Dog Names that Start with El

Pop culture has seen many canines down through the annals of time who have contributed so much regarding love, protection, loyalty, mischief, tenacity, and both physical and emotional pain.  Dogs have taught we humans so much over the years and continue to do so at the most basic of levels - through children's literature, TV programming, and movies.  Our pop culture spotlight today is Elmer, from Elmer the Dog, a book written by Duke Nguyen and illustrated by Vuthy Kuon.  Elmer is a mixed breed pup who finds himself in an obedience class populated with purebred canine snobs who pick and make fun of his heritage or lack thereof.  Elmer displays all of the emotions a human child would experience given the same circumstances.  While he is a mutt who is trying to fit in, he started his life as a regular puppy, doing puppy things (both good and bad) and loving puppy things, like swimming, chew toys, balls and eating a steak drenched with teriyaki sauce.  

The author could have written this book with a bullying theme, but instead turned it into a lesson on being who you are and being proud of it, despite the pain inflicted by the belittling and berating behaviors of the snobbish purebred puppies in his class.  Yes, he admittedly would love to quit the obedience class, but after learning the being a mixed breed has some advantages, he returns to his training, renewed because he is a gift.  Instead of lamenting his shortcomings, he makes the most of the differences, teaching us all that we need to love ourselves, something that requires us to come to terms with the differences that make us who we are.  The book, used as a teaching tool in school classrooms, encouraging students to look into their heritage, focus on their strengths, both inherited as well as those learned.  It helps students to not only appreciate and acknowledge who they are but also where they've been, where they're going, how the students can help others and realize what they have to offer.  We can learn so much from dogs and their interaction with us, and it is vital to acknowledge the contribution these teaching moments are making in the lives of our children and even we, the parents.