Pet Name: Ziggy
Racing Name: Moss Ted
Ear Mark/Tattoos: HZ-JXB
Sex: Dog
Date of Birth: 28th October 2007
Place of Birth: Ireland
Sire: Go Wild Teddy
Dam: Moss Time
Trainer: Mr. Robert Kerr
Place of Adoption: Brentwood RGT
Date of Adoption: 12th November 2009
Greyhound-Data: Ziggy’s Entry and Pedigree
Irish Greyhound Board: Ziggy’s Entry and Ziggy’s Pedigree

Ziggy is our 2 year old adopted Greyhound. The Grand-Pup of a World Champion sire and registered with the Racing name “Moss Ted”, it seemed Ziggy was born for life on the track.

Ziggy, however, had other ideas.

Bred in Ireland (from an Australian sire) and born on the 28th October 2007, Ziggy (unlike five of his known siblings) failed to chase in training and so never made his racing debut. Transported in 2009 with one other brother (Ricos Time), the pair lived in kennels in the North of England, whilst the rest of the litter went on to form their careers as racers.

At the end of September that year, the brothers were moved to Ashwells Greyhound Kennels, under the care of the Retired Greyhound Trust. Having been given no (pet) names and being near-identical in their markings, the dogs were referred to as “Ant and Dec” (on account of them having come from up-north), by the Kennel staff, although neither dog learnt these names.

We first met Ziggy on the 4th November 2009, just a week after his second birthday. The staff had listened to our concerns: what we wanted from a dog, what we could provide for a dog and details about our home and life, via a telephone call in advance, and had made a list of prospective candidates. Ziggy was at the top of the list as an ideal “match”.

He took to us as quickly as we did to him and the following week on 12th November 2009, we gave him his (proper) name and took him to his new “forever home”, where he now lives with us: his new people.

Ziggy loves people.

To Ziggy, every stranger he meets has been put on this Earth especially for him to say hello to. He loves to greet people and enjoys rubs behind the ears and fuss in his own gentle way. His favourite toys are cuddly ones that he can snuggle up to in his bed and make him feel safe and squeaky, fluffy ones that he can chase around the garden and “kill”. A sensitive boy, he hides from the scary vacuum cleaner and dislikes anything that makes a loud bang.

Although it’s safe to say he’ll never give Lassie a run for her money, he understands and responds to approximately 15 words and gives really good paw. As is common for a Greyhound, he finds it almost impossible to assume the standard “sit” position due to his hind legs being so heavily packed with large, powerful muscles. He does however adopt the classic greyhound “Sphinx”-like position, which we happily accepted as his version of a “sit”.

His favourite things to do are: sleep, play fight with his people in bed first thing in the morning, sleep, eat, sleep, chase and “attack” my toys, sleep, run really fast, sleep, eat anything beefy and sleep some more.

Ziggy would have you believe it’s hard work being a Hound. I’m not convinced.

You can follow Ziggy’s adventures through his photo set, here