I can spend as much time as you care to donate talking about this wonderful series. But when it comes down to it, Motoni Modoru always creates a story that has to be seen rather than heard.

Dog Style is the very appropriate title for a series about a pair of boys and their incidental relationship. Miki and Teru begin as acquaintances, at best. They first encounter one another in an abandoned warehouse, which both claim as their hideout. Afterwards, they come to realise that they are also connected through their best friends (who just so happen to be brothers). They begin a relationship as friends with benefits.

Dog Style is full of wit, comedy and boyish exuberance. I don't think I've ever quite described a Yaoi manga having this kind of feeling. It's completely refreshing, but at the same time, compellingly erotic. Miki and Teru are perfect as Master and stubborn Pet and although their physical relationship statically clings to the theme, their emotional relationship constantly interchanges between the two roles.

If, like me, you happen to like the smut in your Yaoi, you will be happy to know that Motoni Modoru delivers. Oh boy, does she deliver well. The sexual tension between the characters not only translates into the story, but is also well presented with Motoni's unique artistic style. As others before me have mentioned, the kissing it hot. Way hot. In fact, everything these boys do is tainted with a sexual tension that is either aggressively or passively represented in the story. I was doubly pleased that Motoni does this while maintaining the boyish attitudes of her characters. You'll find no girls with penises in Dog Style.

Motoni Modoru has not only managed to create a believable, enjoyable world filled with complex characters - she's also created a series that leaves you with new impressions every time you read it. I've read Dog Style well over a dozen times and each time I re-read it I notice something different. This mangaka is a skilled master of subtle character expressions and snappy, dynamic dialogue.

Dog Style is, without a doubt, my favourite yaoi series. I'll never, ever give another series a 10 out of 10 out of respect for this standout piece of work. I'm a converted Motoni fan forever more!

... Last updated on July 20th, 2010, 2:43pm

oh ghod. i am a wreck. i thought my heart was gonna break. what a fantastic roller-coaster. it's complex, honest, tough, stubborn, witty, boyish, aggressive, silly, unpredictable, erotic, deeply emotional, and completely original. i don't cry easily, but i'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face, and i can't stop. was this really just 3 volumes? these people became my friends. i sat in that abandoned building with them, and i bled with them. i don't want to leave. i might just read it again right away.

i need an 11 to give it a proper rating. this is a story that is everything i read BL for and find so very rarely. i will buy copies and give them to my friends, even the ones who don't read BL. and i'll write my first ever fan letter to a mangaka.

... Last updated on March 9th, 2011, 2:37am

Speechless. This manga left me completely speechless. I've been staring at this blank little box for five whole minutes, and I still can't seem to find the right words to describe this work of art.

Refreshing? Simple, yet so incredibly complex at the same time? It feels like a light comedy, yet it reaches places in your soul that are hardly ever tickled by most manga. The freshness of this acquaintance-turned-friendship-turned-fuck-buddies-turned-love is so rare, and the way the characters' feelings are portrayed through their doubts, their problems, their angst, feels incredibly realistic as well.

I think the best way to say what really moved me of this manga (which I really can't explain myself), is what voraciouszest said:

"Dog Style is full of wit, comedy and boyish exuberance. I don't think I've ever quite described a Yaoi manga having this kind of feeling. It's completely refreshing, but at the same time, compellingly erotic."

"Miki and Teru are perfect as Master and stubborn Pet and although their physical relationship statically clings to the theme, their emotional relationship constantly interchanges between the two roles."

I don't think I could have put it any better. Anyway, a real must read.

Dog Style really stands out amongst the yaoi I've read. Outside of this manga, I don't believe I've ever encountered characters that behave so convincingly like teenage boys while remaining fresh and difficult to buttonhole. The aggressiveness translates nicely into the sex. It's forceful without resorting to ridiculous domination tropes. The result is really freaking hot. Motoni has some serious talent for bedroom talk too. She takes the dialogue from funny to sexy and back again effortlessly.

