My Dog Made Me Write This Book by Elizabeth Fensham

Eric gets to have a dog for his eighth birthday.  They go to the pound (he thinks of it as a home for orphaned dogs) and he picks out a puppy.  He expects it to be his new best friend but it loves his mom the most.  He's named it Ugly and when he takes it on walks it drags him along.  He's all discouraged about owning a dog...

Sourcebooks Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published om July 1st.

His Grandpa tries to help him and then asks a lady friend of his to give him lessons in how to control his dog.  She doesn't just train Ugly, she trains Eric, too.  But it is slow going and the dog keeps getting in trouble.  His family gives him a time limit to get it down or the dog has to go.  He now loves his dog and the dog loves him.  Will he be able to do it in time?