Teddy

I am Teddy’s foster mom, and I dearly love this beautiful boy!  I call him Teddy Bear, because he is so sweet and affectionate. If you enjoy petting your dog, you will really love Teddy.  He is so happy when he can come to you for a cuddle session.  On top of that, he is house broken, crate trained, and comes when he is called. Teddy is very bright and attentive, and quickly learned that he was expected to sit politely for treats and meals.  

Along with being petted, Teddy loves toys.  I mean, he LOVES toys!  Like a little child, he really just has the best time with his toys. He is so thrilled  when I present him with a new one.  You know those Christmas morning squeals of delight?  That’s Teddy with a new toy.  Of course, I discreetly pick up the old ones and put them away.  That way, when I take out an old one, it’s “new” again.  Yes, German Shepherds are very smart, but so are we!  It’s a good thing I know that trick, because if Teddy keeps a toy for long, the toy will be in pieces fast.  So it’s important to have a selection.  Are you interested in adopting Teddy?  You might want to consider checking out pet stores that carry extra strong toys!  At the beginning, when he picked up something of mine, I would firmly say “No!” and then offer him something he could play with.  If you’ve ever been around a very young child, you know that routine.  Almost overnight, Teddy understood what he could play with, and what he couldn’t.  

Teddy barks to alert me, and he has a great big German Shepherd bark.  He isn’t a problem barker, though. At first he barked at everyday sounds, such as my neighbors coming and going.  I told him it was okay, and he quickly learned the routine neighborhood sounds and stopped barking at them.  One day we were in the back yard, and my neighbor’s dogs came outside,  barking at him and running the fence line.  I expected to see Teddy and my neighbor’s dogs start running the fence line and barking together, which is typical of dogs who live next door to each other.  Teddy just walked along the fence line, sniffing them through the fence, wagging his tail, and never made a sound.  He seemed to realize that they were no threat to him, and there was no point in making a fuss about it.  My neighbor’s dogs barked a little more, and then stopped.  The whole encounter was over so quickly.  That is the first time that has ever happened with a new foster dog.  

Teddy loves to go on walks. Like all German Shepherds, he needs exercise, but he also seems to truly enjoy the sights and sounds in nature, along with all the interesting things to sniff.  Teddy has been friendly with people and dogs we have met on walks.  He doesn’t seem to react to grass cutters, trash collectors, mail carriers, and other neighborhood helpers.  He enjoys encountering children on foot, on bicycles, or on skateboards.  He is very interested in cats, although he hasn’t tried to chase them.  I don’t know how he would be with a cat at home, since I don’t have one. If he encounters a squirrel, all bets are off!

When I first met Teddy, he wasn’t sure if he could trust me, and he was very standoffish.  Dogs usually like me right away, so this was a puzzle for me.  In addition, he became almost frantic when food or treats were presented, and was extremely anxious until he got his share.  I checked on his background, and I was stunned at what I found.  Teddy was in a Houston shelter, and an out-of-state rescue group took Teddy.  He was moved to an out of town kennel.  From there, I can’t possibly know all the details, except I do know that at that kennel, there was no air conditioning during even the hottest months, no heat during even the coldest winter months, and he was given the very minimum amount of food and care.  By the time Teddy was taken into Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue, he had been stuck in a kennel for more than six months.  Can you imagine being a dog as sweet and affectionate as Teddy, and living in a small kennel, with no air conditioning, no heat, minimal food, no toys, no exercise, and without much attention at all for SIX MONTHS?  No wonder he was so shut down.  No wonder I noticed such stress at feeding time.  People really let Teddy down, and he didn’t automatically trust me, or believe that I would take care of him.  After everything he had been through, he wasn’t about to give his heart so easily.

He scoped things out at first, watching me intently, as if he was trying to decide if I would be kind to him, and if he could trust me. But oh my goodness!  When Teddy falls, he falls HARD.  He is a sensitive soul, and he gives his heart completely.  Now he is committed to watching over me.  He is never happier than when he is right by my side. The good news is that after everything he’s been through, I truly believe that Teddy’s wonderful heart is still beating strong, and he will give that same love and devotion to someone who treats him with patience, kindness and affection.  And now he is still very excited at meal times, but the frantic aspect is pretty much in the past.

There is some important information about Teddy that I would want any potential adopter to consider.  Teddy has really struggled with learning how to live in a house  with other dogs. He seems to have missed out on enough socializing with other dogs in his formative puppy years.  I don't think he has ever lived in a house with another dog, and he has had a hard time figuring out how to do that. He has been fine meeting other dogs outside, but I have really had to work with him on appropriate interactions with other dogs in the house.  He is a very smart boy, and he really wants to please me, so he is doing better.  He likes other dogs, and he seems to want to be friends, but sharing a home and a person with other dogs can be confusing and difficult for Teddy.  He is just not sure how to share the person he loves so much.  There is a possibility that over time, as Teddy learns more and more to trust, he will become increasingly comfortable sharing a house with other dogs.  However, I can’t guarantee that, so at this time, I cannot recommend Teddy for a multi-dog household.  For an adopter who is willing to open your heart and your home to a single dog, Teddy will be an affectionate, loving, and very grateful dog to welcome into your life.