TOBY REPORTS ON MAXMOM'S TRAINING

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

TOBY here...

Woof!

Hello there, sweet hooligans!

They're telling me it’s a dog’s life!

That’s a good thing, right?

My life at the moment is filled with so many interesting things, and I’m getting to take Maxmom to lots of new places as part of her training programme. Unfortunately I can’t always show you the photos, because Maxmom doesn’t have too many hands,

(and I don't know how to work the 'flashy beast'),

but I can report on what’s happening - you will just have to picture some of my news in your minds.

As you know, I am busy being trained up for the role of ‘SANDY’ in the Broadwag production of ‘ANNIE’. There are 4 scenes where I appear and each one has a specific behaviour which I have to learn. Maxmom has taught me the ‘AWAY!’ command already and this is serving me very well, because a number of my scenes use some form of this command.

“TOBY, AWAY!”

she says, and I know that I must go and sit on that little blue mat to wait for my next instruction. It’s quite fun actually.

---xXx---

And then there's my crate training...

Just when I was becoming comfortable with the crate which Maxmom brought for me to try out...

(remember this one?)...

... she went out and bought me my own brand-new blue canvas one.

How cool is this!

It’s a lot easier to carry around and last night my humans took it with us to the practice session. It was all fun and games UNTIL I got zipped in! I had no way of getting out and in the beginning I wasn’t too impressed. But hey, I’ll do anything for treats! And guess what...I found some hidden amongst the bedding.

So I suppose it’s all good.

Last night, I again got to be with the wonderful children who are in the cast of 'ANNIE'.

There was no romping around madly in amongst their legs this week because my special “Boss” trainer was there to check out my progress.

(I had to be on my best behaviour!)

 I tried really hard to put my best paw forward for Ms Shannon! She is a really cool trainer! Take a look, this is her picture:

Her name is SHANNON MCKAY.

and she is the owner of

here in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Ms Shannon deserves a medal for the effort she's making to train my Maxmom for me.

(Thank you, Ms Shannon for trying to train Maxmom!)

There is just one thing that confuses me:

Does anyone perhaps know why humans don’t get food treats when they are training?

Well, there was no hooligan stuff from me last night – I just showed them my sweet self. I did all my moves perfectly!

But it is indeed Maxmom who needs some training in the art of relaxing!!!

Why is it that human beings have to LEARN to relax? Us doggies have no problem with relaxing at all! ...

I must say, those ‘orphans’ in the production, look very happy to me. They’re pretty smart with their own behaviour and I think they like me. Annie seems to like me lots – I even get to run to her in one of the scenes. She then gives me biscuits to enjoy while she sings me a song. I heard her sing something about ‘Tomorrow’.

Do you think she wants to get to see me again, ‘tomorrow’?

In fact ALL the children in the cast are really cool. They come to pat me at every practice session and last night they even clapped for me when I got my moves right. Geesh, perhaps Maxmom should enrol me in their school too. I think it’s a cool place to learn and I’d love to be a student there!

So can you all join me in giving a “BARK OUT LOUD!” for the cast of “ANNIE” at the

“HOERSKOOL RANDBURG”.

Thank you for welcoming me so nicely! I love you guys!

Woof!

Tomorrow, I am going to look at the main theatre at the University of Johannesburg, where the production will be held in May this year. Maxmom did an internet search and came up upon a blog which talks about this university’s theatre. It’s got this photo there, but you can click on the image to read more about it.

Me on that stage!? BOL!

Anyway, I am going there tomorrow to see if there are any things that may scare Maxmom which I can help her with.  More lessons to learn?
Let's go, Maxmom!

Sending lotsalicks to you all!