Monday, November 29, 2010

I WAS 'OR-DANED' YESTERDAY...

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
TOBY here...
Hello there every-furry buddy...


I hope you all have had a happy weekend.
Guess what?
I was "OR-DANED" yesterday!!!

Isn't that wonderful!?!

During last week, I was invited to take part in the annual
"JUST NUISANCE WALK"
which is held to raise funds for Great Dane Rescue Association here in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

"Just Nuisance" is a very famous dog in our part of the world.  He is so famous that a special statue was erected in his honour. This statue is in Simon's Town (near Cape Town). "Just Nuisance's" story is an incredible one!
You can read all about him

Even though our local walk was to raise much needed funds for rescued doggies, it was also in honour of "Just Nuisance"!!!
(I feel honoured too...being invited to take part in this...yet I am only a Golden Retriever)

A really nice lady, made my 'Or-dane-ment' official...
(She gave me my certificate and also a yummy treat!...thank you, nice lady!)

There were so many HOOGE doggies there! Whew, some of them are almost as big as horses!
But I must say, they were very friendly and I got to meet them all.
It's always a good idea to do some smelling around first...
Gillooly's farm is a popular dog venue where some important shows and competitions are held. Yesterday when I was there, there was some agility training in progress too...

...But we were there for the walk! ...around a beautiful lake...





 
Anyway, it was a lovely day and there were many participants, including our good friends Obi and Saxy...
Their mom was one of the main organisers for the day (what a sterling job she did, BOL!) so the duo had to wait a while in their cage before the start.


 We set about our walk around the pretty lake at Gillooly's farm.

It was a really hot day and the thunder clouds were building, but we had lotsafun!
I met a special little buddy...who is only 8 weeks old and is destined to become a really BIG doggie. Whew, he was cute!...
His long legs weren't ready to take him all the way, BOL!...

I must admit, I also stopped along the way...




When we finally got back to base, I did what I needed to do...

Then something special happened:
The big doggies all got dressed up for a "Best dressed Doggie" competition. 
The theme was "The Soccer World cup"...
 which was held in South Africa this year

 I'm mad at "Maxmom"! Can you believe it, she FORGOT to dress me up!!!
Yikes, that was a bad mistake!

Afterwards everybody sat around, relaxed and the humans got to eat special sandwhiches.
 
Some of the big dudes just relaxed in their humans' vehicles...

 Others, like my buddy "Bones" just stood around and growled at the proceedings...
Here is the big dude who won the competition...
he represented 'Switzerland'...

We really had a fabulous morning and would like to thank
"Maxmom's" friend, Margie, for inviting us and for making us feel so special.
It was a wonderful day and I hope they made "lotsamoneys" for the
GREAT DANE RESCUE!!!


Now I am home and able to relax again.  I wonder what next "Maxmom" has in stall for me?

Lotsalicks to you all and wishing you a happy week,



A NOTE FROM "MAXMOM"
Hi everyone:
One of my readers commented that Toby looks 'unhappy' in the photographs. 
I would like to reassure you that Toby is one of the happiest, most spoilt puppies around!  As he gets older and his obedience progresses, he is REALLY trying to help me by posing for some of the special 'close-up' photos.  He becomes quite 'serious' during these times as he tries to please me.  Perhaps that is what you are seeing...he is NOT sick, nor is he UNHAPPY! Indeed he is quite the opposite!
He is also quite happy to respond to my requests for photographs.  In the "Tour Guide" photo, for example, he is in the 'stay' command (which he takes quite seriously)and perhaps that is what you are noticing. Thank you for your comment and for the opportunity to respond.
Sending lotsaluv
"Maxmom" and a HAPPY TOBY!!!
---xXx---

27 comments:

Angus said...

Boy ! That looks like it was a gathering to remember .

Anonymous said...

Tammy & Toby, Thank you so "Danely Much" for joining us yesterday. We will most definitely invite you both again. We had fun at our Dane Walk (except for being stuck in our cage while Mom worked). See you all soon! Lotsa Gobby Licks, Saxy & Obi

Clive said...

Toby

What a fantastic day! We enjoyed all the photos so much. Murray is home from school this morning (lots of snow here!) so we have lots of time to visit our friend's blogs and catch up on all the news.

It's -9 here at the moment so lovely to see sunny photos.

Have a great week
Clive and Murray

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

Toby, it looks like yoo had an awesome time. Since yoo've been Or-Daned now ~ do we hafta call yoo SIR or anyfin?

kks said...

such great dog pictures!
Toby is getting his big dog hair...so cute!
and i know he is the happiest puppy around...sometimes we all get tired of having our picture taken! :)
xoxo

Dexter said...

That was quite an honor to be able to hang amongst the majestic danes AND be or-daned.

Slobbers,
mango

The Heartbeats said...

I think sometimes that puppies just have that "sad" look about them. You know the saying "sad puppy eyes". I looked really sad sometimes when I was a puppy but I wasn't. I was really the happiest, most mischevious puppy ever!

Wiggles,
Calhoun

MySpecialDoggies said...

Hi Toby
Looks like you had a lot of fun yesterday! Those Great Dane puppies' legs are taller than you are!! They sure are BIG doggies, even as puppies.

