The Dog Who Keeps the World Talking… and Talking… and Talking

A tale of a canine comedian Barkley

Indra Raj Pathak
The Haven
3 min readJul 6, 2023

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Photo by Jordan Koons on Unsplash

In a place full of peculiarity, Woofsville, there was a man named Fred Peterson and his extraordinary talking pet, Barkley, who cohabited the town.

Although ‘talking pooch’ doesn’t fully encapsulate the sheer craziness of Barkley’s situation.

He wasn’t just a dog who could talk, he was a dog who never stopped talking!

As Fred lazed around on the couch, trying to watch an episode of his favorite TV show, Barkley decided it was time to reveal his incredible talent.

“Hey, Fred, ever heard a dog speak before?”

Fred nearly choked on the cheesy popcorn. “N-n-no, Barkley, I didn’t know you could talk,” Fred stammered.

Barkley scoffed. “Well, duh! What did you think all our hours of ‘woofing’ around meant? I was practicing my lines for this very moment!”

Fred couldn’t contain his excitement at the potential of having to listen to Barkley’s endless jabbering all day long.

“So, Barkley, do you think you can sing, rap, or make funny noises like a human?”

“Of course, I can! I’m a multi-talented superstar,” Barkley replied, wagging his tail.

Fred tried to calm his nerves. Was he ready for an onslaught of ridiculousness from his newfound chatterbox of a pet?

Well, he had no choice now. Barkley had become an unstoppable force of nature.

Barkley became cynosure in the town

From that day forward, Barkley talked for hours, monopolizing the conversation and keeping the vibe in the room light and hilarious. He talked about everything from what he ate for breakfast (which included a not-so-subtle hint to Fred to up his cooking game) to how he would rule the world with his charm and wit.

Barkley’s yapping soon caught the attention of the entire town.

They couldn’t believe their ears!

A talking dog that just wouldn’t shut up?

They had to hear this for themselves.

Barkley invited to ‘The Hound Tonight Show’

One day, Fred and Barkley’s banter was overheard by a talent scout from a prestigious talk show, ‘The Hound Tonight Show’ hosted by Jimmy Fetcher. The talent scout was in awe, running around in circles and barking excitedly, grasping for any phone to call Jimmy.

Within hours, Fred and Barkley were promised a spot on the show.

Fred couldn’t believe it.

He was thrilled to finally have the world recognizing his special pooch. Even though it meant having Barkley’s voice penetrate his brain for hours on end.

At the studio, producers were scrambling, trying to find a way to silence Barkley’s mouth, but nothing worked. They even had a dog trainer, but Barkley had learned all the tricks of the trade and just wouldn’t give in.

Jimmy Fetcher knew he was in for an incredible ride. And he was proved right when Barkley stepped on stage with those jazz paws and, of course, his never-ending commentary.

He talked about the studio lights, the size of the audience, how he hated Mondays (because what’s not funny about cliches?), and even went on to tease the famous host, Jimmy.

A pause. “I’m just kidding, Jimmy. You’re hilarious,” Barkley said with a wink.

Mesmerized audience with stunned jimmy

The entire audience went wild, sharing Barkley’s enthusiasm and humor. Jimmy Fetcher was stunned, not knowing how to respond to a clamorous dog whose wit was sharper than his!

After the show, Fred and Barkley went back to Woofsville, where they became subjects of curiosity and amusement.

Barkley’s stories demanded like hot cakes

Everyone wanted to hear more of Barkley’s stories, jokes, and comical observations. Fred just wanted a break from the talkative canine.

“Not another word, Barkley, please,” Fred whimpered.

Barkley simply wagged his tail and said: “Aww, come on, Fred. You know you love it. Besides, it’s better than hearing you sing in the shower!”

Everyday, Fred and Barkley walked down the streets of Woofsville, with Barkley yakking away, and Fred enjoying the funniest moments of his life.

In a town full of eccentric characters, there was now a talking dog who just wouldn’t ever shut up.

The end? Nope, it was just the beginning.

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Indra Raj Pathak
The Haven

Educationist, pragmatic, writer-poet by passion. Editor.