I

There are many things that I love about Toby. He’s soft, warm, gentle and affectionate.

You know the type – big paws, prickly whiskers, floppy ears, a gaze that bores right into your heart.

I had some great ideas for how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my canine sweetie, but life got a bit wild yesterday so I decided to just make him something special for dinner – heart-shaped French toast.

It’s got lots of good things in it. First, egg is great for Toby’s coat. Maybe you’ve cracked an egg over your pooch’s food and you know what I’m talking about. His coat just gets shiner and healthier looking. I feel like he sheds less too.

Depending on what kind of bread you use, it’s also not a problem. You do want to make sure you don’t do this too often, though, as white bread can pack on extra pounds and fat dogs are becoming an epidemic in the U.S.

Make sure you avoid adding nutmeg to the French toast because it is caustic to dogs, prompting seizures.

Of course, the heart shape is the best part of the whole meal. Dogs don’t see the color red very well, so don’t bother dying the hearts.

Believe it or not, I’m not the only fool-for-dog-love pet owner to feed my dog French toast. Some people have even come up with dog-friendly recipes for it.

Now that IHOP is providing delivery service, you might want to order in one Sunday morning for you and your barking babe. The College Park IHOP has this service for a small charge, if you live within their delivery radius.

Celebrating holidays with my dog is one of my favorite things. Being that Toby is an English Lab and I’m Irish, I’m not yet sure how we’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m sure more treats are in the mix.