Congratualations on your or-dane-ation. You are one sweet doggie.

Woofs
Nadine & Neeli
Angel doggie Apples (1994-2010)

♥I am Holly♥ said...

Congratulations Toby!!! Officially or-dained! That is great! What a fantastic day...you got to go around all kinds of activities and dogs! You are so handsome!! Lots of love, Holly and mom

Amy & the house of cats said...

Hi Toby! Wow we have been away so long - you are looking like a mandog so much now! We miss seeing all of you since mom can't really visit from work anymore. We think it is so cool you were Or-Daned! Congrats! And please tell everyone hello from us all!!

Mrs. JP said...

Wow, I'm glad Toby got to see at least one dog smaller than he is! He might get a complex,,,nah, not Toby, he's as sure of himself as they come. That's what I love about him.
Tammy, as always, is beautiful.
Good walk for a good cause.

The Life of Riley said...

Toby,

Those are some big doggies to look up to! Congratulations on joining thier pack for a day and being or-daned.

Woofs,
Riley

Tucker said...

Toby, Buddy, you look so small with all those giant Danes. What a great day that must have been. Tucker

brooke said...

You were or-daned! Woo hoo! A golden dane!
That story of Just Nuisance was great! I want to go visit his statue and grave!

Sheila and Bob said...

Toby,
Thanks for sharing your day with us, it did look like a lot of fun was had by everyone.
You are so right, so of the Great Danes's do look like small horses.
Very interesting story about "Just Nuisance," you learn something every day.

Hamish & Sophie and their Mom & Dad
Sheila & Bob

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Oh Toby what a simply wonderful day you had. All those gorgeous pictures for us to see. I think you look just super happy and you can tell you adore Mazmum and want to please her.. Hugs GJ xx

Two French Bulldogs said...

Toby you should be so proud of yourself. What a big accomplishment hangin with the hoog guys
Benny & Lily

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Woo made a pawesome honourary Dane!

Thanks fur sharing those great pikhs!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Kasha The Dainty Great Dane said...

Hi Toby,

WOW what a GREAT DANE Day you had there....I am so impressed that you have been Or-Daned! How cool is that and what a fun way to raise money for all my Dane friends in your country. Way to go Toby and Tammy for participating in the walk.

By the way I don't think you look sad at all in your pictures...I think you just look so precious and yummy!! Mom was looking at your pictures at work today and her big boss stopped by and saw your picture and he said you were beautiful...He's had your breed in the past and loves them. His hooman mother is from South Africa...small world isn't it.

AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I have never looked at Toby's pictures and saw anything but a darling and precious little boy whose quickly growing up--I'm seeing feathers now...How did that happen? I loved the post today--One of my friends has Great Danes and they are wonderful!

sprinkles said...

Oh, what a fun day! I wish I could've been there in person.

I love that spotted dog in pictures 17 & 18 - what a cutie!

How come King Toffee didn't get to go too?

I never thought Toby looked sad or unhappy in any way.

WFT Nobby said...

That looks great fun, and what a pretty lake. Just imagine Toby, there was I, thinking you were a big pup, and then you go an mix with all those HUGE fellows..

Oh and by the way, Gail says she loves your 'serious' expression when you are all eager to please, and is telling me she could do with a bit more of the 'eager-to-please' look from me, once in a while...

Toodle pip!
Bertie (who specialises in the 'I'll do what a d***d well please' look, but was a bit hurt the other day to overhear Gail saying she didn't think I had such an overtly expressive face as Hamish)

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Toby, we read that sotry about Just Nuisance and loved it! What a wonderful time he had and what a great helper he was!

Your walk looks like it was lots of fun! Tons of stuff to sniff and watch. We are glad you had a good time.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Toby
Oh my gosh
I know you felt like this was a big day for you,,, but do you how all those doggys felt in meeting you too? Just as awsome.!
All the photographs were stunning and looked like such FUN day.
You looked so proud to be there walking among them.
They knew who YOU were Toby, cause you are carring on MaxDogs legacy.
Did you hear them whisper,, "did you see who I just saw?" "I saw TOBY"
love
tweedles

Pepsi Bum said...

What a great walk to participate in, Toby!
Seems like you had lots of fun meeting the big dogs!

Woofs,
Pepsi

Anonymous said...

I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

God Bless You :-)

~Ron

Scout and Freyja said...

Momma saw the title to your post and she thought that maybe you had been to church, BOL! Looks like so much fun with all of those big dogs. Momma ♥s those big dogs like crazy - just look at us.

Toby, we always look really pathetic in most of our photos, too. Momma worries that maybe peoples will think that she was hollering at us. Most of the time we just walk away when she wants to take a picture - we HATE that flashy box with a passion! (It could be hiding a gun, you know☺)

Maybe your mom should take a photo of your tail wagging with happiness and then show the face that goes with the tail and then say, "fooled you".

Momma wants you to know that she is working very hard and stuffing as many green papers into the bank as she can so she can come see you to plant a kiss right on the top of your head, yesh, that is what she is doing!

Hugs to all and kisses to everyone...