Ethel may be just a statistic, one of nearly two million shelter animals to find a home as a part of the astoundingly successful Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign. But to us, she’s a part of our family. Here’s the never before told story behind the story.

Ethel's first day

We adopted Ethel in November 2006, after a random person comes into Chicago’s Animal Care and Control (the city pound), and dumps a litter of gorgeous but clearly not well cared for sneezy, itchy and wormy 7 or 8 week old puppies. PAWS Chicago (a renowned no-kill Chicago shelter) picks up the pups.

My wife Robin and I had been seeking an adult dog. After all, we’ve done ‘the puppy thing,’ before and thought if we’re adopting in a Chicago winter avoiding house-training is smart. Well, that’s until we saw Ethel. It turned out she house-trained fast. It was so cold and snowy that first week with us, she wanted to do her business fast so she could come indoors. She did a ‘happy dance’ every time she had a bowel movement. No praise from us needed. It must have felt really good.

From her very first day – even with a runny nose and teary eyes - she began to push our other dog, 12-year old Lucy.  She’d bite down hard, go too far, and Lucy would growl. Ethel didn’t get the message. She’d persist until I broke it up.

Worse, she began to growl at and attack people unpredictably.

My response was in part self defense, and I found myself honestly doing things I don’t believe in, like shaking Ethel from the scruff of her neck. I saw this wasn’t helping, and, in fact, only escalating Ethel’s aggression.

Robin was worried, and kept repeating, “We never had a puppy like this!”

Ethel in class, here with dog trainer Jamie Damato

Being so cute (cute enough to actually stop traffic more than once), it was hard to believe – even for dog trainer and our friend, Jamie Damato. She wasn’t convinced of the problem.

Ethel wagged her tail at Jamie on their first meeting, and wiggled her entire body. “This dog is so sweet and wonderful, it’s ridiculous,” said Jamie as she reached down to pick ether up. Just then, Ethel decided to present Jamie with her Dr. Jekyl personality and her sharp puppy teeth.  

“Is this a shark or a dog?” asked Jamie

I wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t panicked either. I am, after all, supposed to be a behavior expert. I knew if I could teach and old dog new tricks, certainly I could have a shot at teaching a puppy. Still, how much of her ‘attitude’ was genetic? I didn’t know….I enlisted telephone advice and the wisdom of dog trainer and pet book author Liz Palika and the wonderfully brilliant behaviorist and author Patricia McConnell. And Jamie continued to help us hands-on.

Now, I began to practice as I preach….I never left Ethel’s growling deter me (with an small 8 or now 9 or 10 week old dog, it’s a matter of handling skill). So, if Ethel didn’t want her leash on, I managed to ignore her tantrum and put on her leash anyhow.

Most of all, when she went crazy, and the growling began – and it wasn’t because I was putting on her leash or doing something, I’d simply eave. Sometimes, I’d give her a time out in the crate, and I’d always disengage myself (sometimes literally from her mouth), firmly say “No” in my own growly voice as I calmly walked into another room – leaving Ethel in her crate or on the other side of the baby gate in the kitchen. Being consistent about taking no crap was important. And increasingly, we backed up Lucy who was having a tough time with Ethel. Roxy, our cat, was weeks ahead of us – she had Ethel under control from day one, of course.

And by now, we were enrolled in Jamie’s classes. Ethel quickly learned appropriateness from other dogs – so much so, that she was often the most appropriate and least reactive puppy in class….It’s hard to pinpoint a day, but within a month the Dr. Jekyl side of Ethel was gone forever. Today, she loves all people – most especially kids. And if she could she’d pull us down the street to meet another dog, she would.

Ethel and Lucy today (with their grandma)

Unfortunately, Ethel still can’t cajole Lucy into play…but the two get along, more or less. Lucy knows the system by now – so we haven’t found ourselves saying, ‘Lucy, you have ‘splainin’ to do” for a very long time. But rather it’s Ethel who often has ‘splainin’ to do.’

Ethel can’t fit in our lap any longer, but that doesn’t stop her from trying. This little puppy who wanted to eat us has turned out to be the most affectionate dog Robin or I have ever had.

Clearly, we’re more than glad we took Ethel home for the holidays in 2006.

©Steve Dale