Happy new year!

I know I've bee a little quiet since Christmas. I hope everyone had a very happy holiday! I did. I got lots of great new gifts to chew. My Peggy mom and momma Ellen had lots of extra time to spend with me too. My daddy Rich even got a t-shirt that says, "Sienna's Official Walker."

Peggy mom even made momma Ellen a 2012 calendar with all pictures of guess who? Me! Momma Ellen loves her calendar so much she won't hang it up. She carries it around and shows everybody. It makes me feel so special.

I'm really looking forward to a great year. I still have lots to learn and every day I'm making progress. I continue to do and learn new things daily. I get lots of good practice hanging out at my Peggy mom's office. I meet lots of new people and I get to practice my patience skills relaxing during all of her client meetings. Everyone I meet seems to really like me too. Even when I try to share my slobbery toys with them.

I've been doing some camping recently. A few weeks ago I went to a horseback ride in the Goethe forest. There were lots of horses, of course but there were also lots of other dogs. I also learned I like to eat horse poop - much to the dismay of Peggy mom.

Then I went camping at a really nice RV park. That was fun too. No horses but lots of dogs. I went to the dog park and played with a boxer who. Was chasing her ball. We were having so much fun I ran full speed right into my Peggy mom and nearly knocked her on the ground! I'm glad she didn't get hurt.

I've been making lots of progress on my leash walking skills. I'm not pulling as much as I used to. I'm usually in a hurry to get somewhere but my momma Ellen needs me to slow down and wait for her. So, I'm really trying.

Gotta go now, chow!

My First Christmas

I'm just so excited I can't stand it! This is my very very first Christmas. There are toys and brights lights and trees with tinsel, just everything is so much fun. And guess what, I even got to visit Santa! I didn't even know there was a Santa whose job it is to bring toys to all the good little girls and boys. I've been trying to be extra good ever since.

I'm sure my Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich are going to get me a whole bunch of really fun stuff. We event went to the store and they were whispering and spelling and doing all kinds of things I'm not supposed to know about.

Wonder what Christmas will be like at Peggy Mom's? I bet all my sisters and me will have a really fun time - playing, opening presents, eating special treats! I just can't wait and it's right around the corner!

One way you can help dogs like me is to make a donation to your favorite service dog organization - like, New Horizons Service Dogs, for example. That would be great. That way all the people who are helped by service dogs will benefit. It will be a wonderful New Year!

Time to Improve Laws for Service Dogs

Hi, Sienna here. If you want to help me and other service dogs just like me, please read the press release below. Please encourage your legislators to improve laws not just for guide dogs but for all service dogs. I need to have the best opportunity possible to succeed. Thanks and chow!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2011

CONTACT: Kevin King

(727) 552‐1380

REP. KRISEMAN: IT'S TIME TO IMPROVE OUR GUIDE DOG LAWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Bipartisan legislation has been filed to revise the law related to service animals, providing more rights to Floridians with disabilities and to individuals who train guide dogs.

State Rep. Rick Kriseman (D‐St. Petersburg) has filed House Bill 1077, which prohibits discrimination of guide dog owners as it relates to housing accommodations, allows for the use of guide dogs in public and private schools, and provides a punishment to those who knowingly and fraudulently represent themselves as the owner or trainer of a guide dog.

“Our current laws related to service animals and guide dogs are woefully inadequate and out of step with recently revised federal regulations. Passage of House Bill 1077 will give needed protections to our most vulnerable citizens and their beloved guide dogs," said Representative Kriseman, who is the Florida House Democratic Policy Chair.

"The more exposure to real‐world experiences the dogs get during their training, the better prepared they will be when given the responsibility of serving as someone’s eyes. By ensuring full access rights for the tireless trainers, these dogs will no doubt go on to become unflappable guides, leading their handlers to an independent life," said Titus Herman, the CEO of Southeastern Guide Dogs, whose mission is to create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog, facilitating life's journey with mobility, independence and dignity.

The companion to HB 1077 will be filed by State Senator Mike Bennett (R‐Bradenton).

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Happy holidays!

I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday season. I enjoyed thanksgiving festivities at my Peggy mom mother's (that makes her my grandmom) home in Virginia. For some reason we went to Virginia by way of Tennessee. As a result I had to spend about 2500 miles and more than 30 hours traveling in the back seat of my Joe dad's truck. I also had to share those close quarters with my sister Leiden, who doesn't like me much. We did get better acquainted and I think we might be better friends now. She still thinks she's the only dog our Peggy mom should pay attention to.

