Who could possibly resist Tobi (Toby? I may have taken this down wrong), the 4-year-old Australian shepherd? Certainly not I: Tobi had me wrapped around his paw from the moment I set eyes on him.

Tobi has a flaw that will forever keep him out of dog shows! (Not exactly a huge loss, to Tobi's mom OR to me.) Can you guess what it is? Answer in the next picture.

Yes indeedy, Australian shepherds are definitely not supposed to have RIDICULOUS ADORABLE GOOFY STANDY-UP FUZZLY EARS! (And isn't that just a shame and a half?)

There's the smile. It took him a couple seconds to warm up to me, and after that it was all puppy grins.