A Sienna Update

Well I'm back at my Peggy Mom's this week. She had to go to Chicago last week for some kind of meeting with estate planning attorneys - they called it WealthCounsel Symposium, whatever that is. Anyway, I'm back on the farm running with my sisters and trying to be a big dog.

Last night was puppy class. You wouldn't believe how well I'm going. My mom's say I'm really smart. I'm only eleven weeks old and I can do almost all the stuff the big dogs do. There was one real handsome older boy there - can't remember his name. He's going to be a champion. He was very interested in me but my mom's say I'm still too young to have a boyfriend.

It rained so we got to be in the gymnasium at Stetson University - that's where my Peggy Mom went to college! It was much better being inside, than out. Waaaaay tooooo hot out there.

I did want to give you the link to a very cool book one of the friends of New Horizons Service Dogs is writing. If you look closely, you'll even see me!

We have lots of events coming up - a Build a Bear program at Altamonte Mall, a training session at Chik Fil A and a bunch of other stuff. Stay tuned and I'll tell you more.

I'm back, in case you missed me!

In case you were wondering where I was, I was at my Momma Ellen's house while my Peggy Mom and Daddy Joe went to South Carolina on a vacation. Really, I think they could have taken me, but they only took my sister, Leiden. Still, I had a really fun time and hardly even missed them at all.

But, I was really glad to see them when they picked me up last night on their way home - they didn't even go the the house first - they just came right over and picked me up! I think they missed me.

I've had a little bit of an icky tummy, but Peggy Mom made me some brown rice and I'm starting to feel a lot better. I wasn't exactly what you'd call potty trained while I was at Momma Ellen's. I made a couple of big mistakes on her carpet. She says it's all part of my training, but I'm thinking I better get this figured out fast!

Two things happened while Peggy Mom as away - I went to puppy class on Wednesday. I did a whole lot better than last week - I guess I know now you have to go there and learn stuff, not just lie around on the grass and watch what everyone else is doing. Anyway, I'm learning to heel real well.

Also, I went to a puppy rally for New Horizons Service Dogs! That's what I'm going to call it because it was kind of like a class, but different, so more like a rally. There were lots more people there and there were a lot of dogs that looked like me, only bigger. They had their very own people and had very important jobs to do. Momma Ellen said I stole the show when I did my heel and grabbed my leash in my mouth strutting down the aisle!

Well, now that I'm back on the farm, life is a little different. Here I have five sisters - they are starting to like me better. I also have to help feed the horses, which I did this morning. I did not go potty in the house once all day, either. But, I did get my first bath! Nice warm sudsy water. I think I'm going to like water. When do I get to swim in the pool?

I've also been taking a lot of naps and eating a bunch! This country air makes me hungry, then it makes me tired, then it makes me hungry. Tomorrow, I have to go to the office and then back to Momma Ellen's. We'll talk soon. Chow.

Today is Thursday

I really don't have anything special to say about today - it was about the same as yesterday, only no puppy class. Instead I got to go to a meeting, after I went to a bunch of meetings.

I am feeling much better today. Eating my food now that Peggy Mom is putting some of that yummy canned food in along with the yucky dry food.

I haven't had a single accident in the house. I'm very careful and when I have to go out I make some serious noises. If people can't figure out what that means, then I can't help them. But they do seem to figure it out and then I'm out the door to "busy."

I'm making lots of new friends. I'm going to include some photos so you can see me with some of them. One thing I am confused about - I have 5 sisters - Leiden, Fawn, Tobie, Kira and Corkie. They seem to play together (well, all of them except Leiden), but NONE of them will play with me. I keep asking Fawn to play and she runs away! What's wrong with me? Tobie and Corkie are probably my best possibilities - Tobie keeps sniffing around me and I'm actually taller than Corkie. I'm not sure if I'm making any progress with Leiden - she keeps smiling real big whenever I try to kiss her. Maybe that's a good sign?

Well today I'm going to Momma Ellen and Daddy's Rich's house. I've not been there yet to spend the night but it's their turn to have me. I'm sure I'll have some new adventures to report. Stay tuned...

My First Puppy Class

Today was my second day of work - kinda of like the first. Lots of people to greet, lots of meetings to sit through, no biggie. I like everyone so I'm happy to be there. I get to take long naps during meetings so I'm fine with that. My Peggy Mom brought a bed to the office but I prefer to sleep on the floor between someone's feet. Sure hope I don't get run over by those chairs!

After work, Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich came to the office and we all loaded up in the car (me in my kennel) to go somewhere. Well, pretty soon I discovered we were going to Puppy Class! The place of chock full of big Golden Retrievers - am I going to look like that? They were all friendly and happy to be at class.

We met a whole bunch of new people. Martin the photographer was there and he took about a million pictures. I tried to always put on my best smile. Daddy Rich was snapping away with the camera too. I'll share the pictures as soon as I get them.

Then we had to do all these commands. "Let's go," "Heel," "Sit," "Down,," and a bunch of others I can't even remember. Most of my new friends were doing really great. I sorta tried, but I was really tired after work and I mostly wanted to lay in the grass and roll around or sleep. Hopefully I'll get another chance when I'm more alert.

I didn't feel 100% today. I haven't really been eating - can't stand the stuff they are feeding me. Hopefully it will get better soon or I'll starve.

Hope you had a great day - I did!

My First Day at the Office

Wow! I'm having a lot of firsts. Is that what humans do all day? They get up early, get dressed, feed the horses, scoop horse poop, eat breakfast, get ready for work, load everything into the car (including me) and then drive to the office. My Peggy Mom works for The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, in some place called Oviedo.

