Dog Tales

The cartoon opens with a rapid sequence of dog-centered gags, establishing the blackout format that dominates the short. Various breeds perform exaggerated actions and visual jokes in quick succession, setting a playful, frenetic tone for what follows.

A doberman pinscher viciously pins an overweight U.S. Army private identified as 'Doberman,' a sly nod to contemporary pop culture. The gag uses slapstick and caricature to lampoon breed stereotypes and wartime references. The moment fits the short’s rapid-fire, situational humor.

The narrator struggles to determine whether the dog pictured is a pointer or a setter, finally presenting a hybrid 'point-setter.' The gag plays on the idea of arbitrary classification in a humorous, meta way. It underscores the cartoon’s playful critique of breed labeling.

A basset hound proclaims herself a television star, riffing on Cleo the Dog from The People's Choice. The joke ties real-world dog iconography to the cartoon’s satire of breed fame and recognition. It reinforces the ongoing theme of pop-culture dog personas.

The cartoon humorously reveals an unusual lineage for a Newfoundland puppy by naming the grandfather breed. The gag plays with genealogical oddities and breed quirks to keep the sequence light and jokey. It adds another layer to the running joke about artificial and exaggerated dog traits.

A Great Dane named 'Victor Barky' takes the stage to play the piano, delivering a grand, showy musical gag. The oversized dog performing refined art adds a slapstick contrast between appearance and talent. It fits the short’s penchant for mixing high-spirited spectacle with canine caricature.

In a segment borrowed from Chuck Jones' Often an Orphan, Charlie Dog makes a cameo—his final Warner Bros. appearance and the only one not directed by Chuck Jones. The cameo showcases the film’s practice of weaving in old footage to extend its gag reel. It also marks a notable cross-pollination of Warner Bros. animation history.

The short also reuses animation from Friz Freleng's Piker's Peak (1957). This recycling serves the rapid-fire gag rhythm and demonstrates how earlier sequences are repurposed within newer shorts. It emphasizes the collage-like nature of the cartoon’s humor.

A backhanded reference to Disney's Lady and the Tramp appears as the narrator proclaims 'Today, the dog appears in countless varieties of artificially produced breeds.' The screen shows a lineup of dog silhouettes that mimic the Disney characters. The gag undercuts the notion of 'natural' breeds with cartoonish, artificial designs.

The lineup includes breeds such as Russian Wolfhound, English Bulldog, American Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier, and Dachshund, depicted in a style nearly identical to Lady and the Tramp's look. With the exception of Peg (voiced by Peggy Lee), all speak English with stereotypical accents. The sequence reinforces the parody of 'artificial' breed parody across the two films.