Walter the Farting Dog

What kind of horrible message does a book like Walter the Farting Dog send to our precious children? That it's okay to fart? - and fart publicly and indiscriminately? That farting is somehow...funny? Or that breaking wind repeatedly at an opportune time might make you the family hero someday when burglars try to rob your house?

For too long our children have been brought up believing that flatulence, be it canine or Homo sapien in origin, is hysterical, something to joke about. But it's not hysterical; it's not something to joke about, and this book did not make me laugh. I swear by God it didn't.

Even my three-year old knows better when it comes to excretory etiquette. When one of his older sisters toots (never me), he immediately goes show more all wide eyed, and declares, "ewwwww, that's dis-gus-tus!"

And it is disgustus isn't it, especially when you turn every page of Walter the Farting Dog, a supposed children's book for crying out loud, only to see a big 'ol smoke cloud-illustration being rudely ejected from Walter's behind, and then wafting away like some chemical weapon of gass destruction straight into the olfactory centers of Walter's nose-plugging human companions. Thank goodness this book is not a scratch 'n sniff!

When Billy and Betty's father threatens to send Walter back to the pound where, I believe, he rightfully belongs, they boo-hoo something awful as kids are prone to do, not caring, apparently, that their dear dog has turned their parent's home into a veritable fart factory!

I hinted at this book's ending in the beginning so I won't spoil it here. Suffice to say, I personally prefer The Cat in the Hat to Walter the Farting Dog. A) Because The Cat in the Hat is about a cat and not about a dog; and, B) because The Cat in the Hat does not pass gas.

Books about cats are just plain classier than books about dogs, anyway, because cats are classier than dogs period, particularly classier than problematically flatulent dogs like Walter. And were a cat ever to fart, which I don't think they do, but if they did, I'm just saying, they'd know to saunter off somewhere and do their business politely, in private, like a woman.

All in all, some kids might like this book (I don't know why) - maybe if you made inappropriate fart noises with your lips or armpits while you're reading it to them, they might like it - but I think, whatever it's worth, that Walter the Farting Dog stinks. show less

Little Betty and Billy choose Walter and bring him home from the animal shelter. Mom makes them give Walter a bath because he smells so bad. But they quickly realize that the problem is deeper than that: Walter is a farting dog.

Billy and Betty don’t mind but their parents can’t take it. They try to fix the problem with visits to the vet and changes in food but Walter just can’t stop. Dad finally threatens to return Walter to the shelter if he doesn’t stop farting. But it turns out there may be unexpected benefits to having a farting dog!

I’ve read this before, years ago, but it still makes me giggle. Poor Walter and his tummy trouble! The illustrations make me laugh too. Walter is perpetually surrounded by a green fog of gas. show more And the poor vet examining his rear end! I’m chuckling just thinking about it.

This is a cute story sure to please readers who think a farting dog is funny. Parents who want to discuss a little deeper can mention that we have to love people (and dogs) as they are. We all have intrinsic value. show less

This book came out 18 years ago, and I have to say, it still holds up. I know many children’s librarians were confused by my love of this wonderful pup, but I can't help it. Maybe he reminds me of my past and present stinky dogs, maybe he reminds me of a few family members, but I am not ashamed to say I love Walter the Farting Dog and all his adventures. About the only thing that dates this book is the reference to the VHS player, otherwise it is just as much fun now as it was then. Plus, the illustrations are just so unusual and unique. If you have not checked out Walter in the past, it is high time you do so.

Very sweet, if a book about dog farts can be sweet. It's silly and over-the-top and I think that little kids, especially little kids with dogs, would really dig it. We read it out loud and all of us here giggled at least once. Except our dim dog, who didn't get it.

The title drew me in (big shocker), but this turned out to be a great underdog tale. Never judge a book only by its cover, even if it smells really bad.

This is one of the only two books in Latin I've ever read. Mostly because the only Latin I know I learned during school detentions. That and the Greek alphabet. I had started on Hannibal coming over the mountains, but I didn't get very far as I got expelled and that put a stop to the Latin lessons.

Walter the Farting Dog is very funny in English, but in Latin it's totally hilarious. I mostly sell the book to lawyers and accountants, small boys get the English version with the attached whoopee cushion!

The only other Latin book I've read is X-Treme Latin which has a chapter on more uses (in Latin) for the word Fuck than there ever was in English. Highly-recommended for road-rage sufferers and the same lawyers and accountants that buy show more Walter Canis Inflatus.


Review rewritten 31st December, 2012 because I remembered that the other Latin book I read was X-Treme Latin. show less

Ha, ha. What a hilarious treat and bizarre story. Walter's owner sells him for being so stinky and Walter ends up becoming a hero before being returned to the original owners. Farting is always funny, I don't care how old yo are.