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My Dog Ugly
My Dog Made Me Write This Book
A heartwarming and humorous middle-grade duology that will resonate with pet lovers of all ages. When Eric gets a dog, he expects to have a new best friend. But Ugly has other plans in mind… When Eric got a dog, he thought he was getting a best friend. But his dog doesn't even consider Eric to be his second best friend. Or his third. He even likes Eric's horrible sister, Gretchen, more than he likes Eric. Eric isn't sure where this betrayal came from. Maybe his dog is resentful that Eric named him Ugly, or that Eric's Mom is the one who feeds him and walks him. No matter the reason, it's got to change. Eric's ready to try anything and everything to get his dog to love him. Or if not love, at least show some half-hearted interest. But will Eric have what it takes to gain Ugly's affection? Or will he be in the doghouse…forever? Discover more of Eric and Ugly's adventures in My Dog Get's a Job ! Why readers love My Dog Made Me Write This Book :
160 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2019
13 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Fensham
24 books13 followersElizabeth Fensham is an Australian writer and school teacher. She grew up in Sydney and now lives in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges. Her first novel, Helicopter Man, won the Australian Children's Book Council's Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2006. Miss McAllister's Ghost achieved a CBCA Notable Award in 2009. Her third novel, Goodbye Jamie Boyd, which deals with the sensitive issue of a teenager's schizophrenia, was shortlisted for the Bologna Book Fair's White Raven Award in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 28, 2019
This is a book about a kid finally taking responsibility for the care of his dog. He thinks the dog doesn’t love him. He loves Mom best. He discovers that the more he takes care of his dog, plays with him and trains him, the more the dog comes to love him best.
Cute story. Obviously not for my age bracket but I thought it would be a great book to help young children to understand how to be responsible for their pets.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Cute story. Obviously not for my age bracket but I thought it would be a great book to help young children to understand how to be responsible for their pets.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
January 3, 2023
Wrong demographic. And writing wasn't compelling to an almost 24 year old, unfortunately.
April 17, 2019
Nine-year-old Eric was thrilled to get a puppy from the animal shelter. But Ugly has now grown into an out-of-control dog. And Ugly’s bad behavior for some reason is all blamed on Eric or Eccle as he is fondly called.
Well, maybe there is some truth there. Seems Ugly’s care has become the responsibility of his overworked mom. Sound familiar? For this fact, the puppy has never received any consistent training, and now Eric’s parents and his rather unpleasant, much older sister have lost patience with both boy and dog. Then, there is the fact that that Ugly prefers Mom, who feeds him, leaving Eric feeling rejected and unmotivated. Now Ugly is in danger of being given away unless Eric can step up and take over caring for and training his dog. Being a kid, Eccle is reluctant to embrace the responsibility, yet he doesn’t want to lose his dog. Enter his rather pedantic grandfather at the ready to advise his grandson.
This is a humorously written first-person narrative by Eruc presented in the form of a book he’s writing. With amusing advice from his friends and help from Maggie, an experienced dog trainer, Eric eventually learns his lessons—and so does Ugly. Ugly’s antics will be familiar to dog owners and are believable, as is Eric’s avoidance of responsibility.
Reader may find interesting and useful dog-training hints. The book ends on a happy note inspiring readers to pick up Ugly’s next misadventure, My Dog Gets a Job. Whimsical and engaging illustrations enhance this familiar story.
I found this book to be a slow and never exciting book, yet still a fun read for animal lovers.
Well, maybe there is some truth there. Seems Ugly’s care has become the responsibility of his overworked mom. Sound familiar? For this fact, the puppy has never received any consistent training, and now Eric’s parents and his rather unpleasant, much older sister have lost patience with both boy and dog. Then, there is the fact that that Ugly prefers Mom, who feeds him, leaving Eric feeling rejected and unmotivated. Now Ugly is in danger of being given away unless Eric can step up and take over caring for and training his dog. Being a kid, Eccle is reluctant to embrace the responsibility, yet he doesn’t want to lose his dog. Enter his rather pedantic grandfather at the ready to advise his grandson.
This is a humorously written first-person narrative by Eruc presented in the form of a book he’s writing. With amusing advice from his friends and help from Maggie, an experienced dog trainer, Eric eventually learns his lessons—and so does Ugly. Ugly’s antics will be familiar to dog owners and are believable, as is Eric’s avoidance of responsibility.
Reader may find interesting and useful dog-training hints. The book ends on a happy note inspiring readers to pick up Ugly’s next misadventure, My Dog Gets a Job. Whimsical and engaging illustrations enhance this familiar story.
I found this book to be a slow and never exciting book, yet still a fun read for animal lovers.
December 15, 2023
Opening lines from the book ...
