Teddyās Hide-and-Seek Reign Continues at Brick Church
The Dog Who Won Ballantyne (and the Auction Too)
By Nell Thomas | Strolling Ballantyne & The Charlotte Mercury

Ballantyneās most beloved new resident didnāt buy his homeāhe was bid on. Teddy, a 13-week-old Bernedoodle with curls like couture and charm like a Southern debutante, was the surprise star of the Ballantyne Ball Auction this February.
The gala, benefiting the Greater Charlotte Foster Care System, turned serendipitous when Veronica Dieckmann locked eyes with the hypoallergenic heartthrob. “I texted my kids and they begged me to bring him home,” she said. She did. They havenāt stopped cuddling since.
Teddyās Law: Follow, Snuggle, Repeat
Teddy settled in like a natural. With a stuffed bear as his bedtime essential and a gentle temperament that makes chamomile tea look aggressive, he quickly found his rhythm. Favorite activity? Hide and seek at Brick Church dog park. Favorite vibe? Chill.
āHeās just… the best,ā says Veronica. āHe hangs out with us in the living room like a roommate who pays rent in serotonin.ā
But this isn’t just a fluff piece (pun intended). Teddy’s impact goes beyond cozy evenings. Veronicaās three kids have stepped upātaking on daily walks and meals. “Itās been great to see them grow through that responsibility,” she says.






Neighborhood walks have become a parade. Teddyās big, Bernedoodle eyes and social-butterfly energy have earned him sidewalk celebrity status. Heās the kind of dog that people have to say hi to. His loyalty? Movie-script level. Follows his people room to room. Waits at the door like a canine concierge. Probably knows everyoneās Amazon routine.
In a twist no one saw coming, the Dieckmann family didnāt just gain a petāthey found their missing puzzle piece.
Teddy, of course, remains humble. Probably because he doesnāt know heās perfect. But we do.
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š With coffee in one hand and a tennis ball in the other,
ā Nell Thomas
Senior Writer, The Charlotte Mercury
Pet paparazzo, Ballantyne bench-sitter, and unapologetic puppuccino purchaser