The Tidbit

Teddy the cockapoo turns 5 today and is in the running for America’s Favorite Pet for 2024!

Teddy’s a sweet soul with a loving personality and adorable face that could possibly grace the cover of Modern Dog magazine if he wins the grand prize. Also part of the prize is $10,000, and a chunk of that money will be donated by Teddy to a local animal shelter.

Learn more at America’s Favorite Pet and cast your vote today! (P.S. You can vote for free every 24 hours, so make #Vote4Teddy part of your morning routine.)

What’s your dog’s favorite toy and/or go-to treat?

Teddy loves stuffed animal toys and Nylabones. He loves to chew the stuffing out of each toy until it looks like he’s surrounded by snow. He’ll play fetch with his ball for hours and loves playing monkey-in-the-middle.

What is your favorite thing about your dog?

How excited he gets to see me – whether I’m gone for 8 hours or 10 minutes, he gets so excited when I walk through the door. He is just the sweetest boy who loves his family. While he’s the youngest of our four pets, he is very protective of his older brothers (and Mom and Dad). I also love how excited he gets when he has company – I think he assumes people visit only to see him!

Why should your dog be America’s Favorite?

Teddy is the epitome of an amazing dog. He’s loyal, sweet, energetic, fun and is a lover of all people. Wherever we go, people stop to say “hi” and give him pets. He’s everything you’d want in a dog!

A Taylor-Made Life talks Teddy:

My 25th birthday was a very positive turning point in my life. I’d been feeling like something was missing, that spring in the step that gets you out of bed in the morning.

I was living with my Dad and stepmom at the time and came home after work to find a celebration of margaritas and cake (a fabulous combination if you’ve never tried it).

I had been thinking about getting a dog and they played on that by giving me a gift bag that said, “Well, it’s not a puppy.”

I don’t recall what the “gift” was because it turned out to be a decoy. When the sing-song time of “Happy Birthday” rolled around, my stepbrother came downstairs holding an 8-pound ball of fur and adorableness.

The gift, in fact, was a puppy; but it was so much more than that.

Teddy became the something that had been missing. He gave me something to love and care for and has continuously brought immense joy to my life.

While he was a little apprehensive about me at first, we quickly bonded and he’s not too far from my side at any given time. He’s my protector and is always excited when I come home — whether I’ve been gone for five minutes or five hours.

He’s been having some allergy issues the last week or so which required a trip to the vet. This led to different medications and shampoos so the daily way in which I care for him has become a bit more involved.

I keep finding myself feeling lucky to get to be his mom and to help make him feel better (even if he doesn’t want to take his medicine or take a bath).

It’s been fascinating to watch him grow over the last four years. When we got our second dog, Toby, it was fun to watch them create a bond over time.

The most interesting part of their relationship is to see how Teddy has begun to take on the traits (good and bad) of his older brother. Because of Toby, Teddy has become more cuddly with us which I absolutely love.

Teddy (and Toby and Beach and Leaf) has brought something special into my life that I couldn’t be more grateful for. I hope I’ve done the same for him and that we’re the spring in each others’ step.