The first time her standard poodle puppy fetched the toy that her owner had requested by name, Ann Keyser was sure it was a coincidence.

Then Camille, a big, black, 9-month-old fur ball, did it again. So Keyser, a Severn resident, began to test her.

“Bring me the badger,” she would say. Or, “Get the floppy toy.” Every time, Camille was on the nose.

“She'll actually root around in her toy basket until she finds the toy I'm asking for,” Keyser said. “I think that's incredible.”

Keyser, her husband, Patrick, and granddaughter Kaya picked up Camille from a Virginia breeder in June after the family's beloved dog, also a standard poodle, died. Kaya, now 10, had known the older dog from infancy and was devastated when her pet died.

But now, she and Camille are the best of buddies.

Sometimes, the girl and dog will sleep curled around each other. Every morning, Camille accompanies the Keysers when they drop Kaya off at school. Every afternoon, the dog is in the car ready to greet her young friend at the end of the school day.

Kaya's classmates crowd around the car, eager to pet the puppy. They're curious to see which of Camille's approximately dozen decorated hats the poodle will be wearing.

“Today, Camille has on her St. Patrick's Day hat,” Ann Keyser said. “It has dark and light green shamrocks and gold sparkles. Camille wears her hats all day. She doesn't mind at all.”

To have your pet — including hamsters, guinea pigs, horses and the like — considered for Collared, email pets@baltsun.com and put “Collared” in the subject line.

—?Mary Carole McCauley