Dog Squad: Chapter 68–Epilogue

by Chris Grabenstein
Fred is your average, lovable dog who looks like his favorite hero, Duke, on the crime-fighting hit show Dog Squad. When Duke needs a stand-in, Fred fills in for him and discovers that Dog Squad action doesn't always stop on the screen.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–15, Chapters 16–30, Chapters 31–46, Chapters 47–67, Chapter 68–Epilogue
35 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. diversion
    an attack that draws an enemy's attention away
    “Wish me luck,” said Scruffy. “Although I don’t think I’ll need it. Diversionary tactics are my specialty.”
  2. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
    Abby sprang to her feet. “Scruffy? Is everything okay?”
    Scruffy answered with even more frantic barks—the kind that could make even a dog cringe.
  3. redeem
    restore the honor or worth of
    “Wonderful! I’ve been looking for a way to redeem myself, ever since that embarrassing scene at Pet World. Plus, I owe you one, Fred. You saved my bacon at that ribbon cutting. Now let’s go save Tater’s bacon!”
    “And Duke’s!” said Fred.
  4. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    “Scruffy?” Fred shouted over the din. “We go on three!”
  5. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    Nala reached the door first—two seconds before it would’ve closed tight.
    She pushed against a fierce blast of wind with all her might and wedged the battered door open while Fred, Scruffy, and Reginald ventured out into the torrential downpour.
  6. torrential
    pouring in abundance
    Nala reached the door first—two seconds before it would’ve closed tight.
    She pushed against a fierce blast of wind with all her might and wedged the battered door open while Fred, Scruffy, and Reginald ventured out into the torrential downpour.
  7. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    All four dogs struggled against the swirling wind. Reginald’s fur flapped like a thousand billowing flags. Scruffy’s ears blew backward and straight up.
  8. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    It was as if they were all being blown dry in a car wash. They plodded forward.
  9. debris
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    Treetops reeled. Debris flew. Rain slung itself sideways. It was an absolutely horrible night for a dog walk.
  10. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    As miserable as the slashing rain pellets felt drumming against his eyes and nose, Fred couldn’t help but smile as he and the others trudged onward. His teammates were true heroes.
  11. traverse
    journey across or pass over
    “How far have we traversed?” hollered Reginald when the squad of dogs had been hiking for ten minutes.
  12. vandalism
    willful and malicious destruction of the property of others
    Cha-Cha watched the four dogs slip out the door when Abby ran off to grab a fresh lantern. One of them broke that lantern! Cha-Cha realized. Knocked it off its hook. That’s vandalism.
  13. oblige
    cause to be indebted
    Once Cha-Cha rescued Duke, Duke would be obliged to return the favor and make Cha-Cha a star.
  14. gallant
    having or displaying great dignity or nobility
    She had to pretend to be the one who thought to launch a gallant rescue attempt for Duke. She had to follow the other dogs and beat them to the prize!
  15. captor
    a person who entraps and holds someone else
    “Never mind,” said Duke. “I was just going to ask for a little water.”
    His captors snarled. Then they started snapping their jaws and barking and bashing into the flimsy bars of Duke’s even flimsier cage.
  16. slog
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    Fred, Nala, Scruffy, and Reginald slogged through the storm, which seemed to be losing some of its bite.
  17. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
    “We all won’t make it,” said Nala stoically. “That’s often the case in real-world rescue missions.”
  18. capsize
    overturn accidentally
    All four dogs boarded their improvised boat. It rocked. It almost tipped over. But, at the last second, Fred shifted his weight just so to keep it from capsizing.
  19. undertow
    a current that flows away from the shore after waves break
    The four dogs dove into the shallow water just in time! The barrel got caught in the undertow. A wave crashed over it and swept it out to sea.
  20. illuminate
    make lighter or brighter
    “But we need you to look through that window.” Fred gestured toward an illuminated rectangle.
  21. reconnaissance
    the act of scouting, especially to gain information
    “Aha!” said Scruffy. “So you need me riding on your back for a reconnaissance mission!”
  22. fend
    try to manage without help
    “Or,” said Reginald, “we could just rescue Tater and leave Duke to fend for himself. If I might remind you, it’s what Duke would do.”
  23. flawless
    without a weakness or defect or mistake
    Reginald hopped up, braced his paws against the doorjamb, wrapped his mouth around the doorknob, and executed a flawless turn and push.
  24. metaphorical
    expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another
    “Dozer,” said Fred, “I think your beef is actually with me, not Duke there in the crate.”
    “You brought beef?” said Petunia.
    “I believe he’s being metaphorical,” said Reginald.
  25. humility
    a lack of arrogance or false pride
    “Wait a minute,” said Dozer, his face brightening with recognition. “You’re that dog from that commercial. You know how to make tacos!”
    “Every Tuesday,” said Reginald with as much humility as he could muster. “Thanks to Taco Bob.”
  26. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    “Wait a minute,” said Dozer, his face brightening with recognition. “You’re that dog from that commercial. You know how to make tacos!”
    “Every Tuesday,” said Reginald with as much humility as he could muster. “Thanks to Taco Bob.”
  27. maul
    injure badly
    “Is this true, boss?” Petunia asked Dozer. “Is this new guy, Fred, the Duke what got us tossed into the slammer?”
    “Yeah,” said Dozer. “I think so. I don’t know. I’m seeing double here. It’s very confusing. I can’t figure out who to maul first!”
  28. galoot
    a foolish or clumsy person
    “Ouch!” cried Duke as his head bounced off the floor. “Ooof! Careful, you big galoot. I’m still injured here!”
  29. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    “This way, Reggie,” coached Nala. “I see a floating door. We can use it as our lifeboat. See you back at the ranch, Fred. You too, Tater and Scruffy.”
    Maybe, thought Fred as he studied Dozer’s menacing eyes. If we get out of this mess alive.
  30. hackles
    a feeling of anger and animosity
    “Geez-o Pete!” said Scruffy. “Some human must’ve been evacuating and they couldn’t take their pups with them!”
    “Either that,” said Dozer, his hackles rising, “or they’re just using the storm as an excuse to dump their dogs!”
  31. allegedly
    according to what has been declared but not proved
    Scruffy turned to Petunia. “The kid’s a pet psychic,” he whispered out of the corner of his mouth. “Allegedly.”
  32. hearty
    showing warm and sincere friendliness
    “That’s our Fred!” cheered Abby.
    “Thanks,” said Fred, giving a hearty tail wag.
  33. timid
    lacking self-confidence
    “Was that okay, Fred?” asked Dozer timidly.
    “Perfect. Petunia? You were perfect too!”
  34. lass
    a girl or young woman
    “Yo-ho, lads and lasses!” Reginald came flouncing over. “I was just shooting a Taco Bob commercial on the sound stage next door. You should hear what everybody is saying!”
  35. flounce
    walk in an emphatic or exaggerated way
    “Yo-ho, lads and lasses!” Reginald came flouncing over. “I was just shooting a Taco Bob commercial on the sound stage next door. You should hear what everybody is saying!”
Created on Wed May 04 20:46:02 EDT 2022 (updated Tue May 17 14:54:21 EDT 2022)

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