When we picked our two new puppies from their litter, we had no idea who they were. Now, three weeks later, they have taken on their own personalities - personalities that according to Cesar Millan in How To Raise The Perfect Dog will determine how they should be trained. So who are Fred and Ethel?
Fred: When we took them to the vet, Dr. Sexton looked at Fred and said, "Cute Lab". He is completely black; he barely even has the whites of his eyes. He is the more affectionate of the two as well as the more fearful. He is also more athletic. According to Cesar, Fred needs running, fetching activities to tone down his rambunctious personality coupled with a strong owner to teach him not to get out of control. He gets very jealous and if I am petting/praising Ethel, Fred will stop whatever he's doing to run over and nudge her out of my reach.
When Cesar wrote the book that I am using to raise Fred and Ethel, he adopted four puppies to work with while gathering information for the book. One was a Labrador so that he could prove that not all Labs had to become Marleys. (Remember the movie?) As I read this I sat bolt up right in my bed, shocked that it had never crossed my mind that I was getting a Marley!!!! What had I done? But like Cesar, I am determined that Fred will grow into the sweetest, garden-friendly Labrador ever known. (And I have to admit, I'm counting on the mut in him to termper some of his less savory Labrador traits!)
Ethel: When Dr. Sexton met Ethel for the first time, he said, "You've got yourself a pretty little glass-eyed cur". Her coat may be covered in brown splotches, but she has the prettiest blue, glassy eyes. Ethel is very inquisitive and smart. Cesar says she needs mind challenging activities to help challenge her problem solving skills. Although she runs and fetches with Fred, she especially loves a makeshift obstacle course with a treat hidden somewhere inside. She is also a chow hound and will eat her dinner and then finish off Fred's if he isn't careful.
An example of their different personalities was evident when we put some puppy treats in a cardboard box with the top folded shut. Both puppies' noses went into hyper-drive, but while Fred had no idea where the scent was coming from and just goofily hopped all over creation, Ethel went straight for the box and soon had her whole head inside enjoying treats. We had to just give Fred some so he wouldn't get an inferiority complex. (Bless his heart, he has gotten better with time.)
They are both wonderful and I often find myself looking into the future at the many good times we will have together.
Love ya'll, Shelli
If you think dogs can't count,
try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket
and then giving Fido only two of them.
~Phil Pastoret
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