Funny Dog Stories

I’ll admit, I went into *Funny Dog Stories* expecting something closer to James Herriot’s charm or David Sedaris’ sharp wit. What I got instead was more like a late-night comedy club set where every joke is about a dog—some land, some don’t, but the energy never flags. Sean Lenhart’s narration is the standout here: he commits *hard* to the bit, using vocal quirks (a high-pitched ‘oh no!’ for the dogs, a gruff ‘seriously?’ for the humans) that either feel hilariously over-the-top or grating, depending on your mood. I laughed out loud at ‘The Great Squirrel Heist,’ where a terrier’s ‘master plan’ involves a trash can and a lot of yelling, but cringed a little at ‘Puppy vs. Vacuum,’ which stretched a one-note gag too thin. The pacing is brisk to a fault—some stories end just as they’re getting started, leaving you wishing for a beat more setup. And while the humor is broadly accessible, it occasionally dips into dad-joke territory (‘Why did the dog sit in the shade? Because he didn’t want to be a *hot dog*!’). Still, for a quarter-hour of mindless fun, it’s hard to complain. This isn’t an audiobook you’ll revisit, but it’s a decent palate cleanser between heavier listens. Pro tip: Save it for when you need a quick mood boost, not when you’re craving narrative substance.