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General
- Earl and his Ozzie. The two are inseparable; they love playing with each other, taking long walks in the forest and seem to enjoy each other's company, especially when Ozzie comes home.
- Mooch and Earl's relationship. The two love and support each other and they act very similar to siblings. They even sleep together.
- While they reacted rather aggressively when they first met, within the next few strips they quickly became friends. Mooch didn't even know that Earl was a dog until he told him, but instead of being afraid of him, he accepted it and he and Earl then became curious about each other's mannerisms. Since then, they have been inseparable, much to the delight of Ozzie and Millie.
- Shelter Stories, a series outside of the main strip that is featured on the first week of May and November (for National Animal Shelter Awareness Week) It tells the story of a shelter animal from their point of view. Quite a few Tear Jerkers happen with this as well. These are based off of real animals the author has visited.
- Sometimes there will be updates in which the pet reveals what has happened since being adopted.
Bowser: "My first family gave me up because I got too big. My new family loves me just as I am. That's big." - There's also Doozy, the Animal Lover, who passes Guard Dog's yard on her way to and from school. Sometimes she'll stop and Pet the Dog, and being shown some love does wonders for his outlook on the rest of the day.
- In the earlier strips, Earl used to call Mooch "Moochie", much like Millie. Unfortunately, this was dropped later on, possibly due to some readers interpreting it as something else.
- The children's book Wag! is all about the reasons why Earl's tail wags. Why? Because of love. It becomes even more heartwarming when you realize it's a tribute to McDonnell's beloved dog, Earl, who died in 2007.
- The cover of Darling, I Love You features Earl receiving a kiss from Mooch, which is made even better in the following poem, "acting afraid":
in a dream
so I kissed you awake
Strips
- Earl's description of Ozzie.
Mooch: What's an Ozzie?Earl: He's the guy who feeds me, gives me treats, rubs my belly, takes me for rides - My Ozzie.Mooch: Where can I get one?Earl: You can't. He's mine. - There was an arc once about someone with a chainsaw about to cut down a certain tree. One day's strip had elderly curmudgeon Frank react, "Oh no, Millie! They can't chop down that tree!!!" His wife Millie was surprised: "I never knew Frank was such an environmentalist!" The tree has "F+M" carved on it.
- The "World Has Changed" strip, created as a tribute to Charles Schulz, who died three months prior to this strip's publication in 2000.
- This strip, like many other comics during that time, celebrating Thanksgiving by being thankful for what we have in the moment, including the firefighters and police officers that sacrificed their own lives to save others during 9/11. Mooch's line says it all.Mooch: We have a lot to be thankful for.
- Frank is busy... spending time with old friends.
- Earl's to-do list for December 25th.
- Why is Valentine's Day so special to Earl and Ozzie? Because it was the first time Ozzie ever saw Earl's face... at the animal shelter. Awww.
- In 2013, Millie decides to whip up a vegan Thanksgiving for her family, not just because she wanted to try a plant-based diet (which she does not), but because she's concerned about her family's health and well-being. While this might not seem like much, it's implied that she was inspired to even prepare such a meal from none other than her own cat, Mooch.
- Shtinky gives a bear a hug◊.
- And speaking of hugs…
- "Happy New Year, Earl."
- Ozzie and Earl are just walking each other home.
- For Unity Day in 2018, a man decides to finally unchain his dog and allow him to live inside his house. While its depiction of acceptance and inclusion is inaccurate, it's sweet nonetheless.
- Guard Dog is finally free
