Toby the Dog understands English.

He understands complete sentences. I’m thinking: Is there a TV series in this puppy’s future?

Toby is now about 19 months of age. He’s as frisky as they come. He loves to fetch toys that my wife and I toss around the house. He is relentless in his desire to keep doing it. We stop when he’s ready to stop.

Just a little while ago, he indicated a desire to go outside. We let him out, into the backyard. He traipsed out there with one of his toys in his mouth. He did his business and returned to the back door.

His toy was missing.

We opened the door and then I instructed him, “Puppy, go back outside and bring in your toy.”

Toby ran back out, scooted around the bush next to our patio and then returned — with the toy in his mouth!

Do you get the picture?

Lassie might have been the smartest dog on television. How many times did we hear him bark at Mommy and Daddy, who then would respond, “You mean Timmy’s fallen into the well? Thanks, girl. We’ll go save him!”

How about when Timmy needed Lassie to go find someone and he would issue detailed instructions, such as, “Go down the street, Lassie, and bark and the third house on the left hand side of the street.” Lassie would follow Timmy’s instructions to the letter.

OK, I exaggerate, but you get my point.

I’m pretty sure if the broadcast and/or cable networks are going to reintroduce TV shows such as “Lassie” or “Flipper,” that Toby would be a prime candidate for a starring if not a title role.