I suddenly felt the urge to write about one of our most stunning girls – Toffee. I looked at her today, sitting nicely beside me as I made my dinner, eyes watching me closely (the only thing on her that moved), fluffy and cuddly, and simply gorgeous. She was praying that I’d drop something. I don’t drop things when I’m cooking because I like food too much. However, I suppose the good Lord had a different plan tonight because much to my chagrin a big, juicy slice of chicken slid right out of my hand and onto the floor. She moved faster than a cheetah, and the chicken was nowhere to be found. She was happy.

Toffee came to me with her brother, Casanova. She was borderline emaciation, as was he, and both were in poor, poor condition. Even worse, they’d been an owner surrender at the pound, so whoever this owner was let them starve to death. They adored each other and loved people. Toffee, however, had issues with me around her food…she didn’t want me anywhere near it. She made that very clear the first night she came home with me.

I worried because food aggression seems like it goes drastically one way or the other…very good or very bad. I started working with her, took her to the vet for a consultation, and we were on our food aggression journey. We made progress. Along came a few set backs here or there, but we kept on. She was so incredibly happy, affectionate, loving and had a desire to please in every other aspect of her life, that it seemed certain that she would get past it.

Now, I can reach in and take her food away from her. Now, I can move her bowl, pet her while she eats, and put my hand in her food. Now, she is very fat. 😀

Every night Toffee goes straight to her kennel at dinner time, sits down, and patiently waits for her meal. I set down the bowl, pet her head and continue every night to work with her food. It’s clear now, however, that she knows she’s not going to starve, and she doesn’t have to fight for a meal.

While I’d still want her with an experienced owner and no children, Toffee has crossed several bridges with this initial problem. She’s become such a bright spot in my days, and probably listens better than any Pyrenees I’ve ever had in my life (Great Pyrenees = a dog that doesn’t care what you say). She is cheerful, has fantastic expressions with her huge grin, and she constantly gives me kisses. She dances daily, acts silly, and rolls over on her back for a belly rub. She loves to act feisty and playful with you and we have a little game, as a result. She starts out by acting a wee bit excited, walking with sass and wagging her tail…but then she suddenly stops on a dime, sits, and virtually freezes her body so the smallest muscle won’t even flinch. I grab her and ruffle up her coat, smooch all over her face, and give her a big squeeze, baby talk and all. Then I suddenly stop, and I freeze.

Toffee drops her belly and head to the floor, looks up at me, and begins spinning, rolling, dancing and anything else that comes to mind! Then…she freezes! I love and ruffle more, and she drops, rolls and spins again. I love and ruffle…she drops and spins…it’s a spectacular moment for Toffee! She glows when we play this game and is as happy as a pig in mud. She’s pretty irresistible during those moments, especially when she smothers me in kisses!

She has improved her manners significantly by going to the door and sitting when she has to potty, allowing you to open it without trouble (unlike the rest of the herd who prefers to bowl me over). She goes right to her kennel and lies down at bedtime, and she has grown more tolerant of dogs she wasn’t fond of at first. She still to this day, however, has never changed that smile…it’s the prettiest one ever. 🙂

I have no idea when Toffee will find her forever home, but I do know that when she does that it will be one happy household. She knows when she’s loved, and she returns the love tenfold. What a darling girl we have in Miss Toffee. True to her name, she is, without doubt, super, super, duper sweet.