Just now seeing this. I know this is a very difficult milestone! Toby was so dear to many of us here. Thinking of you at this hard time.

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So sorry about this. My boy had a big lump on his shoulder a year ago, but it ended up being a cyst and completely went away in a week. I hope everything works out for you both. Going through this is torture, I didn't quit stressing for second.

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Visit their blog: fluffygoldens.tumblr.com

Sending (((hugs))) on this sad anniversary.

You are so right, their time with us is much too brief and every minute is so very precious.

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I haven't been able to post becaus of computer problems, but I sure thought of you and darling Toby the last few days.

toby was such a doll and I too lost a friend that day.

My guys all got new cow hooves, toys and loving in honor of Toby and you too.

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Copper's Mom (always)
Gotcha 10/2004 - lost ya 10/2010

I cannot believe how fast the past year has gone. If only our hearts could mend as quickly. Thinking of you and HRH Toby.

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Chris, Jazz and Maverick




Magic-at the Rainbow Bridge 3/7/2011

Toby has been on my mind so much lately.
Tiny has now inherited his big blue and white striped umbrella. Every time I walk outside with her and hold it over her so she stays dry in the rain, I can't help getting misty eyed thinking of Toby's last weeks when I would prop the umbrella up to keep the sun coming through the windows from making him too hot.
He was such a character. Smart smart smart. He was so much smarter than Tito, titles notwithstanding on Tito. Toby could communicate like no other dog. When he wanted something he would gently take your elbow or wrist in his mouth (depending on if you were sitting or standing) and lead you over to what he wanted. He could use his paws almost like hands.
But talk about S-T-U-B-B-O-R-N. He wouldn't give an inch. If Toby didn't want to do something, he was mighty hard to persuade. And persistent! You didn't just tell Toby to go lie down like I do with Tito. Oh no, he'd keep nudging and poking at you until you finally got up to tend to his whims. At night if he wanted to be petted he'd keep poking his nose in my face. I'd hide under the comforter, and he'd paw at it to pull it off me. I would end up laughing and petting him.
He was a real brat. He felt the world was his kingdom, and he ruled it with an iron paw. Hence the name His Royal Highness.
Sometimes I sit and wonder what he actually died of. I wonder if he had some sort of brain tumor that we could have removed? Or was it a cancerous tumor? Was there more I should have done, and didn't do?
Did I let him live too long? Did I put him down too soon?
I sure do miss the big guy.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

Oh Barb, I know those mind questions all too well. I keep on repeating them to myself all the time about Jack. Trooper I knew he was ready to go, he had that way of communicating. Jack was not ready and I had to hold him down and the guilt that I could not and did not try more will follow me to my grave. Yeah DH keeps on telling me that he was almost if not over 16 but I still wonder.

I am supremely confident that given how much you adored Toby, there is nothing you didn't do for him. You did everything and made every decision about him and his care with his best interest in mind. It sounds like he would have let you know if you were doing anything he didn't approve of!

He was such a special boy. I'm not surprised he comes back into your thoughts so strongly. He'll always be with you. I get that an umbrella can make you misty. Driving up the street by the park gets me everytime. I can see Tesia in the back of my car - her reaction when she saw the park was so purely happy every single time. They make such an impression on us - they definitely have a way of making you know what matters in life.

The special ones never really leave us. I like thinking about Tesia and Toby playing out there together somewhere. I think they'd get along really well.

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Tesia
"Joy and loyalty wrapped in sunshine."
The Laughing Dog Press

Sept. 21, 2000 ~ Feb. 5, 2013
My sweet, joyful, beloved heart.

Toby is the only one of my dogs that was very, very sneaky. Tiny is just plain "what you see is what you get" and Tito is such a gentleman that he won't do something if he even suspects it's wrong to do it.
But Toby, ah, he was a sneak.
For example, I'd have my slippers on the sofa (because if they were on the floor, they were fair game).
Toby would slide up to the sofa, kinda look at the slippers out of the corner of his eye. "who me? I'm not looking at the slippers!! I just thought I'd come sit here for a minute, it looked like a good place to sit".
He'd sit there and pointedly ignore the slippers. Maybe throw in a yawn or two.
Then slowly, oh so incredibly slowly, his head would dip over to the sofa.
"who me? I'm not getting closer to the slippers! I'm just resting my head, I'm tired of holding it up".
A couple of minutes would pass. He's be as still as death. Then finally he would slowly, slowly open his mouth just a little tiny bit and slowly snag one slipper with just his canine teeth, slowly, slowly pull it off the sofa. All the while watching me out of the corner of his eye, to see if he was going to get away with it.
Of course, most of the time I would pretend not to see him doing it.
Then he'd take his prize, go lie on his bed, and put his head down on it. Never, ever chewed anything of mine. Just wanted to rest his head on it.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

Always enjoy reading of HRH. He will always be one special guy and I know how deeply you miss him.

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