Running away is a very difficult thing to do if you are going to do it right.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…
1) Eric has a fun voice in this book. In some ways, he kind of clueless that he's part of the reason why his dog is so unruly.
2) I loved the scenes where Eric and his friends come up with a list of reasons why Ugly doesn't like Eric. And one of the reasons has to do with Ugly's name. So, Eric tries thinking of a new name for Ugly, but one that will sound like his old name.
3) I think my favourite side character is the grandfather. I love mentor characters, and Grandpa fits the bill. I love how he encourages Eric to work with Ugly.
4) The story begins with a runaway scene. There's something quite charming with scenes where a kid prepares to run away from home. This scene works very well. Eric ends up at the park and nothing exciting happens. Nobody seems to care that he's run away.
5) And then there's Mrs. Manchester and her cat (aka Ugly's nemesis!) I enjoyed seeing the progression of the relationship between Ugly and the cat. (In fact, if I remember correctly, that cat is one of the reasons Ugly might be sent away.) But then comes Maggie the dog whisperer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A good book for dog lovers! It also helps kids see that it takes work to have a dog. Take it from the dog whisperer...
Running away is a very difficult thing to do if you are going to do it right.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…
1) Eric has a fun voice in this book. In some ways, he kind of clueless that he's part of the reason why his dog is so unruly.
2) I loved the scenes where Eric and his friends come up with a list of reasons why Ugly doesn't like Eric. And one of the reasons has to do with Ugly's name. So, Eric tries thinking of a new name for Ugly, but one that will sound like his old name.
3) I think my favourite side character is the grandfather. I love mentor characters, and Grandpa fits the bill. I love how he encourages Eric to work with Ugly.
4) The story begins with a runaway scene. There's something quite charming with scenes where a kid prepares to run away from home. This scene works very well. Eric ends up at the park and nothing exciting happens. Nobody seems to care that he's run away.
5) And then there's Mrs. Manchester and her cat (aka Ugly's nemesis!) I enjoyed seeing the progression of the relationship between Ugly and the cat. (In fact, if I remember correctly, that cat is one of the reasons Ugly might be sent away.) But then comes Maggie the dog whisperer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A good book for dog lovers! It also helps kids see that it takes work to have a dog. Take it from the dog whisperer...
June 3, 2019
My Dog Made Me Write This Book by Elizabeth Fensham is a treat!
About the book: This isn’t the story about a boy begging for a dog and promising to take care of it. This is a book by a boy called Eric, and Eric already has a dog. The only problem is, Ugly (his dog) doesn’t give Eric the time of day. That’s an idiom, which in this instance, means that Ugly prefers the company of Eric’s busy parents, Eric’s sage grandfather, and even Eric’s awful sister over his own. Eric doesn’t understand why Ugly likes everyone but him; Ugly is HIS dog after all!
Ugly is a growing puppy and he’s becoming quite a nuisance. Eric’s attempts to discipline him and make him obedient just aren’t working. His family and even the grouchy lady next door with a cat blame Eric, making him feel angry and upset. When Eric and Ugly are faced with an ultimatum— behave or else—Eric must figure out a way to get his dog under control to keep Ugly and avoid returning him to the orphanage for dogs.
Eric writes this book chronicling the crucial two months he and Ugly spend working together. Ugly certainly has a few kinks that need ironed out. That’s another idiom. Eric’s grandfather points out some things about Eric that are tough pills to swallow and doles out some unsolicited constructive criticism. Owning a dog is quite a tremendous responsibility, especially when it happens to be your first. Eric is fortunate to have the support of his family, his friends, his teacher, and dog trainer friend of his grandfather.
Just how much effort is one dog worth?
Can Eric take ownership of some hard truths about himself, accept and admit blame, reflect on his responsibilities, and learn from them?
Is two months enough time to turn things around with Ugly?
My Dog Made Me Write This Book offers practical tips about training people to teach their dogs. It’s also full of advice and things to remember when you’re working with a dog, which makes it a great tool for kids who might not be keen on boring training books. Idioms, definitions, and assorted teachable moments are strewn throughout in a way that feels organic and much less contrived than my own idiom placement. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a middle grade book that I hoped wouldn’t end. This was one of them, and I’d love to read and review My Dog Gets a Job, also by Elizabeth Fensham.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest and unbiased. #NetGalley #MyDogMadeMeWriteThisBook
About the book: This isn’t the story about a boy begging for a dog and promising to take care of it. This is a book by a boy called Eric, and Eric already has a dog. The only problem is, Ugly (his dog) doesn’t give Eric the time of day. That’s an idiom, which in this instance, means that Ugly prefers the company of Eric’s busy parents, Eric’s sage grandfather, and even Eric’s awful sister over his own. Eric doesn’t understand why Ugly likes everyone but him; Ugly is HIS dog after all!
