It really is a shame that Patty has finally found a school she likes and that really fits her needs and yet, as she will later discover, doesn’t fit her needs :(
OK, OK: this is a comic strip in which a dog can play baseball and tennis and write novels on a typewriter. I know. However, somehow, I have always found this particular arc overly preposterous. Peppermint Patty has been made a great deal too dumb here for the sake of the joke: if she was genuinely as stupid as this she wouldn’t be able to exist in society at all. On the other hand, the adults come over as being borderline abusive in allowing this to happen in the first place. Where is her Dad? He either leaves Patty alone in the house for weeks at a time, or else he doesn’t take the trouble to see what school she has enrolled in with his money – doesn’t sound like a remotely responsible or loving parent at all. It is unimaginable that the dog trainers would go along with this, too: and it does not reflect well on Charlie Brown and Marcie that they haven’t tried harder to make Patty see sense. But, of course, this is a comic strip, and I am taking it too seriously :) I have obsessively adored Peanuts ever since I was as young as Rerun, and I do not mean to criticize Schulz’s work (but just to have fun discussing it).
which reminds me of today’s Word of the day over at dictionary (dot) com:
Pavlovian: [ pav-loh-vee-uhn]/adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of Pavlov or his work, especially of experiments in which he elicited predictable responses from laboratory animals.
Looking at some of the previous comments. What is the date of the comic? Looks like 1976, Schulz would write and draw things that might have happened 6 to 8 months before. So what was happening in 1975 thru 1976 that would give him some of these ideas.
I’m not familiar with this story arc, but I can predict its ending: PP finally realizes she’s at dog obedience school, gets mad at Chuck for not telling her.
In the end, it is a FUNNY cartoon based on habits and thoughts of people, a fictional dog, with many great points on life thrown in to laugh at. And as far as being too dumb, there are many people today who get a pass and subsidized by the rest of us. Then add the lazy and you have millions.
After reading most of these comments, I reread the strip. What I find rather poignant (and sad) is that Patty really appreciates being patted on the head when she is “a good girl”. ¡Pobrecita niña!
ronaldspence over 1 year ago
Good Girl Patty!
orinoco womble over 1 year ago
Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
carlsonbob over 1 year ago
Will she want a pat on the back when she urinates outdoors?
mccollunsky over 1 year ago
Was the school like “eh we already took her money so.. let her stay?”
sugordon over 1 year ago
It really is a shame that Patty has finally found a school she likes and that really fits her needs and yet, as she will later discover, doesn’t fit her needs :(
gopogogo Premium Member over 1 year ago
Love the drawing of panel #3.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member over 1 year ago
I bet she doesn’t like the treats they give her.
win.45mag over 1 year ago
Wait ’till you get the rolled up newspaper for peeing on the floor
cholomanaba over 1 year ago
If nobody is telling that girl… I’ll start howling at the moon
Hazelnut King over 1 year ago
OK, OK: this is a comic strip in which a dog can play baseball and tennis and write novels on a typewriter. I know. However, somehow, I have always found this particular arc overly preposterous. Peppermint Patty has been made a great deal too dumb here for the sake of the joke: if she was genuinely as stupid as this she wouldn’t be able to exist in society at all. On the other hand, the adults come over as being borderline abusive in allowing this to happen in the first place. Where is her Dad? He either leaves Patty alone in the house for weeks at a time, or else he doesn’t take the trouble to see what school she has enrolled in with his money – doesn’t sound like a remotely responsible or loving parent at all. It is unimaginable that the dog trainers would go along with this, too: and it does not reflect well on Charlie Brown and Marcie that they haven’t tried harder to make Patty see sense. But, of course, this is a comic strip, and I am taking it too seriously :) I have obsessively adored Peanuts ever since I was as young as Rerun, and I do not mean to criticize Schulz’s work (but just to have fun discussing it).
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Sir, you are such a blockhead. You still haven’t figured out it’s a pet training school.
jagedlo over 1 year ago
which reminds me of today’s Word of the day over at dictionary (dot) com:
Pavlovian: [ pav-loh-vee-uhn]/adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of Pavlov or his work, especially of experiments in which he elicited predictable responses from laboratory animals.
Wren Fahel over 1 year ago
I HATE being patted on the head. I guess it goes with being short.
Decepticomic over 1 year ago
This is still before she found out that Snoopy’s a dog, right?
joe piglet Premium Member over 1 year ago
Looking at some of the previous comments. What is the date of the comic? Looks like 1976, Schulz would write and draw things that might have happened 6 to 8 months before. So what was happening in 1975 thru 1976 that would give him some of these ideas.
A.Ficionada over 1 year ago
Weirder and weirder…
Droptma Styx over 1 year ago
I’m not familiar with this story arc, but I can predict its ending: PP finally realizes she’s at dog obedience school, gets mad at Chuck for not telling her.
Windfall35 over 1 year ago
I’d hold out for the kibble treat…
SusieB over 1 year ago
I love the perspective of panel three
Spence12 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Proving that PP truly cannot tell humans apart from dogs. She’s being treated as a dog now and accepts it.
Count Olaf Premium Member over 1 year ago
If they rub your tummy, you should probably notify the authorities.
MichiganMitten over 1 year ago
Bean bag chairs. You don’t see them much now.
EXCALABUR over 1 year ago
This has gone on too long
larslarson over 1 year ago
In the end, it is a FUNNY cartoon based on habits and thoughts of people, a fictional dog, with many great points on life thrown in to laugh at. And as far as being too dumb, there are many people today who get a pass and subsidized by the rest of us. Then add the lazy and you have millions.
WCraft Premium Member over 1 year ago
But those treats – oooofff!
eced52 over 1 year ago
They haven’t given her any treats yet? So cruel.
mindjob over 1 year ago
Her diploma will be covered in paw prints
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] over 1 year ago
when she graduates,she’ll get to be the mascot for a pro sports dream come true.
I saw a Minor League New Jersey baseball team that trained a retriever to bring bats to home plate to give to the leadoff man.
billyk75 over 1 year ago
Or maybe give you a dog biscuit.
bwswolf over 1 year ago
At least she is getting a positive attitude about learning ….. even if it’s for dog obedience …… :)
Ainsley Ashby >>> Globetrotter creator over 1 year ago
hahahah this is so funny!
Doug K over 1 year ago
Well … she is Peppermint Patty, after all.
“Good girl, Patty.” pat pat “Good girl.” pat pat
BigBoy over 1 year ago
Comical isn’t it !
bigger Nate over 1 year ago
Wait till she’s introduced to the flea bath
MarshaOstroff about 1 year ago
After reading most of these comments, I reread the strip. What I find rather poignant (and sad) is that Patty really appreciates being patted on the head when she is “a good girl”. ¡Pobrecita niña!