If you had asked me nine years ago what was at the absolute top of my Christmas list, my answer would have been instant.
A PlayStation VR.
I’ve always loved gaming—even as an adult, it remains one of my favorite escapes. At the time, I had my eye on a virtual reality system and was entirely convinced it was exactly what I needed to complete my holiday.
My husband, however, had a spectacularly different vision.
Instead of unboxing a sleek piece of immersive tech, I was handed a tiny, wide-eyed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy named Teddy.
To be completely honest? I wasn’t expecting a dog. I wasn’t looking for a dog. I hadn't dropped a single hint that a puppy was on my radar.
I wanted the PlayStation.
Looking back, it’s funny how life works. What I thought I wanted was a shiny new gaming system. What I actually received was a little dog who would completely rewrite the story of my life.
Small Dog, Big Management Energy
From day one, Teddy possessed a personality wildly disproportionate to his physical size.
Anyone who knows him understands that Teddy firmly believes he is the supreme supervisor of absolutely everything that happens on our property. We have eight bird dogs, and somehow, Teddy has appointed himself their undisputed manager. When the bird dogs are in their kennels, Teddy patrols the yard like a strict security guard making his rounds. If one of the dogs sounds the alarm over something exciting, Teddy is immediately on high alert, rushing over to investigate the commotion.
He may be one of the smallest dogs on the property, but absolutely nobody has ever convinced Teddy of that fact.
One of his favorite spots to inspect is our quail house. He loves checking the perimeter and making sure everything is running up to his strict standards. He also harbors a wonderfully strange obsession with feathers. After my husband returns from turkey hunting, Teddy eagerly scours the yard for any stray feathers left behind. Once he secures his prize, he proudly parades it around—acting as though he personally led the entire hunting expedition.
The Ultimate Betrayal (And My Favorite Duo)
Of course, there is one detail about Teddy’s life that still makes me laugh.
While Teddy loves me, his heart absolutely belongs to my husband. The irony is not lost on me: the very man who decided I needed a puppy instead of a gaming system somehow became Teddy’s favorite person on earth.
If my husband is going fishing, Teddy is going fishing. If he’s taking the Ranger down to the pond to feed the fish, Teddy is already sitting by the door, waiting. If he’s heading outside for yard work, Teddy is right there at his heels.
They are the ultimate adventure partners. Over the years, I’ve gracefully accepted the truth—I may have ended up with the dog, but my husband ended up with Teddy’s whole heart. Truthfully, watching the two of them together has become one of my favorite things in the world.
Cherishing the Simple Things
As the years passed, Teddy became so much more than a pet. He wove himself into our family’s daily routines, our wildest adventures, and countless stories that still make us laugh out loud.
Today, Teddy is nine years old.
Like many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, he developed heart disease as he got older. He now takes medication to help manage congestive heart failure and keep him comfortable. Hearing that diagnosis was incredibly difficult. Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows the painful truth: we simply never get enough time with them.
As Teddy has aged, I’ve become acutely aware of how precious every single day truly is. The simple things carry so much more weight now. A breezy ride in the Ranger. A slow walk around the yard. A quiet fishing trip. A peaceful evening at home.
These moments are becoming memories right before our eyes.
The Legacy of Teddy
In so many ways, Teddy is the heartbeat behind why Ted & Tiggs Pet Market exists today. He’s the catalyst for our YouTube channel and the magical worlds we're building there.
What started as a simple idea blossomed into something so much bigger. I wanted a way to celebrate the pure joy that dogs bring into our lives, and to create something lasting that honors the pets we love so deeply. The 3D animated Teddy that stars in our videos might be a cartoon character, but his spirit is entirely fueled by the very real dog who has been by my side for nearly a decade.
Every animated adventure, every laugh, and every storyline starts with the real Teddy. Creating this brand and these videos became my way of preserving the legacy of a dog who has brought immeasurable happiness to our family.
The Final Level
Today, I own the gaming systems I wanted back then. I have my PlayStation. I have my Xbox. I’ve played hundreds of incredible games over the years and enjoyed every single minute of them.
But none of those things have given me what Teddy has.
No video game could have been my loyal companion for nine years. No piece of virtual reality tech could have gone fishing with my husband, supervised a pack of bird dogs, proudly collected turkey feathers, or filled our home with so much life.
No Christmas gift in the world could have brought the laughter, loyalty, and unconditional love that Teddy has given us.
Nine years ago, I thought I wanted a gaming system.
What I really needed was Teddy. And that is the story of the dog I never asked for—the tiny spaniel who inspired a brand, a YouTube channel, and countless adventures that are still being written today.