Most characters, even the minor ones, are well rounded. They draw features from stereotypes - the delinquent, the pretty boy, the tragedy case, the angsty one - without falling into any easy categories. They're very compelling and just unpredictable enough to be interesting without losing a cohesive personality. Though convincing in themselves, I did not find the way the characters interacted to be very realistic. Usually when this happens in a manga, I feel like the mangaka is forcing characters into a stereotypical plot or relationship type. With Dog Style the interactions were quirky, weird, and clearly internally cohesive for the mangaka. She created a sort of parallel reality, and while immersed in it, the relationships were plausible and very enjoyable to follow.

The humor in the story arises organically from this web of offbeat relationships. The plot is very simple and sort of slice of lifey (that is, when you're fully immersed in the parallel reality of the story), but the inherent humor keeps it careening along at an enjoyable pace. I don't often like comedy - hate the feeling of characters suddenly breaking into jokes or putting themselves through a set piece, but the humor here just bubbles out of the boyish energy, which is lots of fun.

...and yes, as everyone says, the kissing is terribly, terribly sexy. And the sexual tension fairly hums throughout. And the art is clear, crisp, and pretty. And you should really just go read this series. Seriously.

This is, hands down, one of the best manga I've ever read. Well-written dialogues, realistic characters, really beautiful art... whatever you can think of, this manga delivers! But what I love most about this manga is that the characters behave and talk like real boys.They interact the way guys do--kinda rough, kinda silly, always ripping on each other every change they get, but ultimately remain great, loyal friends. In fact, I love their friendship just as much as I love their romance, especially because it doesn't feel like the friendship is just there to supplement the love story.

The two boys in this manga are pretty awesome. I hate effeminate uke who whines and cries and act like some chick from a shoujo manga. The uke in this manga isn't like that. He's really cool... and he's the taller of the two. He has a sharp tongue, speaks his mind, and is our narrator for the majority of the manga. His thoughts and reflections are a pleasure to read. He's a complex guy, with many flaws and weaknesses... and he has this way of making you feel really connected to him.

On the other hand, I'm just head over heels for the seme. He's so badass...for a shortie. And he really is like a stray mutt. He's rough and tough on the outside, but there's a lot more depth and intensity to him than meets the eye. It's really fun watching the two of them interact. They have a special kind of chemistry that is both funny and sexy. Their relationship progress in such a natural way that when one of them finally says "I love you" to the other, you're not thinking "where the hell, did that come from," you're thinking "finally!"

Anyway, if you're a yaoi reader, don't miss out on this. Or if you just want to read a really, really good story, then you won't be disappointed either. This is one hell of a manga. It's powerful, beautiful, and deeply emotional from beginning to end. I was even brought to tears near the end. Across any genre, this is no doubt one of the best manga I've ever read...

Also, the sex is hot.
Also, +1 for practicing safe sex.

... Last updated on February 7th, 2010, 11:05pm

For only a length of three volumes, this series really does pack an emotional punch. I'm trying to put together a summary of what happens in this series, but to be honest, not a lot happens in terms of plot. Dog Style is primarily character-driven and the two main leads take you on an emotional roller coaster ride of ups and downs.

Dog Style is not your typical run-of-the-mill yaoi, heck it's not even your run of the mill anything. Motives, reasonings and feelings are often difficult to comprehend and sometimes suspect. The only consistency is the growing attraction between Miki and Chiaki. The pace is frenetic, much like some of the wild escapades and running gags in the story. Erotic, sometimes absurd, comedic and dramatic, this is one of those instances where the how - not the what - keeps you reading.

If you've read any other work by this same manga-ka, then it should be quite easy to jump into Dog Style. If you're like me however, and this was your first time reading Modoru Motoni, then it might take some minor adjusting to get used to her manner of writing and drawing. Don't let the art throw you off. I skimmed the first couple of pages and couldn't get past the strangeness of her style and almost put the series aside. I don't know why I continued reading, but it must have been the overwhelming positive reviews that decided me otherwise (for which I'm extremely grateful). Now that I've done a couple of re-reads and have gone through some of her other works, I've been completely converted. She is now one of my favorite manga artists.

