Bad Dog, Bad Behavior, Good Stories: Three Places to Read & Laugh About Bad Dogs

Doggie & puppy mishaps and shortcomings are captured in the many funny pictures and stories on Bad Dog Chronicles at baddogs.com, dogs gone bad on faildogs.com and in the mischievous tales of the book "Marley & Me." If you loves dogs or have a bad dog and just need to seek comfort in knowing that you are not the only owner suffering from dog maladies, take solace in the following three bad dog story sources.

1. Read & Laugh About Bad Dogs on Bad Dog Chronicles

Close to 9,500 stories have been rated on baddogs.com. What does it say about the troubles of owning a male dog when slightly more than half or 55% of the stories are about boy dog trouble? The statistics provided by the Bad Dog Chronicles also speaks volumes for adopting older dogs as half of the dog problems reported are during the puppy years from 0-2 years of age. Bad Dog Chronicles was a website started over twelve years ago by Douglas and Kaori Brown inspired by the misdeeds of their dog Maggie.

In 2000, they took the best of the stories posted on the Internet and published a book called "Bad Dog: True Tails of Trouble Only a Best Friend Could Get Away". There is an abundance of used copies available on Amazon.com for less than a penny each plus the cost of postage. The copyright at the bottom of the website is listed as 1996-2002 but the story submissions are still current. If you have a bad dog, you can submit your story online on this submission form on baddogs.com. Stories are written in a first person narrative from the dog's perspective.

In addition to the photos accompanying many of the stories, in addition to breed, sex, age and home, what's hilarious is the tally of estimated damage such as $500 in steam cleaning charges included in such tales as one from Sadie Serendipity, a boxer from Columbus, Ohio who had to desperately go potty after her owners left her for a whole day and she ended up messing all over the house.

2. Faildogs.com

Faildogs.com is a website filled with over 27 web pages and close to a hundred funny pictures of dogs dressed up in silly costumes, captured in compromising moments, putting their heads in places they don't belong like bags-pots-fences and post shenanigan shots showing damages in torn up couches and sodden bed sheets. The video on the home page is a little disturbing as a dog leaps from a moving vehicle to join a dog that's running alongside but rest assured, the rambunctious dog escaped with no injuries.

If you have a dog that's been up to some mischief, you can submit a photo of video of your dog. There's no money involved just pure fame and the honor of having your dog celebrated as a Fail Dog. The official criteria from faildogs.com is pretty simple 1) the photo should be funny 2) the dog should actually be failing. E-mail you photo to faildogs@gmail.com along with the photo credits and a link to your website or blog.

3. Marley & Me

If you haven't read the book by John Grogan, called Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog, you can probably easily find it at the library because it's been out since 2005 but it is back on the New York Times bestseller list as the paperback was released in March 2008. From the author's website, Pennylvania newspaper columnist, John Grogan describes his book about their goofy, ill-behaved labrador retriever and his misadventures as "the heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life."

It was one of those books that I picked up and read in one sitting as Marley and his goofy but lovable character is brilliantly captured. You can listen to an mp3 of Grogan reading an excerpt from Marley and Me. Also included on marleyandme.com are readers who have contributed stories about their own dogs.