A Pup from Nebraska

Teddy and I found each other through Craigslist, which is also how I bought my car and patio furniture. There are always a few gems on a site full of scams! He had spent the first two years in Nebraska but was returned to his original rescue facility in north Kansas City in April of 2019. When I clicked on his adoption ad, the picture had been taken at an angle that made him look relatively medium-sized. Little did I know, my wannabe lap dog is most likely mixed with mastiff, in addition to lab and German shepherd!

From the drive home until several months later, I thought maybe I had made a mistake adopting him. My small apartment looked even tinier with him galloping around, not to mention his separation anxiety was almost more than I could bear! He got up to follow me to the bathroom during movies, whined when I took a shower, and licked me ALL THE TIME. My family would reluctantly come to visit as this 70+ pound beast would lick and smother them to death, only to flop down in exhaustion after an hour or more.

After months of discipline and redirection, he started to get better, and my mindset switched from, "I need to take him back," to "I'm not going to give up on this dog." By the holidays, I had decided to start the process of travel nursing, and Teddy was coming with me. My friend had successfully relocated with her pup to Seattle and gave me lots of helpful tips. I did my own research, made sure he was up to date on shots/medications, and we were on our way to NC by March. He was the best behaved I'd ever seen him in the car, even as we drove through the smoky mountains in the snow.

Every travel assignment I've taken, he's been my guard dog, my sanity, and best friend. He's been there through every meltdown, cheered me up after each long, terrible shift, and made me get out of the house for some much needed vitamin D. He's brought smiles to so many faces, from hiking trails to downtown Eureka Springs. Most days, he just can't contain his love and excitement for the world and its inhabitants! Who could have guessed one of the world's most socially anxious dogs from Nebraska would become a seasoned road tripper, bringing joy to everyone he met? A woman could not have gotten a better travel companion.

Stay adventurous!

Love, Emma Grace and Teddy