Friday, January 21, 2011

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
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!


---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:

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:

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.

23 comments:

Cat Mandu said...

Good boy, Toby! Someday you will be very famous! You are very cute (for a dog).
Mandu

MySpecialDoggies said...

Congratulations Toby - you're a star! Maybe someday you'll go on tour too.

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

verobirdie said...

Congratulations to both of you! This will be an exciting experiment, I'm sure!

Asta said...

Toby
CONGWATULATIONS!!!!
HOW EXCITING!
MaxMom must be so excited. this will be fun and I can just imagine how much fun the lucky audience will have seeing you pawfowm. I wish I could be thewe to see you.
I always knew you had staw potential
smoochie kisses
ASTA

WFT Nobby said...

We await reports of Toby' performance in Annie with eager anticipation! A couple of years ago I saw a local youth theatre group performance of Annie, The dog part was played by a Westie who, much to my amazement, actually did what he was supposed to on the night I attended (but not, apparently, on other nights)! So much more sensible to offer the part to a golden retriever!
Cheers,
Gail and Bertie.
PS Enjoyed the chat room experiment
and will be dropping by again some time, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, that WAS a lot of exciting news. But most especially the part about Toby being in a play! I knew from the first time I saw his picture that he was a star and this just proves it!

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Congrats to Toby on so many accomplishments for your young life. We wish we could see you perform in that play.

Thanks for the invite to the chat room - Mom will try to pop in once in a while if she can ever find some "free" time:)

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Chester said...

Wheeeeeeeee! I am all Big Brown butt wiggles over all this wonderful excitin' news! I can't decide which way to turn because each bit of news deserves it's own attention but I cannot decide for it is all extremely astoundin'!!

See, already young Toby is a step ahead of me for bein' able to contain his exuberance. I do believe he will steal the show from whatever little dear gets to play Annie.

Best wishes in all your new ventures! I'd love to stop by and chat but tryin' to get Mom to sit still sumtimes is just as hard as it is for me!

Woofs and excitin' slobbers,
Chester ;0=)

Golden Samantha said...

Across the board, Toby, you certainly DID have wonderfully exciting news! Wow - you will be such a star in "Annie"!!! What a super opportunity for you and your Mom! Can't wait to hear how all the training goes! You are one smart pup and we know you will do beautifully and love it! Adore the header of you jumping into the pool! Woo hoo - wish we could do that with you!
Big Hugs xoxoxo

Sammie, Avalon and Oz

Mrs. JP said...

Wow, that's great news about Toby! This will be so much fun to train him and then he'll be everyone's star. He's already famous and such a good boy.
I'll be by to see the chat room soon.

The Life of Riley said...

Well done Toby. Congratulations on your new role in Annie - I'm sure you will be the star of the show!

Woofs,
Riley

PS mum says to tell you that she will try the chatroom thing sometime soon.

Molly the Airedale said...

Congratulations, Toby! How exciting this is for you and your mom! We know you're going to ace this and be a big star!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Homer said...

Hey Toby,

Congratulations! You did well in your obedience training and you got choosen to be a part of a local school production! We are so ahppy for you and , good luck to your first dog show!

Love,
Homer

PS: We will pop by at your chat room. See you there!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

Congratulations Toby!! What wonderful news!!! He's going to be a star!! He already is a star!! The chat room sounds fun..we will have to check it out! Lots of love, Holly and mom

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Toby Puppy
I just knew you were going to be famous. This is just the beginning for you, I just know it.
You will be in the movies maybe!
I know how proud your moms is of you. Without a doubt, your a champ.
love
tweedles

KB said...

Wow, our little Toby is a star already! It will be so much fun to train him for Annie! He's so cute that he'll steal the show, I'm sure of it!

It's great to catch up with you. I'm going to check out the chatroom. Thanks for setting it up!

Anonymous said...

Hey Toby,
MaxMom sure is excited about your accomplishments. You're doing so well for such a youngster. it's almost like you're receiving heavenly guidance from someone watching over you. We wonder....
Well, keep up the good work and don't forget tp practice your singing: "The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun. Tomorrow, tomorrow, we love ya tomorrow, it's only a day away, blah, blah, blag, yada-yada-yada. etc."
- TBH&K

TwoSpecialWires said...

So many reasons to congratulate!
Congratulations!
You should all be proud .... and excited!

Fondly
Jake and Fergi and OurMoma
xxoo

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Lots of exciting news indeed! We are especially thrilled about the theatre debut!!!

Anonymous said...

Way to go Toby!

What great news too!

We always knew that you were a Star!

woo woos, Tesaa

Anonymous said...

My goodness that is quite a bundle of exciting news. Toby deserves it!!!

Paige & Simba

Deborah said...

Way to go Toby! I'm so excited about the play...Please video tape it for us!
My mother was an obedience school teacher for 35 or so years. She was a good teacher too! The dogs loved her and the owners did too!
xxoo
Deborah
PS I'm going to check out your chat room..what a cool idea!

Suka said...

hey Toby,

What awesome news! I am so happy you excelled at Obedience class. You are a very smart pup!

And how super exciting to be an actor! Can I have your pawtograph, please? :->

Suka