cottage just before the flood sweeps Job away on a piece of timber out to the open sea. Stranded on the ocean waves, burning with thirst under a harsh sun, Job learns never to despise simple, ordinary comforts. The tide eventually casts him ashore near the sanctuary of Master Ximio, a kind-hearted beast who nurses him back to health and guides him along the coast back toward Caneville.

Upon returning, Job refuses to live on public charity despite receiving a home from the city elders. He insists on earning his keep, taking a post to defend Caneville from street criminals. When the ruthless bandit Lupo attacks Fida’s house, Job rushes to her aid, knocking the outlaw senseless with a blow under the jaw. Surrounded by loyal friends and honored by the citizens, the aged Job retires to his armchair, his coat turned silver, leaving behind a legacy of integrity and courage.

How It Unfolds

A ducking in the river A rotten corner of a damp kennel gives way, dropping the young pup into a rushing current where he instinctively learns to swim to safety.

Left alone in the dark Following the death of his old guardian, Job listens to the nocturnal sounds of the wind and water, gathering the resolve to face the world.

Rescuing the wealthy puppy While failing to sell matches, Job plunges into the river to save a rich family's falling pup, earning the quiet admiration of young Fida.

Life at the estate Sir John and Lady Bull reward Job with a guard position, offering him warm clothes and soft beds that leave him marveling at his good fortune.

The walking butcher Partnering with the quiet old hound Nip, Job pushes a meat-laden barrow through the city lanes, overcoming his vanity when Fida praises his honest work.

Swept out to sea A catastrophic deluge floods Caneville, and after rescuing Nip from the rising waters, Job is carried on floating timber into the vast ocean.

Sanctuary with Ximio Washed ashore, Job is nursed back to health by the hospitable Master Ximio, who instructs him on the coastal path leading back home.

A blow for duty Refusing a life of idle charity, Job takes up city police work and single-handedly repels the villainous Lupo during a midnight raid on Fida’s house.

The People

• Job, the canine narrator, begins as a destitute stray and grows into a wise, courageous elder. Driven by an intense desire to earn his keep and do his duty, he constantly battles his own self-consciousness, eventually transforming into a respected public hero.
• Nip, a rugged, silent old hound with a face full of scars, acts as Job's loyal business partner. Though initially appearing ugly and cross to Job, his gentle disposition, sharp knowledge of the meat trade, and constant winks of encouragement reveal a deeply devoted friend.
• Fida, a refined, dark-haired lady puppy, acts as Job's moral compass and romantic interest. She sees past Job's poor clothes and greasy butcher's apron, offering gentle praise and timely notes that push him to stay humble and honest.
• Sir John and Lady Bull, wealthy aristocrats of Caneville, represent the upper class. Though Lady Bull is prone to self-absorbed dramatics, Sir John provides Job with his first taste of security by employing him as a night guard.
• Lupo, a notorious street fighter and robber, serves as the central antagonist. He leads low-bred puppies into lawless brawls, threatening the peace of Caneville until Job permanently halts his raid on Fida's home.

In Its Own Voice

"Job, Job, my dog, cheer up, cheer up; the world is before you, Job, cheer up, cheer up." Hearing the river murmur against the old kennel walls on the morning after his guardian's death, Job finds hope in the natural world.

"Great as my sufferings were during this incident of my life, I learnt from it much that has been useful to me in after years." Reflecting on his agonizing days drifting at sea without fresh water, Job recognizes how hardship teaches appreciation for simple comforts.

"I had no right to eat the food of idleness where so many dogs, more deserving than I, were often in want of a bone..." Addressing the city elders of Caneville, Job rejects unearned public charity and insists on working for his sustenance.

What It's Really About

Beneath its charming fable of talking animals, the book explores the dignity of labor and the deceitfulness of class prejudice. Job’s internal struggle over pushing a butcher’s barrow exposes how social vanity can make an honest worker feel ashamed before the wealthy. Elwes uses Job’s journey to argue that character is forged through duty rather than pedigree, contrasting the noble actions of a poor stray with the reckless violence of well-bred puppies who fight for sport. The narrative repeatedly questions what constitutes true worth, demonstrating that physical ugliness often masks profound goodness, while rich clothes can hide callousness and vanity.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers looking for historical children's literature will find The Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too an engaging mix of Victorian morality and whimsical satire. Elwes’s world of Caneville—where dogs wear gowns, smoke pipes, spring rattles, and trade in matchboxes—possesses a vivid, picture-book charm. The prose flows smoothly, balancing light self-deprecating humor with genuine narrative tension during the flood and ocean-drift sequences.

Readers should note the book's Victorian framing: its moral lessons are direct, and its language carries period terminology (such as using "doggess" for female dogs). Yet the story avoids becoming preachy through Job’s flawed, highly relatable voice. He readily admits to his vanity, his fear, and his foolishness, making his ultimate transformation into a silver-haired elder feel genuinely earned. It remains a heartwarming read for lovers of classic animal stories and historical juvenile fiction.