This is a Bernese Mountain dog. Personally, this is what I see when I think of Almondine.
In this section, we are introduced to Edgar. He was born with a unique maladie. He was born unable to make a sound. His hearing was fine, but he couldn't cry or whimper or anything. Trudy went to many doctors when he was a baby in hopes of finding some way to fix it, but in the end, it did no good. She went to an Oracle by the name of Ida Paine, who confirmed that he would not make a sound, but that he could communicate using sign language.
It wasn't long until another woman shows up unexpectedly at the instruction of Ida Paine. Her name is Louisa Wilkes and she had two deaf parents and knows how to sign. She tells the Sawtelle's that they should learn sign and teach Edgar to communicate that way.
Almondine is also shown in this section and she is a highly intelligent dog with a strangely acute understanding of humans. It is mentioned that the Sawtelle dogs are bred based on disposition and intelligence, not appearance. Almondine is a classic example of a Sawtelle dog. She is very aware of what goes on. When Edgar was a baby, he couldn't cry, but she could tell when he was even though he made no sound. She would wake the parents and make them aware of Edgar's distress.
Later, when Edgar is older, Gar's brother, Claude, comes to stay at the farm. He was in the navy and now doesn't have a place to stay. (I noticed how Claude is in the navy, but so was the unnamed man in the Prologue...hmm). Claude acts very strangely and sneakily during this section. His thoughts, motives and ideas are not given. He does hint that he had been in prison. Nothing more however.
A stray dog is discovered in the area. It's starving. Claude insists that the dog should be shot. Gar was uncomfortable about what Claude said. To Edgar, Claude told a story about how Gar had a stray dog once, but he used it in dog fights. One time, Gar got so drunk and that he shot and killed his dog out of anger. Which is why now, he cannot shoot the stray that's out there.
Edgar gains some trust from the stray and they had a secret relationship. He named the dog Forte.
After reading this section, I get a bad feeling about Claude. He acts very strange and secretively. I don't trust him. His motives are unclear, but there must be a reason he showed up besides needing a place to stay.
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