What is a shaggy dog story?

I have read Isaac Asimov's 'Sha Guido G' from his Opus 100 and he admits knowing it's a shaggy dog story right from the start. It seems that it is some kind of a 'tongue-in-cheek tale' but where did the phrase come from?

angelicatokyo2006-06-01T20:43:26Z

Favorite Answer

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, the term "shaggy-dog story" originated around 1940, and means "a long drawn-out anecdote with an absurd or anticlimactic ending." It is said to allude to "a well-known series of such stories, which involved a talking dog."

Firstd1mension2006-06-01T17:00:40Z

once upon a time there was a shaggy dog. he was locked in the car on a hot summer day and sadly died of heat exhaustion. the owners were brought up on charges by the ASPCA and were given 18 months of prison time, and they got out in 9 months for good behavior, but faced public scorn for the rest of their lives. the end."

hello4112006-06-01T18:11:03Z

scooby doo? i dont know