Autumnal Games

Puzzle No. 4: Duck Dogs, Duck!

By Jim Markus · First appeared August 8, 2026

Solve it in your head or work the clues on paper. Four dogs, one duck, and only one of them who could have managed it. When you’ve placed all four, check your answers below.

Someone ate the duck. Four dogs were in the Morris house that afternoon: Spoopie, Arf Arf, Scoby, and Murmaduck. One is a beagle, one is a toy poodle, one is a great dane, and one is a golden retriever. Three of them have a place they sleep here. The fourth is only visiting. Work out which dog is which and where each one sleeps, then name the one who ate the duck.

The clues

  1. Murmaduck is only visiting. He doesn't have a bed of his own here.
  2. The toy poodle sleeps on the living room couch.
  3. Arf Arf is small enough to disappear into the couch cushions.
  4. The dog who sleeps in the Morris' bed is a beagle.
  5. Scoby has never been allowed on the furniture.
  6. The great dane sleeps outside, under his own roof.
  7. The duck was thawing on the kitchen counter. By the time the Morrises got home, it was gone.
  8. Whatever took the duck knocked it off the counter with its nose.
  9. The toy poodle couldn't reach that counter on his best day.
  10. The beagle has never gotten anything off the counter, though not for lack of trying.
  11. What was left of the duck turned up behind the dog house.
  12. Murmaduck was never let out back during the whole visit.

Your accusation