Meet Ted

I suppose I should formally introduce Otto's brother Ted (also known as Edward, Teddy, Fred, Fat Boy).

B and I always knew we wanted a second dog, not so much for our benefit (Otto was more than enough work) but, well, because Otto was more than enough work. We required a second a dog in order to distract Otto from shredding our apartment, inch by inch, with his teeth.

Ted was found at our local pet shop, one year old and needing a home. Apparently his previous owners had given him up because "he had too many teeth." Possibly a Chinese superstition thing? Or maybe in actuality, it was those back knees which both require surgery (which we didn't find out until a month or so after buying him). Joyous.

Regardless, since we bought Ted he has had thirteen extra teeth removed (a highly superstitious number in Chinese culture). Our vet decided he should be renamed "Jaws." And h

e will also be operated on at some point to fix his poorly, luxating kneecaps.

So for matters of introduction, allow me to sum Ted up in a few points:

* He's - ahem - 'portly'. His previous name was "Fat Boy" in Chinese. I asked the vet if he's morbidly obese and we should be worried. He said he's not, just 'carrying a little extra around the edges.' Aren't we all.

* He gets bullied by Otto. B's mate recently stayed with us and said, "It's like Ted and Otto are stuck together in prison and Ted's Otto's b*tch." Poor Ted often gets cornered by Otto who chews him till he cries out. I can't really blame Otto, anyone could confuse Ted with a toy.

* Don't worry; Ted's happy. He bites Otto back plenty, and they are like any old married couple: one minute they're biting, the next they're cuddling and kissing. They also play together a lot.

* Ted has fussy eating dramas... he goes beside himself at meal times, jumps up, cries out because he can't wait, does circles, the whole bit. And then half the time we plonk the food down and he just stares at it before wandering off. This aint the Ritz buddy, it's basic steak and veg all round.

But it's ok - at least Otto's always there to wolf it down. Like yesterday, when he ate all Ted's dinner and his antibiotic pill. At least Otto won't be getting any infections. Can't say the same for Ted.

* Ted could possibly sit under our dining table forever. He has incredible 'zen' powers to be still and meditate for hours at a time in his safe place, which is under the table, squeezed between the leg and wall.

* He's incredibly skittish. If you throw a toy at him he'll lunge at in joy it with all his inhibitions down, and then realise his place and, leaving the toy behind, bolt back under the table leg. We can only assume he was mistreated in his old home. Poor Ted.

But it's ok, he's getting lots of love here. And an occasional bully for a brother.