Teddy

Message from Teddy

‘Hi Friends! Tender-hearted Teddy here. I absolutely love meeting new humans. Between you and me, I’ve become a neighbourhood favourite—humans are always asking me for pets, so I must be pretty important!

Sometimes they call me “Unlucky Teddy” because I’ve had to change foster homes a few times and even had a failed adoption—but everyone reminds me that it’s not my fault and it’s just bad luck. All this change has been scary and stressful, so I need my new family to be extra patient with me while I get used to my new home.

I guess I’m extra unlucky because I had a bad injury during my last race before I was rescued. Thankfully, Amazing Greys have been helping me manage my pain with special chicken stuffed with something called “medicine”. Changing homes has made me a bit anxious sometimes, but the special chicken helps with this too! I’m feeling a lot calmer and happier now, so I think they should start calling me “Lucky Teddy” from now on.

I have met a lot of amazing people, but now I really want a human of my own to make my best friend. As my BFF, I can promise to follow you wherever you go (so you don’t get lost of course), use your body as my pillow and always keep you company. All I ask for in return is your love, patience and lots of chicken!’

About Teddy

Teddy is a 3-year-old, clever and energetic young man. He has been with Amazing Greys since May 2022 and has made amazing progress with his skills and confidence. Teddy is very food-motivated, making it a breeze to teach him new skills. Teddy has been learning important cues like ‘On your bed’, ‘Drop’, ‘Leave it’ and has quickly learned that his bed is his safe space. Teddy is also bit of a collector and likes to take some of his human’s things to his bed. While Teddy isn’t destructive with the things he collects, he is working on ‘trading’ the things he collects for more dog-friendly items that he can safely keep in his bed.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, and absolutely no fault of his own, Teddy has unfortunately had to change foster carers a few times while in our care. Teddy needs someone that will be patient with him while he settles into his new environment and overcomes the anxiety from all the change he has been through. Teddy is currently taking medication to manage his anxiety and pain from a pre-existing injury. This has helped him feel safer and more comfortable in his current foster home. With time, Teddy becomes really cuddly and affectionate with his carers, and his loving and goofy personality really starts to shine through. Teddy does have some separation anxiety, so would be best suited to someone who is home more often than not until he becomes more comfortable with his new home.

Teddy absolutely loves meeting new people on his walks and will immediately become a neighbourhood favourite. It is safe to say that Teddy has a community of love and support behind him. In his first foster home, Teddy became a favourite in the apartment building and people still ask how he is doing to this day.

We like to call Teddy an all-rounder. He has gotten comfortable with both home and apartment living. He has even become an expert with elevators! Apartment toilet training has not been a problem for the talented Teddy. He can use either a portable pet loo on a balcony or wait till his carer can take him outside. If Teddy more urgently needs the bathroom, he will either bark or indicate towards the balcony/front door to remind you he needs to be taken out.

When Teddy first arrived, he used to freeze during his walks. Loud and unfamiliar sounds were very overwhelming and he was easily distracted by small fluffy dogs. But Teddy definitely gets an award for ‘most improved’ after overcoming most of his fears. He has even been referred to as a ‘polite gentleman’ by a passer-by during one of his walks. Teddy has now grown accustomed to walking on busy streets with loud noises including traffic, trams and trains.

Teddy is very interested in other dogs and sometimes his curiosity can get the better of him—but he has been responding very positively to being redirected using the ‘Let’s go’ cue. With his new family, Teddy will initially benefit from being walked in areas without many dogs until he is more comfortable. Once Teddy becomes more familiar with his surroundings and community, he will even sometimes completely ignore small fluffy dogs—so we expect him to be a superstar walker with continued training.

When it comes to other greyhounds, Teddy loves them almost as much as he loves humans. He has a bunch of greyhound friends and has spent some time living with a resident greyhound. Teddy has also had the opportunity to meet some Labrador friends for a chance to run and play together. Teddy is still very excited being near other dogs and enjoys following them wherever they go, but has become very good at understanding their cues if they want to be left alone.

At home, Teddy loves a hug, cuddle or a pat, but will first need some time to settle into his new home. He is continuing to work on relaxing and winding down while his carers are working or busy. Teddy is still an energetic, young boy and only stopped racing in March 2022. He really loves his walks and enrichment activities, and he is a lot calmer afterwards. Sometimes Teddy will bark in an attempt to communicate his needs (such as excess energy). With the help of techniques recommended by Amazing Greys, Teddy can be successfully redirected to enrichment activities to keep him stimulated or heading to his bed to work on relaxing and winding down if needed.

Teddy is very food motivated which makes him an ideal candidate for training! While human foods are very tempting to him, his food manners have improved immensely. Teddy is successfully working on ‘Leave it’ so he doesn’t surf the counters or dining table for food. He is becoming very courteous while his humans eat their food, but will choose to lie down on the floor near the dinner table to keep you company.

Teddy could suit a home with a calm medium to large hound but this would be pending introductions. While he has shared a home with a resident greyhound previously, he is the only dog in his current foster home.

Due to fear and anxiety surrounding housing changes and pain issues, Teddy has had a history of resource guarding when he is feeling unsettled or scared. His new family will need to be patient with him and respect his boundaries so that he can feel comfortable to show you the loving, goofy, life-long friend he can be.

We invite applications from those who can provide Teddy with a loving home and:

• The ability to walk in areas without many dogs until Teddy becomes more comfortable (Teddy loves the car and will happily go for a drive to a nature reserve or somewhere off-trail)

• A home with space for mini-zoomies and possibly a yard for play time (although Teddy has also adapted to apartment living)

• A schedule where humans are home more often than not

• No small animals or pocket pets

• No small humans, 18+ homes only (due to his history of pain issues, anxiety and resource guarding)

Please get in touch at adopt@amazinggreys.com.au for an application form.

Please provide your contact number when you reach out to us, so that we can ensure that our communication is reaching the intended recipients, and to also speak with you directly about your perfect match.

Before enquiring please consider:

• The time and financial commitments of adopting a forever hound

• What your work/social commitments will look as Covid-19 restrictions have eased