Dash   |   Basil   |   Jack & Elsa   |   Nitro   |   Sam & Bella   |   Smokey   |   Toss The Teddy   |   Winnie   |   Kara   |   Stella   |   Georgie   |   Fred   |   Suzi   |   Joe   |   Racer   |   Snowy   |   Racer-Snowy Update   |   Fred & Barney   |   June   |   Ivy   |   Sammy   |   Snowy & Angela   |   Toby   |   Dizzy   |   Dizzy (6 months on)   |   Jojo   |   Baccus

TOSS THE TEDDY
When GAP was approached to place a dog on the wrong side of nine years old, we thought it was impossible.

Most would see a dog of that age as just an old dog, past his prime.  But as the following story, written by his adoptive family illustrates it is possible "to teach an old dog new tricks".
That old dog was the former star sprinter Toss The Teddy (West Cape-Flag The Fawn) one of Tony Zammitt's best greyhounds.

Sadly, Toss The Teddy, passed away in early June at 10 years of age before this article could be published.
The legendary race dog know as Toss The Teddy became part of our household in Stafford earlier this year.  Know simply as Teddy, this old champion quite comfortably fitted in with our other dogs: the somewhat less legendary, but no less adorable cattle dog Bella and our other pet greyhound Sam (Bluey Singh).

It didn't take long for Teddy's soft side to come through.  Within a couple of days of entering our home, he had discovered the comfort of our couch and bed.
All greyhounds have little idiosyncrasies, and one of Teddy's is chattering of teeth.  

At first, we were concerned he was frightened or cold, but it now appears it's just something he does!

For such a "seen-it-all" veteran of the track, it was amusing to see his first reaction to a raw chicken wing.  Teddy jumped back, as if confronted by an alien!
But soon, chicken wings were just one of the new pleasures Teddy took to with great enthusiasm.  Add to that list: lamb breast, chicken necks....in fact any kind of fresh meat!  He also discovered the pleasure if licking cake mixture off beaters like a young child in the kitchen.

Teddy's quest for food often leads him to our bin.  On several occasions, we have come home to find food wrappers and polystyrene meat containers scattered all over the floor.

This is quite clearly something that has to be stopped.  When we give him an order, he gives us a blank stare, so he has been enrolled in obedience lessons.  Brooke took him to his first lesson and Teddy was the best behaved dog there!

Teddy stood quietly next to Brooke, the perfect gentleman producing a perfect walk to heal and a sit command!

Another new experience for Teddy has been the beach.  When we went to Hervey Bay for Easter, we took Teddy with us, where he enjoyed the fresh sea air and had a paddle in the water.

Unlike our other dogs, he's not much of a swimmer.  And, because her was not used to stairs, onlookers were amused to see us carrying him up the beach steps.
It has been very exciting seeing Teddy come out of his shell so quickly.  He is a very playful dog and when he's in a good mood, his tail spins at 360 degrees.

He loves a cuddle when he's content, he lies on his back in the classic "cockroach" position.  Teddy is also the ideal dog to take to Greyhound Adoption Program promotions, because he is extremely tolerant of all people.

He also loves going for walks, but due to his advancing years, we have found it's best not to make the walks too long.
He has also discovered the joys of playing ball, but like Sam, he hasn't mastered the concept of returning it.

When we first got Teddy, he had a habit of waking us up at 4.30 in the morning, but he now very considerately lets us sleep in until six!
Teddy is a well-mannered, sweet-natured animal and it's an absolute pleasure to have him in our home.

Brook and Matt

From stud dog to couch potato so easily.

Teddy has been a great ambassador for greyhound racing and adoption and was a star on stage with Harry Cooper at the recent Pet and Animal Expo.  Condolences to Matt and Brooke who took him into their home and loved him enormously in his time with them.

Thank you too, to Tony and Marie Zammitt who wanted to see Teddy get his own couch - he certainly did and more.

We are glad to have had a chance to have known Teddy and he has undoubtedly left his mark on the thousands of people who patted him in his late life change of profession to GAP promotion dog.