Ugly is a growing puppy and he’s becoming quite a nuisance. Eric’s attempts to discipline him and make him obedient just aren’t working. His family and even the grouchy lady next door with a cat blame Eric, making him feel angry and upset. When Eric and Ugly are faced with an ultimatum— behave or else—Eric must figure out a way to get his dog under control to keep Ugly and avoid returning him to the orphanage for dogs.
Eric writes this book chronicling the crucial two months he and Ugly spend working together. Ugly certainly has a few kinks that need ironed out. That’s another idiom. Eric’s grandfather points out some things about Eric that are tough pills to swallow and doles out some unsolicited constructive criticism. Owning a dog is quite a tremendous responsibility, especially when it happens to be your first. Eric is fortunate to have the support of his family, his friends, his teacher, and dog trainer friend of his grandfather.
Just how much effort is one dog worth?
Can Eric take ownership of some hard truths about himself, accept and admit blame, reflect on his responsibilities, and learn from them?
Is two months enough time to turn things around with Ugly?
My Dog Made Me Write This Book offers practical tips about training people to teach their dogs. It’s also full of advice and things to remember when you’re working with a dog, which makes it a great tool for kids who might not be keen on boring training books. Idioms, definitions, and assorted teachable moments are strewn throughout in a way that feels organic and much less contrived than my own idiom placement. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a middle grade book that I hoped wouldn’t end. This was one of them, and I’d love to read and review My Dog Gets a Job, also by Elizabeth Fensham.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest and unbiased. #NetGalley #MyDogMadeMeWriteThisBook
June 1, 2019
Kids who want or have recently received a dog, will appreciate this story! A new dog needs to be trained and if they aren't well....there are consequences! This story is humorous, but shows what it's like for a family to get a dog. Dogs need to worked with and owners need patience. . That is a hard lesson to learn (I remember it well....) but the book offers up dog training advice. Fun summer read!
Pt. 1 of what looks to be a fun series!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Pt. 1 of what looks to be a fun series!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
October 4, 2020
Read as an elementary school librarian. While the message in this book is great (becoming responsible) and the lessons on training a dog were stellar, I did not enjoy the characters. The main character is a bit whiny (which I know my kids will love), but his family, especially the sister, are unkind towards the main character Eric. His buddies from school were flat - nothing to them. The writing is great. When school resumes, I may buy this for our library as some students will love it.
July 6, 2019
This was very well written and a book that a lot of people will be able to relate to when they've really wanted a pet then that pet hasn't given them the time of day. I thought this book was funny but it also had a very powerful message behind it. This is the first book I read by this author but it most certainly won't be the last. I fully intend on getting this author's entire collection.
September 1, 2022
Read with my daughter
Ec (Eric) has a dog named Ugly, who is supposed to be his dog but he doesn’t seem to like him at all. He seems to love his mom. Ec’s grandpa help him realize that it’s because she is doing all the work when it comes to Ugly. Ec, with the persuasion of his grandpa and the knowledge that they may have to get rid of the dog, decides to get dog training and be more responsible.
Ec (Eric) has a dog named Ugly, who is supposed to be his dog but he doesn’t seem to like him at all. He seems to love his mom. Ec’s grandpa help him realize that it’s because she is doing all the work when it comes to Ugly. Ec, with the persuasion of his grandpa and the knowledge that they may have to get rid of the dog, decides to get dog training and be more responsible.
October 15, 2020
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think kids will identify well with the main character. A good lesson about taking responsibility. A good starter chapter book.
I think kids will identify well with the main character. A good lesson about taking responsibility. A good starter chapter book.
December 31, 2019
The whole thing is just adorable. It really gets in the mindset of a child!
October 4, 2021
Cute book about a boy who learns to take more responsibility for his pet dog.
September 26, 2022
Delightful read especially if you love dogs
February 4, 2024
How to train yourself to train your dog.
RATL24 - Australia
RATL24 - Australia
November 1, 2019
When Eric got a dog, he thought he was getting a best friend. But his dog doesn't even consider Eric to be his second best friend. Or his third. He even likes Eric's horrible sister, Gretchen, more than he likes Eric. Eric isn't sure where this betrayal came from. Maybe his dog is resentful that Eric named him Ugly, or that Eric's Mom is the one who feeds him and walks him.
This book I think is really good. There should be a little different thing tho I would have a little bigger conflict. I mean if you are a dog lover you would really like his book. Also if you read this book after it would make you want to by a dog if you don't have one. So over all this book is really good and i think every one should look at this book.
This book I think is really good. There should be a little different thing tho I would have a little bigger conflict. I mean if you are a dog lover you would really like his book. Also if you read this book after it would make you want to by a dog if you don't have one. So over all this book is really good and i think every one should look at this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews