Dog Man: Mothering Heights

Pilkey celebrates the power of love to sustain us and to help us through challenging times. Romantic love is explored through the flourishing relationship of Chief and Nurse Lady. In Chapter 12, Chief and Dog Man sit in a sea of crumpled paper, which fills Chief’s entire office as he tries to think of the right thing to write to Nurse Lady to convey his feelings. This hyperbolically illustrates the agonies of adoration from afar and unrequited love. The pair’s relationship develops when they need to escape the giant Sippy Cup that tries to destroy the hospital, and the storyline reaches a satisfying conclusion for the reader when the pair decides to—at Nurse Lady’s suggestion—“smooch it out!!” in Chapter 13. Their discussion of a date implies that the relationship will continue to develop after the conclusion of the novel’s storyline.

The platonic love between friends remains pivotally important in Chief’s request to bring Dog Man on his date with Nurse Lady. The loving relationship between Chief and Dog Man is first alluded to in the opening chapter, when Chief runs to the hospital in his pajamas after hearing that Dog Man has been injured, yelling, “HOLD ON, DOG MAN! I’M COMING!!!” (17). The capitalization, which suggests that Chief is yelling, characterizes Chief’s panic and concern for his friend. Furthermore, Dog Man patiently sits with Chief—numerous panels indicate the passing of time—as Chief writes and discards potential letters to Nurse Lady, illustrating Dog Man’s loyalty in Chief’s time of need. Furthermore, Dog Man attempts to help Chief by leaving slobbery roses and candy outside of the hospital.

Platonic love is also illustrated through Li’l Petey’s relationship with Dog Man. When Dog Man comes to Li’l Petey distressed about his cone, Li’l Petey works hard with 80-HD to manufacture a machine, the Cone of Destiny, to turn Dog Man’s distressing situation to his advantage. Li’l Petey’s efforts illustrate his care for Dog Man.  

The title Mothering Heights, as well as being a humorous intertextual reference to Emily Bronte’s 19th-century gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, alludes to the importance of mothers and parental figures more broadly. Petey remembers that, in spite of the challenges he and his mother faced, she was unconditionally loving and also positive: “We didn’t have much money or food…but my mom was always hopeful” (155). The panel illustrations show Petey’s mom smiling at him lovingly while playing the ukulele to him. Based on these illustrations, the ukulele becomes a symbol of Petey’s mother’s love for him. When Petey finds the ukulele in their destroyed home, it symbolizes that familial love continues and survives despite hardship. Petey plays it to Li’l Petey just as his mom used to play it for him, signifying the continuation of Petey’s mom’s love for Petey through Petey’s love for Li’l Petey.

Furthermore, Petey and Li’l Petey recover in the wake of the destruction of their home—“We just lost everything”—with the acknowledgment that “we still have love…and love lasts forever, right, Papa?” (211). Li’l Petey’s comment is a callback to Petey’s mom’s comment in Chapter 11, where she says to a young Petey, “We still have love…and love lasts forever and ever” (155). The reader is confident that Petey and Li’l Petey’s love will help to sustain them and keep them feeling positive and hopeful as they rebuild their home, just as Petey’s mom’s love did during Petey and Petey’s mother’s time at the Happy Home Shelter. Furthermore, the pair knows that they have a home with their friend Dog Man, which again emphasizes the importance of platonic love. The fact that both familial love and a loving community are important is illustrated through the closing splash panel, which depicts Dog Man excitedly watching his friends, Petey and Li’l Petey, approaching his home.