IS SHOWING MY SCENE? mmm...?

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

Hello there everybody!

TOBY here...

YES, YOU READ IT RIGHT!....

TOBY here!...

Maxmom has been so busy in the chatroom recently , so she said I could write today's post.

Well, yesterday was a very fun day.

In the morning Maxmom and the "Boss" packed some things into the car and then asked me to get in the boot.  I wasn't sure what was up because she'd given me a bath the day before and had groomed me endlessly (I love being groomed!).  But we were obviously going on an outing!

They left poor 'Aunt Tam' at home and then took me driving.  I got to stare out the window at all the strange cars going by.  It had been raining, so I discovered what it is like to steam up a window...Initially I thought the whole world had changed and did some barking in the car, but then they turned up the airconditioning and assured me that all would be okay.

Well, when they finally opened up the boot to let me out, there was indeed a whole new world out there.  BOL!...So many dogs...so little time! I was very excited indeed and did a fair bit of barking myself.  But it didn't take me long to realise that I was in for a fun day.

Maxmom told me that this was an OPEN BREED SHOW and that we were here to meet our golden family and to have fun! 

Soon I was in their midst...I was really comfortable with my family. Most of them looked like both me and Maxdog  AND most of them were from

RUFFITWOOD GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. 

(Call it a family meet-up if you like)    

 I got to meet my sister, my dad and also some extended family.

(Above is my sister...Chelsea)

I also got to meet some other doggies who Maxmom told me were NOT my family. 

 But hey, family is family and ALL doggies are my family!  I really enjoyed playing with the little sausages. 

There were a few puppy 'cocktail sausage doggies' around too.  One even came to lie down, on her back, underneath my snout so that I could tell her some lovely comforting stories.  I was really very gentle with her.  I think I love ALL doggies and am very comfortable with every single type.  Maxmom is very pleased with me that way!

Maxmom and the Boss set up an umbrella, put out my water and settled down in comfortable camping chairs while I lay at their feet. Sometimes Maxmom couldn't resist tickling my tummy.

We sat around watching all the doggies for a while and then Maxmom grabbed my leash.

"Your turn, Toby!"
I wasn't sure what she meant, but hey fun is fun!

(In the show ring)

Soon Maxmom and I were parading around the show ring. Sometimes she made me run and sometimes she gave my 'show' command where I have to stand really still.

There was a strange man watching us. He came over to examine my teeth:

I didn't really fancy that, but I did keep my feet on the ground and I did remain standing.  Then he blatantly examined my family jewels...eish!
(Can you believe it?!)

He felt me all over and all the time Maxmom was saying "Good Boy, Toby!"

I got some nice treats during the whole process, so I'm not complaining.

But geesh, it was hot and by the time I got home all I wanted to do was swim and play with Aunt Tam. 

I slept very well last evening.

---xXx---

NOTE FROM MAXMOM:

Toby's first 'open show' went very well.  He was nicely behaved and stood very nicely during his bout in the ring. He enjoyed himself thoroughly too - constantly showing his happy, tail-wagging self.  It was a small show, so don't go getting excited because it wasn't very well attended at all...so his 'Best puppy in Group' status doesn't really mean a lot.  Added to this, there were only two competitors in the ring, Toby and his sister.  LOL!

Anyway I must be honest, 'showing' is most definitely NOT my personal arena of pleasure!  I would prefer to do something where the relationship between dog and owner is given credit.  Either way, we had fun and Toby gained some 'crowd' experience...all good for his overall training.

---xXx---

Sending lotsaluv to you all