Fifteen Dogs

Fifteen Dogs is a novel by Canadian writer André Alexis. Published by Coach House Books in 2015, the novel was the winner of the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize^[1] and the 2015 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.^[2]

It is the second novel in a planned cycle of a five novel quincunx that Alexis will use to examine faith, place, love, power and hatred, the first being Pastoral which was published in 2014.^[3]

An apologue, the novel tells the story of a group of 15 dogs, kennelled at a veterinary clinic in Toronto, who are suddenly gifted by the gods with human consciousness and language.^[4]

Plot

Over drinks at Toronto's Wheat Sheaf Tavern, Hermes and Apollo get into a debate about whether animals could live happily if they had the same cognitive and speech abilities as humans.^[5] They decide to wager a year of servitude on the outcome of granting the gifts of human reasoning and language to a group of dogs in a nearby clinic.^[4]

Given their newfound abilities, the dogs are able to escape the clinic and make their way to the city's High Park, where they set up their own new protosociety.^[4] The novel then explores the functioning of their new society through the impact of human values, such as individuality and personal freedom, on the conventionally hierarchical social order of dog packs.^[4] Key characters in the canine society include Atticus, a Neapolitan Mastiff who naturally emerges as the group leader; Majnoun, a black poodle who is reluctant to trust other dogs; Frick and Frack, a pair of Labrador retrievers who are leery about their new reality; and Prince, a mutt who embraces his language skills to become a poet.^[4]

Themes

Language

The dogs develop their own language, which creates conflict in the pack. Prince becomes a poet and his passion for language is a source of pleasure for him. Some dogs appreciate his use of poetry and wit, but other dogs find it strange and hate it. Majnoun learns to understand and speak English, which forges a bond between him and a human (Nira) as they have long conversations and learn about one another.

Death

The immortal gods Apollo and Hermes are fascinated with mortals on Earth because of their relationship with death. Throughout the book, the reader learns how each dog dies and whether or not the dog died happy. The death plots include murder and euthanasia. The death of humans is also part of the narrative along with how the dogs respond.

Poetry

The novel includes several poems composed by Prince. At the end, the author includes a 'note on the text' where he describes the poetry genre used throughout the novel.

Love and Friendship

Several dogs form friendships (Bella and Athena; Dougie and Benjy) that they experience differently because of their gift of intelligence. Majnoun asks Hermes about love and Prince loves language.

Poems

Each of the fifteen dogs has their name hidden within one of the novel's poems (bold formatting added to highlight the name).

Majnoun:

The grass is wet on the hill.
The sky has no end.
For the dog who waits for his mistress,
Madge, noon comes again.^[1]

1. ^ Alexis, Andre (2015). Fifteen Dogs. Toronto: Coach House Books. p. 28. ISBN 9781552453056. 

Prince:

Longing to be sprayed (the green snake
writhing in his master’s hand),
back and forth into the stream –
jump, rinse: coat slick with soap.^[1]

1. ^ Alexis, Andre (2015). Fifteen Dogs. Toronto: Coach House Books. p. 81. ISBN 9781552453056. 

Lydia:

With one paw, trying
the edges of the winter pond,
finding its waters solid,
he advances, nails sliding,
still far from home.^[1]

1. ^ Alexis, Andre (2015). Fifteen Dogs. Toronto: Coach House Books. p. 106. ISBN 9781552453056. 

References