I saw Toby nearly 6 years ago when his picture was posted on the DRU website. He didn't have a description at the time, but boy was he a handsome dog! The kind of face you'd want to smooch and squish and love all over. Later his "biography" description was posted - a former street brawler with a hairy eyeball for anyone new, he was a serious dog with serious reactions to other animals and people. One volunteer visit to the shelter brought me in touch with Toby in a crate in the front lobby - the description was accurate. He had no need for my attention or wish to coo and "baby talk" to him.
Later I came to work at the shelter and spent time with Toby. We came to respect eachother, I learned his funny quirks and favorite play things. He had a sense of humor unlike any of the other dogs at the shelter - he was happy to be there and happy to enjoy his favorite people. Just as happy to scare the new employees and bark his head off to demand something. It was a unique accomplishment when you could handle Toby in training class - and its true, he was happy to be executing his obedience commands so well. He got special attention from one female employee whom Toby decided was "his" and she gladly allowed him to accompany her during cleaning routines outside. If you approached "his" woman without warning, he could correct you. I learned not to touch Toby's back end or bend over his head because he would correct you in the same way.
Toby, among others, gave me a lesson in teamwork when it came time for "outs" and I opened an entire wing of dogs to go out... not realizing my teammates had left the outside kennel doors open for cleaning. So 11 Doberman ran amuck in a fenced yard. 5 or 6 of these Dobes being serious fighters.... Toby among them. Managed to wrangle all but Toby and two others. Water hoses, leash tricks, hollering, swatting with poop scoopers - nothing broke up the fight down to just Toby & Mason. But a return to the daily cleaning routine of opening the gates between yards, and Toby broke his hold, and went to the other yard.... to cool off and later be checked for injuries. At this point, this 6-7 year old curmudgeon had barely a scratch and had done some damage to the other dog. Our trainer supposed that if Toby had been in his younger years, we'd have had a different outcome.
Toby continued to live on in the shelter - his needs for a family filled out nicely by the employees and volunteers. Daily play, walks, training, sometimes acupuncture, weekly "spa" baths, etc. There would never be a perfect adopter for Toby, but he loved and enjoyed his home and never suffered the anxiety and neurosis of most Dobes in a kennel. He was loved and loved-on daily, and as his description read, he "thought he was at the Taj Mahal".
After living at the shelter from an estimated age of 5-7 until his death this week, he spent roughly 5 years in the shelter. Half his life. But it appears to have been the better half.
Toby - I honor and love you as a Dobe who taught me a great deal about our breed, humanity, and respect. Rest in Peace over the Bridge and check on "your" Donna when you can. I know her heart is aching because she misses you, but happy to know you are finally in your forever home.
Toby's description & photo below are taken from Doberman Rescue Unlimited's website, http://www.dru.org/availabledetail.htm
TOBY is a 10-12 year old, red and rust, cropped and docked male who was found as a stray in Connecticut. A trip to the veterinarian revealed the poor bugger was loaded with heartworms. Treatment was successful, and after some serious R and R, Toby is a new dog. Enrollment in DRU U has helped Toby to trust humans again. Somewhere in his past he learned to avoid eye contact and to freeze up when spoken to…kind, consistent training has melted his resistance to human contact and now he is a more affectionate, obedient boy whose stub wags whenever he carries out a command. Toby is still a serious dog, though, and deserves an emotionally stable home where he will be neither coddled nor bullied. His days on the streets may have let him practice brawling, so we cannot place him in a household with another dog already present. But his DRU U training has taught him how to mind his own business when other inoffensive dogs are nearby, so Toby can easily be out and about where other dogs are under as much control as he is. Cats, on the other paw, are not possible for the big red lug. If you like the strong, silent type, sign up to be Toby's friend and pack leader.
Our beloved boy, Toby, has passed. Toby came to us much damaged by his previously life, but he found a home at DRU where he was happy and safe. He was a serious boy who found it hard to trust people, but once he did, his devotion was palpable. He will be forever missed by all, but most ardently by "his person", Donna. Although his body gave in, his spirit never did. He will never be forgotten!