Since our 10 year old lab, Sadie, died last week, 3 year old bulldog Toby has been having to adjust to being the only dog. Sadie was our protector. I always felt safe with her around because I knew she would do anything in her power to protect us. I did not really have that feeling about Toby, he was just a big chicken. If we were outside and heard a noise, he would run to the door as fast as he could, clearly trying to get away from whatever scary thing was making that sound. If Sadie was out there, she would run and bark at it. She had a most ferocious bark, and I knew that her bark would scare most things away.

The first few days after Sadie was gone, Toby would barely go outside. He seemed very scared. But now he has taken over as guard dog. If there is a noise outside, he takes off running toward it. He will go investigate and bark at it. One night he did this at 2 am, ran off into the darkness with me yelling his name to come back. Thankfully our yard is fully fenced, so I knew he wouldn't be able to get out. But still I didn't like him running off into the night where I couldn't see him!

For the past two nights Toby has kept us up all night with his barking and running around the house to investigate some noise that I cannot hear. He has always slept on our bed and would occasionally get up to go out to potty, but none of this running around the house business. Sadie slept out on the living room couch, so I guess he knew that she was keeping guard on the house? Now it apparently is his job.

Anyways, it has been very interesting seeing this transformation in Toby. He is clearly adjusting his role in our family now, and taking over for Sadie. This has been one of the saddest weeks in my life, and I don't think I could have made it without my little squishy man by my side. I was doing a little better on Monday, but then yesterday I got Sadie's ashes back, and that just made it all the more real that she is gone.

But I still have my little Toby, and he is apparently braver than we thought!

Janice and Toby