The call was from someone in the casting department of Wizard Productions. Did Chrissie know if Toby was ready to work again? If so, they wanted him for a leading part in a film soon to go into production – a dystopian story about packs of dogs that take over London after a new strain of Covid has wiped out most of the human population. Chrissie agreed that Toby would be an ideal choice for the leader of one of the rival packs. She’d find out if he was available.
For three years, Toby had been the most successful canine actor represented by the animal talent agency – Dog Stars – that Chrissie ran. Strong, alert, athletic, with an expressive and intelligent face, the five year old black Labrador had quickly progressed from a bit part in Downton Abbey to substantial roles as a sniffer dog in two war movies. His TV credits included the part of a beloved family pet in a domestic comedy series set in a pub, Happy Hours, and appearances in several commercials – for a dog food, a dog shampoo and a toothpaste designed for dogs.
Toby’s owner, Cedric, now charged a very high fee for Toby, but Chrissie – whose commission was also large – knew that Wizard Productions could afford it. She was confident, too, that, after a five month sabbatical – insisted on by Cedric after a period of intensive filming - Toby was refreshed and ready to return to acting.
The following day, Chrissie drove down to East Sussex, to the village where Cedric and Toby lived. She was impressed by the size of the house, bought largely with the proceeds from Toby’s performances, to which her Sat Nav directed her. She rang the doorbell, which was soon opened by Cedric, who was flanked by a yappy Jack Russell and an old-looking, waddling and fat Labrador. Toby’s mother, wondered Chrissie?
Cedric greeted Chrissie effusively. ‘So good to see you again. It’s been several months, right?’ He then patted the head of the fat dog. ‘Toby, aren’t you going to say “Hello” to auntie Chrissie?’
Chrissie drew her breath and tried to conceal her shock. Could this really be the same Toby that had leapt over walls, saved a drowning man, and raced across fields in his various performances?
Cedric, looking somewhat embarrassed, noticed her surprise ‘Yes’, he said, ‘I know what you’re thinking. He has changed a bit’. He went on to explain that Toby had needed a rest after all the work he’d done, and to recover from an injury to a back leg when jumping a fence in an advert for worming pills. Cedric had not allowed Toby to exert himself over the last few months and, at the same time, had indulged the dog’s inordinate love of cakes, cream scones and Cumberland sausages.
After sharing a pot of tea, Chrissie told Cedric that she had to be going. As she got up to leave, Cedric asked whether she’d come for any particular reason – perhaps to discuss a part for one of his dogs, the Jack Russell perhaps? Glancing down at Toby, with his bulging belly, asleep on the carpet, Chrissie replied, ‘No, Cedric. No special reason. I was in the area and thought I’d just pop in’.
It was four months later that Chrissie got another call from the casting people at Wizard Productions. Did she know of a dog who could star in a proposed major Channel 5 series, One Man and His Dog? The programme – a feel-good, gently comic drama - would focus on the relationship between an ageing and disabled army veteran and his old and arthritic dog. Timothy Spall and Jack Dee had each expressed interest in the role of the veteran, but old and infirm dogs were harder to cast.
Chrissie, naturally, knew exactly the dog for the role – Toby. He wasn’t, of course, old, but the make-up people could easily give him some grey hair. He’d have to lose a bit of weight, but his heavy body, sluggish movement and slight limp made him ideal for the part. She told the casting department that she was pretty sure she’d find the right dog.
The next day, she drove down to East Sussex. As she was getting out of her car on the gravel in front of the house, a large black dog appeared from the garden, bounded up to her, woofing in delight and wagging his tail.
‘Toby! Toby!’, she heard Cedric shouting, ‘Let the poor woman out of her car!’. He then walked quickly over to Chrissie, gave her a peck on the cheek, and managed to calm Toby down.
Over tea, Cedric explained that, after Chrissie’s previous visit, he’d decided to take Toby in hand and apply some discipline. No more cakes, scones and sausages, and lots of exercise. After all, a fat, lazy Labrador was hardly likely to be offered parts in films or commercials, was he? As Chrissie could now see, he added, Toby was back to his former athletic, lean, alert and energetic self.
As Chrissie prepared to leave, Cedric asked her if she’d come for any particular reason – to discuss a part for one of his dogs, Toby himself perhaps? Glancing at Toby as he tore around the lawn with a rubber bone in his mouth, she replied ‘No, Cedric, no special reason. I was in the area and thought I’d just pop in’.
