• Sleeping In

    One of the things that always made Stephanie and me laugh was that Toby occasionally decided weekends were beneath him. During the week, he was remarkably disciplined. He knew exactly when breakfast happened, exactly when it was time for a walk, and exactly when I had waited long enough before taking him outside. His internal…

  • The Sulk

    One of Toby’s most remarkable talents was his ability to know exactly when his enthusiasm had gotten the better of him. Not before, mind you. During the event, he was always fully committed to his decision making. It was only afterward, once the excitement had faded and he had a chance to evaluate the expression…

  • The Frost Beard Incident

    One of the things Toby never fully accepted was that winter applied to him too. Now, if you’ve read the story about the winter coat, the gloves, and the extensive diplomatic negotiations required to get His Majesty dressed before leaving the house, you’ll already know that Toby viewed Quebec winters as a personal inconvenience. Not…

  • Soft Hands and a Poodle

    Some children are drawn to noise.Some are drawn to movement.Amira was drawn to warmth. From the very beginning, before she had words, before she had steady steps, she had hands. Curious hands. Searching hands. Hands that wanted to feel the world before they understood it. And in that world, there was Toby. He was already…

  • The Orthopedic Throne (Bedroom Edition)

    At some point, Stephanie decided that Toby deserved better sleep. Not “better than average.” Better. His existing dog bed was fine. Respectable. Soft. Entirely appropriate for a large standard poodle. But apparently, we had been underperforming. So began the research phase. Foam density.Orthopedic certifications.Joint support.Neck bolsters.Temperature regulation. I am fairly certain there were medical diagrams…

  • Lullabies for a Poodle

    The keyboard had been there long before Toby. Music has always been part of my life. The instrument was already sitting in the living room when we adopted him. But for the first few weeks, I did not touch it. I was not sure how he would react. New home. New people. New smells. I…

  • Teeth

    There is a concept every animal owner understands. It is called “teeth.” Not aggression.Not snarling.Not drama. Just… teeth. That tiny little moment when your pet stretches, yawns, relaxes, or simply exists in a way that allows one small canine to peek out from under the lip. Completely accidental. Completely harmless. Completely adorable. Toby was no…

  • The Balkan Grandma Incident

    Every dog owner has that moment. That moment where you look at your dog and think,“This would be hilarious with a small accessory.” In our case, it was a bandana. Not around the neck.That would have been reasonable.No. We gently tied it over Toby’s head. Just for a picture.Just for a second.Just to see. And…

  • The Princess of Public Safety

    When I became EMS Chief in Côte Saint Luc, Toby naturally became the actual Chief. But every Chief needs a morning routine. And Toby’s routine started with Una. Every morning, without fail, Toby would make his way toward the front office. Not casually. Not by accident. Deliberately. With purpose. With the quiet confidence of someone…

  • The Chicken Heist That Never Was

    The dog park was supposed to be freedom. A large fenced area.No leash.Space to run.Dogs everywhere. Toby was finally free to play. Except Toby did not play like other dogs. While everyone else ran, wrestled, and chased balls, Toby walked. He sniffed. He observed. He analyzed. He moved slowly, like royalty inspecting its domain. He…