LOTS OF EXCITING NEWS!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!

MAXMOM here...

Hello there to all my friends across the globe.

We have some really exciting news!!!

Let's start with last night:

---xXx---

It was Toby's first formal obedience class of the new year.

As many of you know, Toby attends

MacKaynine Training Centre

here in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is a beautiful, farmlike setting with a number of really experienced instructors. 

Toby did his 'puppy socialisation' classes there last year and we were so impressed that we signed him up for the next step which is the beginner's class to formal obedience training.

It was a lovely, clear and cool evening and when we arrived the chickens were out...literally! There were many other distractions too with lots of barking from the Agility workshop which was in progress at the time.

Well...I am so proud of my Toby!

  He did fabulously well last night! On arrival he was very excited and I initially battled with his exuberance, but it seems that this may be ALL I will really battle with - producing a 'calm' dog in brand new settings.

I was also worried that he would be 'behind' since we missed the first class last week (we were on holiday...remember?), but I've been practicing with him at home and he hasn't missed out at all.  Indeed he was my own personal star for the evening! I have really been blessed with this beautiful doggie - he is so easy to work with and so eager to learn. 

Toby, you are going to go far, my lad!!!

----

My joy was rewarded even more today when I received an email asking if I would consider allowing Toby to be part of a local school production of

"ANNIE "

to be held on the 25th-28th May 2011.

Of course I said:

YES! YES! YES!

This is something I have always dreamed of doing - training up a dog to do this sort of work (amongst other things), so

"Here is OUR chance, Toby!"

"But I'm still only a pup, Maxmom!"

It is planned that he will appear in 4 scenes and I will have to train him up (with the help of  MacKaynine Instructors) to work only with hand signals from "off stage", whilst he is with the little actress on stage!  He's a young dog, but I am sure we can do this!

Phew! I feel SO, SO priveleged!

What a wonderful challenge!

Thank you so much to the instructors at MacKaynine Training for asking me to be part of this event.  I will do my utmost to uphold your high standards during the hard work ahead.

---xxx---

My third bit of news is that Toby will attend his first "Breed" show on Sunday.  This is all just to give him experience with these types of events.  We'll see how he enjoys it.

---xxx---

And the final bit of exciting news for ALL OF US is that I have set up:

MAXMOMS CHAT ROOM.

Yesterday some of us animal bloggers around the world had enormous fun as we tested it out. Although it's still an experiment, I can assure you...

IT IS FUN!!!

YOU have to check it out!

It's like being in a garden with all of us together...at least that is how I see it.

I have always felt that us bloggers need another special place, where we can communicate in real time and candidly with other fellow blogging friends.  Here we can perhaps share our thoughts, ideas, sorrows and joys and receive the necessary support from one another.

My wish is that

When a blogger needs someone to chat to, she/he can find someone:

HERE!

You will be prompted for a password and, of course, the password is:

"MAXDOG"

I will personally try and be in the chatroom regularly -most likely around

8am (SA TIME) and 7.30pm (SA TIME)

but remember:
The chatroom is open 24/7, so feel free to use it and to tell your friends!

Please come and say hello! I can't wait to see you there!

Sending lotsaluv and wishing you all a really happy weekend.