Teddy

About Teddy

Brief Summary of Personality: Teddy arrived into foster very anxious but once decompressed he has turned into a happy intelligent loving boy.

He loves his walks and to run but fortunately in the direction you want him to as he has great recall. Teddy has some learnt some tricks in foster and could learn even more as he is very clever and biddable. He is very affectionate and always pleased to see you.

Teddy has a very good nose and can sniff out treats and his ball which he loves to parade around it.

Teddy prefers his humans to be around most of the time and loves to play, especially tug and with his ball. He will happily assist his humans in the garden, garage or anywhere he feels would benefit from a ball being dropped into the mix!

Reasons for Relinquishment: Teddy was bought from an online advert and it was soon clear that they could not offer him the home he needed. He only stayed for 2 weeks.

Energy Requirements: Teddy’s favourite past time when outside is to run. He needs and wants off lead exercise for an hour everyday and has a really good recall. Teddy will will check in regularly with his humans whilst disappearing into the woods or long grass. He also likes some brainwork in the evenings as the exercise wears off, searches or ball play works well.

Previous and Current Training: Teddy is very intelligent and has some good foundation training. He can sit and lie down on command, will do a spin for a treat and give a paw. He has learnt a hand touch whilst being in foster and also working on waits at doorways. He has a very good nose and can sniff out treats and his ball when hidden, which he is quite determined to find it, so would make an ideal scentwork or mantrailing dog once he has settled into his new home. Teddy is house trained and will toilet on command outside.

Meeting New People: Understandably it took a few days for Teddy to feel comfortable with his fosterers who used a lead attached to encourage him into different rooms and into the garden. He was quite anxious at being approached as he’d had a traumatic few weeks.Outside of the house he is inquisitive of new people who stop and talk but does not want to engage with them unless a treat is being offered. Inside the house he is anxious if new people come in, so he has been meeting them through a stair gate initially. Once he felt ready, he came into the room to meet the visitors who had been advised to ignore him and not to pet him. He sniffed them and showed calm interest. The visitors were then able to leave the room and return without any negative reaction from Teddy. The more confident he becomes in the household this may improve but a quieter home with fewer comings and goings of new people would be best.

Dog/ Cat Test: Outside Teddy ignore dogs he meets on walks or gives a polite greeting. If the other dog is happy to initiate play then he reciprocates and will then play chase, but when called he will come away. Teddy can be a bit boisterous indoors when wanting to play with other dogs and has learn to respect their space. Teddy has shown resource guarding around food with other dogs inside. He has no interactions with cats, so to be safe we are advising no cats.

Home Alone: In foster Teddy has been left in a crate and has been observed on camera howling/barking and constantly pacing in the crate. His fosters tried covering the crate which seemed to help a little but he was panting a lot on their return. Teddy can cry and jump up at doorways if left downstairs alone and may scratch at doorways if he is left out of his crate. He has accepted going into a crate around feeding times and settles down when he can see the fosterers in other room. This has improved greatly in the time in foster. The most Teddy has been left in foster is 2.5 hours but currently still needs people around most of the time.

Children: Teddy hasn't met any children in his foster home but his previous owner advised he was very fearful of their children and shook and cowered. He was very worried by the sound of a baby crying on the TV. Outside the home he has come across children of all ages in the park and the pub, but sat quietly to observe and did not show any anxiety when a group were running and shouting near him. He has also shown no concerns about bike riders coming close to him.

Vet Visits: As his fosterers were aware that Teddy has shown anxiety when meeting new people, the vet was advised not to get too much into his space when undertaking his check up. Teddy accepted his fosterers holding him without issue and happily took treats. The vet did have to do a thorough palpation of his abdomen to try and find a retained testicle, which he growl at but it would have been uncomfortable for Teddy. During Teddy's operation, the vet sedated him whilst his fosterers held him and they stayed until he was asleep. For 24 hrs post operation Teddy was anxious at being managed and did growl at his fosterers whilst having his post op suit changed. The following day Teddy was back to his usual self and relaxed.

Medical Issues: None now. Teddy did have retained testicle which was found and removed during his castration.

Travelling: Teddy is very excited travelling and must travel in a crate or behind a dog guard. He paces a lot around the crate and it is felt he would be unmanageable in footwell or on a seat. When he was travelling to his foster home, he chewed through a restraining belt and lead.

Handling/Grooming: For the first 24 hours in foster, Teddy did not like any close approach. He sits when his harness is being put on but can get fidgety and mouth the harness and lead in excitement, no malice is intended in this situation.He loves attention and settles on the sofa next to his humans, even sitting on their lap for cuddles and will lie upside down for belly rubs. Teddy is combed post walk and enjoys it, with no problem touching his paws. He appears to have been trimmed at some point in the past but meeting a new groomer will need prior introductions.

Food: Teddy is fed on kibble twice a day which he was initially hesitant to eat and took a couple of days to eat a full meal. He eats politely and currently eats in his crate. Treats need to be of high value, like munchy chews and sausages which again he takes politely even if other dogs are around. He will investigate kitchen sides but will not try and steal. Outside of the house he settled down in the pub whilst his fosterers and friends ate a meal with no attempt to steal or be bothersome.

Sleeping: Teddy is currently sleeping in his fosters bedroom inside his crate due to him being a bit of velcro dog. He goes in willingly and gets his biscuits, then is quiet until his fosterers get up around 7am. If out of crate he may choose to sleep on the bed rather than in a dog bed.

Behavioural issues: Initially Teddy came to foster very stressed after moving from one owner to another 2 weeks earlier. Understandably another move into foster, made him very edgy.He showed his anxiety by not wanting to approach his fosterers or interact. He was comfortable with them and the resident dogs outside but inside was overwhelmed. He was allowed time on his own with us in same room without asking anything from him. Two weeks on, Teddy is such a happy dog and is enjoying life more now but with his history, introducing new people inside the house needs to be managed slowly and cautiously.Teddy doesn't guard toys and his fosterers can take food and toys off of him without any issues.

Bite History: Teddy is reported to have snapped twice in his last home, during transport when tangled in lead within hours of meeting the people, and again when a stranger came to their house a week later, and stroked him when asked not to. Either time skin was not punctured.

Home Needs: Teddy would love a home where a couple both adore him and want to go out and explore with him on long walks. He needs someone to take on some more lead training as he is very strong but has great recall so once in safe area then onlead is not an issue.He is very attentive to any training and wants to learn, especially sniffy games to find his ball and treats in the grass. With regular exercise he is happy to settle in the house and allow his humans time to chill as well.Due to his response to stress in the past Teddy needs an adult only home where there aren't too many different visitors. His fosters feel he would get used to some regular visitors as he has become friends with theirs outside the home.

As written by Spaniel Aid.