The Reiters picked the name first and went looking for a dog to match it. Ten years on, Tyrion has one ear that stands up and a groan he deploys when anybody disturbs him.
The name came before the dog.
"We are obviously Game of Thrones fans," Tanya Reiter says. "We chose the name before we had him. We just needed a dog to fit the name. He fit it perfectly!"
Tyrion is a 10-year-old Boston terrier and cavalier King Charles spaniel mix, 35 pounds, and he belongs to Logan and Tanya Reiter and their children Finnley, 7, and Greyson, 4. He has been part of the family almost from the beginning.
"We got Tyrion right after we got married," Tanya says. The couple was living in Pittsburgh at the time. Tanya drove five hours each way in a single day to collect him from an Amish farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
He proved early on that his personality was every bit as big as his namesake's. When he was younger, his closest canine friends were a pit bull and a husky, both considerably larger than he is.
"He ended up being the ringleader of the pack," Tanya says. "The two other dogs followed his lead all day. We laughed about him being the mob boss."
These days the lifestyle is more leisurely. He has dog beds in most rooms of the house, though he is just as happy on the couches. At night he retires to his own small bed in Logan and Tanya's room, where his snoring occasionally wakes them.
He also has a built-in snack delivery system in Finnley and Greyson. "He enjoys cleaning up after the kids and is constantly helping himself to the food they drop on the floor," Tanya says.
One of his most endearing features is his ears, or more precisely one ear. Only one stands up, and if he hears the family talking about him, that single ear pops immediately to attention.
He has a distinctive way of registering mild annoyance, too. If someone hugs or bothers him while he is trying to relax, Tyrion lets out a small groan.
"That's all he will do," Tanya says. "It's pretty funny. Sometimes I do it on purpose just to hear the groan."
Grumbling aside, he is exceptionally easygoing and affectionate, particularly with Finnley and Greyson.
"He has an amazing temperament and personality," Tanya says. "He is so chill and cuddly."
To recommend a pet to be featured, please email Delia at ballantyne@strollmag.com.
This story appears in the September 2026 issue of Stroll Firethorne. Read the full edition here.