Once we got to work, it was just one meeting after another! So many people. I bet I was loved on, petted, kissed, snuggled and hugged by at least 20 people today! That's a lot! Even my Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich came by to visit. I am so tired. I was so busy greeting people all day, I forgot to eat. My Peggy Mom kept asking me to eat, but I just couldn't concentrate. There was way too much to do. I did, however, remember to get in a couple of good naps.

All day, people kept taking me outside asking me to "busy." I think I'm getting that down pretty good. I didn't have a single "accident" all day.

We finally got home about 8 p.m. Peggy Mom made me a good dinner and I actually ate it all. Then she made me another one, just in case I was still hungry. I had a few bites, but really...I'm full, for now.

I'm just glad to be at home so I can finally get a good night's sleep. Wonder what we have planned for tomorrow?

Here's a picture of me, Peggy Mom and Momma Ellen.

The Fourth of July!

I got a little behind the eight ball with everything that happened yesterday and didn't get My First Day post out until today - sorry!

So much has happened, so fast. I had a really hard time getting to sleep last night. Peggy Mom put me in my kennel around 9:30. I sang her a puppy opera for a while before finally going to sleep. But, I'm in a strange house, a new crate, no brothers or sisters - or my real mom. I woke up about 11:30 p.m. and started a new song so Peggy would know I was awake. She got up and took me outside to "busy" - that means pee (or poop, depending) in service dog lingo. I obliged her and she took me back to my kennel. Now that's not what I had in mind.

So I started another opera, only this one would be louder and better than the first one. Daddy Joe wasn't very happy about this particular song so Peggy Mom grabbed my crate and we headed to the guest room. Sister Leiden came with us just to make sure everything was all right. I was still in the mood for some singing so I proceeded to continue my little concert for about forty-five minutes. I couldn't seem to get anyone's attention, so I finally fell asleep. I woke up about 6:30 a.m. Out we went - it's this busy thing again.

Soon is was time to feed the horses. I'm getting really good at this part, waiting while my Peggy Mom fixes the feed buckets and gets everyone fed. Then it's breakfast for all the dogs, except I wasn't hungry, just too excited about everything that's going to happen today.

Soon we were loaded up in Daddy Joe's red truck, headed to the Geneva parade. Since I was going out in public, I wore my New Horizons Service Dogs vest - just like the big dogs. Only mine is a little too big. We tied a knot in it but it still looked silly. I don't care, I'm proud to wear it.

After we got to the parade, we saw a whole bunch of people. Everyone was lined up on the side of the road, waiting for the show to begin. We went for a little walk down the road and everyone thought I was in the parade. They kept calling to me, telling me how cute I was. Some people even wanted to pet me. Peggy Mom explained to them that I am a service puppy and this is my first day in official training. I'm going to have a very important job when I get all grown up.

We saw lots of people that we knew so there were lots of people that wanted to know all about me. I got my picture taken a lot!

When we got back to the truck, I was ready for a little nap. It was really hot out so first Daddy Joe got me some water and then I got a blanket and took a little snooze. Didn't stop the people from the parade from say, "oh, look at the cute puppy!" Are all people this crazy? Have they never seen a puppy before?

After the parade we went to a picnic. There were six other dogs there! I'm not afraid of anyone, so I marched right up to say hi. Everyone was really friendly and glad to see me.

We had a big lunch - Peggy Mom brought mine from home but I helped myself to some of the other dogs lunch - theirs looked and tasted a lot better than mine. After lunch, back to sleep for a long nap. That felt really good. I'm not supposed to be on the furniture but this coach sure was comfy!

When I woke up, we went home. Daddy Joe decided to take a nap, so I figured, why not, I'll just have a short one.

So far so good, I'm trying real hard to be the best girl I can be. Everyone really likes me (except maybe Leiden and I'm working hard to get on her good side). Talk to you later...

My First Day

Wow! What a day. My name is Sienna. I'm an eight week old Golden Retriever. I was bred by New Horizons Service dogs. Today, I left home for the first time to begin my new life. This is my story.

It started with a take a long trip from Jacksonville to New Horizons Service Dogs in Deland. Not sure why. Later I found out I was going to be introduced to my two new moms - Peggy Hoyt and Ellen Hall. I'm destined to be a service dog and they are my puppy trainers.

After we got introduced, I was allowed to play with some five week old puppies. I'm eight weeks so I'm much bigger than they are. I guess I was playing too rough because I got removed from the pen. There were also some five day old puppies but they wouldn't let me play with them at all.

Next, they put me in their car and took my on another long ride, to Oviedo. There I got introduced to my Momma Ellen's house. She had a whole basket of cat toys! That was fun - I picked out a whole bunch that I liked. Daddy Rich wanted to play tag! I was happy to oblige.

But I wasn't home for the evening yet. After another ride out to Chuluota, I met my new sister, Leiden, Corkie, Fawn, Tobie and Kira. They were all pretty nice to me - not really sure why I was there and what I was doing. I don't think they want me to stay. Still they were pretty nice to me.

After I met my Daddy Joe, it was time to feed the horses. That was fun, except I had to be tied up while my Peggy Mom was doing the horse thing. Tobie and Fawn kept me company because I wasn't really sure about being tied up. I like to run around.

We spent some time teaching me to walk around the yard on a leash. Sometimes I did really good and other times I just sat there - not really sure what I'm supposed to do. What is this thing around my neck and why do these people want me to follow them?

Finally, dinner was served. I was really hungry after my big day. I almost ate a whole bowl of food. Then it was time for another walk around the yard. All I really want to do is take a nap.

At last, I got to come in the house. They made a nice bed for me in the TV room, and even gave me a weasel to play with. I'm really tired so I took a nap while Peggy Momma and Daddy Joe were making dinner. It's been a really big day.

I heard I was going to fireworks tomorrow - something about the Fourth of July! What's that?