A Three-Legged Foster Pup Needed Gentle Company — Then He Met Sal the Great Dane

Fresh out of surgery and balancing on three legs, Teddy hesitated at the edge of the grass as an enormous silhouette bounded into view.

He paused, testing his newfound balance on the lawn while taking in the sheer scale of the dog bounding toward him.

A painful street injury leads to a fresh start

Teddy (formally known as Theodore) spent months surviving as an injured stray on the streets before being brought to a Texas shelter. He arrived with a severely shattered front leg, extensive nerve damage, and torn tendons that left the limb non-functional. With reconstructive surgery out of the question and the dragging leg putting him at constant risk of dangerous tumbles, the medical rescue @caitiesfosterfam stepped in to fund his care and coordinate an amputation.

An oversized foster brother offers steady companionship

Adapting to life as a tripod can be daunting for large dogs, especially since canines carry roughly 60 percent of their body weight on their front limbs. To protect his healing incision, Teddy's foster mom kept his initial days calm and isolated, slowly progressing to structured on-leash pack walks before allowing backyard exploration. That was when she introduced him to Sal, a resident Great Dane renowned across the foster home for his gentle patience with fragile newcomers.

Rather than overwhelming the recovering pup, Sal intuitively paced himself, trotting in wide, easy arcs across the grass so Teddy could match his speed without feeling crowded. As reported by DogTime, initial caution quickly gave way to mutual nudges, affectionate kisses, and a quiet sense of security between the two dogs.

Healing with patience, play, and mutual respect

While romping sessions remain brief to keep Teddy from straining his remaining front leg, having an unflappable canine mentor has provided an immense boost to his rehabilitation. Watching an amputee dog realize he can still run, lean, and chase in the company of a giant friend highlights the profound impact of peer support throughout a rescue journey.

The heartwarming interaction between the newly minted tripod and his oversized protector touched thousands of animal lovers online:

With his surgical site healing cleanly and his confidence growing by the day, Teddy is proving that losing a limb hasn’t slowed his spirit — especially with a patient giant by his side every step of the way.