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?