Our Alaskan Adventures: RIP Toby-Dog

I think Toby got the memo that we would be moving to a house with a "fenced yard" and decided it was time to enter the world of endless dog treats, feather beds/pillows, walkabouts and no rules. The day that we have been dreaded finally reared its ugly head - our sweet Toby-Dog had to be put down.

Almost, 13 years ago I brought a little bundle of fluff home. From the beginning he was a sensitive flower and full of drama. I didn't plan on getting a puppy at the time but we went to look at the litter, I opened the gate and one curious puppy fell out of the enclosed yard, rolled down the hill literally onto my feet. At that moment I had to have him.

Toby was not an easy child but had the biggest heart of any dog. He loved and just wanted to be loved more then anything in the world. However, there was an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other shoulder. Many times that devil would be overruled by the sweet angel and the naughty Toby would come out in full force; the side of Toby many of us became so familiar with yet loved for some bazaar reason. No matter what, you always knew he was gonna be so sorry. In true Toby fashion he would show how sorry he really was by a huge grin with all his teeth showing, wiggling his butt, rolling on his back and letting off a couple snorts of his breath (because his nose was wrinkled from his huge grin). Just for entertainment purposes we liked to tell him how bad he was and watch as a huge "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," scene would unfold. There were times that he would just have naughty thoughts and you knew it because he would let us all know how sorry he really was for evening thinking it.

For the past 13 years Toby served as my rock during tough times, my counselor/therapist, my comedian, you name it we went through thick and thin together. There was always something special about him and we saw that giant heart until the bitter end. He never stopped trying to please and fix everything for us; he had to try and put on the "Toby Show." Anyone that came to house knew the "Toby-Show." "Have you seen how fast I am? That isn't my fastest! Gee it was nice you came to see me." These were a few of his favorite lines.

Toby was too smart for his own good. He was a master at manipulation and in his older age was even becoming wiser, more sly and really didn't care. Often it would take Ryan and a couple months to catch on to greatest grand scheme of manipulating us. Once he got something on his mind he would figure out a way (no matter what) and would become the "new thing." You could see the wheels turning and sometimes it was a little frightening. For years he got his summer haircut and it was hell for the first three weeks because he went straight into puppy mode all over again.

He loved nothing more then Alaska and the freedom it offered him. With daily walkabouts, which we referred to as "checking his traps," which was just a huge circle he made several times a day checking on everything. He had many more traps in AK then his little backyard in LO. However, he had many squirrel traps setup in LO (those darn squirrels would tease him) and you would watch as he made his morning routine to make sure no one had entered his domain.

Hints Taught By Toby To Be The Naughtiest Dog Ever:

Taking Chunk on a walkabout and sprinting back to house in an attempt to lose him.
Not wanting to come in the house when called, pretend you are pooping, your owner will then turn around and let you do your business while you take off as fast as you can.
If you want outside it's quite simple to open that sliding glass door. If you hit it just right with you foot it will open but if it is latched you will have to unlatch it with your nose then hit the slider just right. Oh, add a stick in the door - no problem. Pop the stick up (sometimes you have to use your foot), unlatch and push the door. The best time of day to do it is when it is snowy out. Go race around the yard, get muddy, lay on the couch with the heater cranking and mom will be real impressed when she comes home to mud and a cold house.
If you want to see out the front yard and mom and dad have set up "Toby Traps" (IE brooms on the chair to keep me off) watching through the window in the counter sink is a great place. Quite easy really jump on the counter, when they come home you see them pull up and jump down.
If caught laying on clean cloths or somewhere your not supposed to be, hide under whatever it is freeze and stop breathing - they will not know.
Purses and backpacks are not safe - a zipper no problem, I can unzip that and eat a granola bar no problem. Oh and lip gloss looks lovely on white paws.
Halloween candy unwrap the candy using my Grinch feet and hide the wrappers under the bed - they will have no clue candy is disappearing.
Company comes to see ME and only me. I like to sit on their lap and get love. Mom wants to me to get down and behave but they said it's fine.
Toby loved nothing more then girls! He loved perfume and good high pitched squeals.

The master mind that Toby had was amazing. At 12 he was still being called a puppy and racing around the yard as fast as he could (if you clap I can go faster). He will be greatly missed but we will always remember your wonderful spirit Toby-Dog.