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.
![Captain, I have come upon a native life form! Request permission to investigate further. Australian Shepherd with Up Ears](https://dogsofsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CIMG1779-600x566.jpg)
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.
![Deploying sensor arrays! *fwwwip!* Australian Shepherd with Up Ears](https://dogsofsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CIMG1780-600x588.jpg)
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?)
![Captain! I am happy to report that the life form is friendly! I will now proceed to try to communicate with it using interpretive dance! Australian Shepherd with Up Ears](https://dogsofsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CIMG1786-600x612.jpg)
There's the smile. It took him a couple seconds to warm up to me, and after that it was all puppy grins.