A Breed History.of The Ethel

Some of my friends--like Suki, Wimsey and Nanook--have been posting the histories of their breeds which is some interesting reading so I thought I will fill you in on the storied histories of OUR breeds, the backgrounds of a couple of rescue dogs. I will start with my sister Ethel. The apes think she is a Belgian Shepherd/Greyhound mix but my sis and I have discussed a more accurate description of her background.

Ethel was discovered in shelter on the Maryland shore but the earliest known images of Ethels are actually found in Egyptian culture. Ethel is a descendant of Anubis, God of the underworld. He would welcome the dead in the underworld and sniff them for purity, not unlike my sis and I who sniff every stranger who enters our house for 1) dog odors 2) snacks they may be hiding in their pocket. And, like Anubis, Ethel loves her Mummy. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun).

More recent relatives of The Ethel include The Supermodel, who shares her skinny frame, lanky legs, and the quality of being highly photogenic. Like Ethel, they are sometimes known for high-levels of energy and being generally high-strung (cocaine-induced in the Supermodel) . The Supermodel Gene is sometimes known to cause those carrying it to hurl things with great force (such as cell phones).

Another version of this gene is known to cause the possessor to chase things hurled at high rates of speed. This is known as the "Shortstop trait" in which the possessor does not let a ball get past her or him. This shortstop trait has been bred into The Ethel, making her a reliable and some would even say obsessive fetcher of the ball. This guy is Ozzie Smith, whose mad fetching skills suggest that he may be a relative of The Ethel.

More recently, images of The Ethel have been seen in American culture in "Santa's Little Helper," the regularly appearing dog on The Simpsons. He possesses the breed traits of a short attention span, general skinniness and all-around loveableness. The Ethel is a rare but cherished (by Max) breed known for their companionship. These high-energy dogs are definite people-pleasers with a flair for fetching and sitting in laps.