I only had a couple of minor complaints with the series. I thought the running stray dog metaphor was a tad forced in places and despite having read an official English translated version of the series, I still found some of the conversations confusing. Based on some of the reviews I've read about her other works, Motoni is fond of using Japanese puns and wordplay, which probably accounts for some of the odd phrasing and nonsensical conversations. It's a shame there weren't a couple of pages of side notes explaining the meaning behind some of these translations.

I'm not sure how it is for others, but my enjoyment for reading something is increased by tenfold when I really like the main characters. There was something about Chiaki and Miki that made them magnetic and enthralling. They're two complex individuals with some heavy emotional baggage who only come together at first for the most superficial of reasons (sex). It's not even enjoyable for one of the individuals the first few times. While the sex may seem passionate at first, it becomes fairly obvious that the lack of a deeper connection makes it what it is - just sex. However, their love-making subtly becomes more involved and erotic (oh my, their kisses were nose-bleed worthy!) as their relationship evolves. They aren't perfect individuals, and depending on how much you buy into the story, you'll either like them or hate them. So take my advice and don't expect anything when you start reading.

There's probably more I say about Dog Style, but it's just one of those series you have to experience by actually reading it. It's the kind of story that grips you from the start and wrings you out by the end, but you're glad you stayed along for the ride.

... Last updated on December 6th, 2012, 12:04am

When I started reading Dog Style, I wasn't sure I'd end up finishing it. The style wasn't the usual pretty boys I was used to, and the story was dark and convoluted. When I finished the first volume, I was so happy I stayed with it. I read the series in one go, falling in love with it more and more with each page.

Motoni Modoru made me expand my manga repertoire and now I try out all sorts, rather than the girly ones I began with. (Although I love those too!)

Dog Style is a gripping manga that will snatch up your heart, punch the hell out of it, then cover it with band-aids and kisses. I don't know if I'll ever find a manga that I'll love more.

I loved how the characters were all different and not all cliches - they had elements of actual human beings, which is unusual for a lot of manga. It was great.

This is a very tragic story in some ways. I had a very hard time with the rape and attempted rapes. I had to skim those parts. I am glad, though, that none of them were the typical yaoi "I love you so I'll rape you" things. None of that happened. But this still wasn't easy to read at times.

Overall, I adore the main couple. They're rough and loud and get along and fight. I thought it was awesome. Despite being a heavy story in places, overall this was not too heavy of a story (surprising but true).

OH! And also, they used condoms! Hooray! Safe sex is sexy sex, everyone! Safety is critical!

... Last updated on August 24th, 2014, 9:41am

I can't remember the last time I read a yaoi that made me cry. Don't pass this up. Seriously. This manga is a rare gem in a genre that tends to be overrun by cliches. The emotions are raw and real, and you can't help but get drawn in and feel everything the characters are feeling - sadness, happiness, frustration, fear, confusion, relief, giddiness... everything. And your heart will be pounding up until the last few pages where you meet an ending that's so overwhelmingly happy, and yet somehow just barely keeps you satisfied. You'll crave so much more, and yet you won't want to destroy the utter perfection of their ending. I can't even begin to describe everything I love about this manga, so just read it. You won't regret it.

Simply amazing. There are few yaoi mangas, and I mean VERY few mangas that manage to be this real. The characters are real boys, not girls dressed up in mens clothing. Their situation is realistic and believable and the kissing and sex is HOT. One thing I love about this manga is that the transition into love is smooth and almost so subtle you hardly even notice it, not fast and abrupt like most yaoi, and manga in general. This makes Teru and Miki's story so amazing. The characters are believable and inspiring, the plot was magnificent and never left you confused and the man on man action was smoking. And most of all, the love was real and tangible. For any manga fan, not just yaoi readers, this is a must-read because this is the kind of story that MAKES you get into yaoi. Dog Style has made me an honorary Motoni Modoru fan, and has made me read more of her twisted masterpieces. Start reading Dog Style and join in on the fun. Chiaki X Miki forevaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! XD




seriously though, go read it.

NOW.