Here's a picture of Leiden and I in our hotel room. She didn't want me to drink out of the water bowl.

I was happy to get home and back to momma Ellen and daddy Rich's house where I am the center of attention.

Have a happy holiday - merry Christmas and happy new year.

Happy Halloween!

I know I'm a day late, but I was hoping everyone had an excellent Halloween! Did you get lots of yummy treats?

I went to the New Horizons Training and Puppy Party on Saturday. The day started out rainy and yukky and then got really, really nice. I wore my new costume that Momma Ellen bought me - I was a vampire! Boo! Were you scared?

Before the party, we had to do some really hard training. I did some sit-stays and some down-stays. I did really well considering there were lots of other dogs and even some chickens! Here's a picture of me - aren't I cute?

I'm six months old now and it's time to get very serious about my training. My moms have been really lenient on me so far, but I know that I've got to get serious. No more pulling on the leash and listening to everything I'm told. There was a dog at the party who had been in the jail program - I don't want to have to go to jail! So, my plan is to be really good and then I'll pass all my tests with flying colors.

Have a great week! Chow!

What a Week and a Weekend!

Well I'm fully recovered from my spay surgery, just in case you wanted to know. It was hardly a bump in the road. The day after my surgery my Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich let me relax all day. They took really good care of me and made sure I didn't run around too much.

I also have a whole new set of big girl teeth. All those little baby teeth finally fell out and I have one beauuuuuutiful smile! The better to bite you with - LOL! Not really, I don't bite, I just like to chew on things, including your arm.

Well my Peggy Mom has been dragging me to every kind of conference she can think of. Week before last I suffered (I mean went) to a two day program on business succession planning. Not sure what I was supposed to learn from that, but I went anyway. I didn't get to stay in any hotels, though. We drove back and forth every day!

Then last week we loaded up the car and went to St. Petersburg for the Stetson University Special Needs Conference at the fancy Don Cesar. Lucky for me, they are very dog friendly, even though we actually stayed at a different hotel. The door men were very glad to see me and gave me a treat every time we walked by. Everyone else was really nice too - I think I made a pretty big impact because everyone seemed to know who I was. Not sure if that had anything to do with the fact that a couple of times I got a little excited and barked in the middle of the program. Mostly, I was really good, sleeping under the table and trying not to be too noticeable. I made a couple of good friends at the vendor booths - even got to have a good cuddle on the floor!

Staying in the hotel was fun too. My good friend Sarah let me snuggle with her. She also took me for a walk on the beach - very weird. It was dark, sandy and lots of noise from the waves. I really didn't want to stay too long. I made her hurry up and take me back to the room.

Well if you don't think that was enough, on Saturday we got up early again and went to the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. I thought we were going home, but then we went to the SPCA Wiggle Waggle Walk. There were like a million dogs there - some of them even dressed up in funny clothes. I just had my vest on - that's funny enough for me. So by lunch time, I'm getting a little tired and thinking it's about time to go home, have some lunch and take a long nap. Well, Peggy Mom loads me into the car again and takes me to the Veg Fest! Now, what is a dog supposed to eat at a vegan festival? Lucky for me, my Peggy Mom had stuffed her pocket full of treats from the Wiggle Waggle. I got to meet a whole bunch of new people, especially one boy, named TJ. I just loved him. He played with me for a really long time. I don't know where his parents were but we had a blast! He gave me a huge stick and helped me find a ball that Peggy Mom said I could bring home.
We finally got home about 7 p.m. I was definitely ready for dinner and bed time!

What a great time I'm having learning all kinds of things. My Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich have been out of town for two long weeks. They just got back so I'm headed over to their house tonight. I bet they really missed me - I know I missed them.

Wonder what we are doing next weekend? I'll keep you posted. Chow!

Today I'm getting spayed

I heard from my moms that today is the day I'm getting spayed. I have no idea what that means - hope it comes with food. Weird thing is my Peggy Mom didn't give me any breakfast this morning when she fed everyone else. Hope she's not mad at me.

I have been losing my teeth like crazy. At one point I had four canines all at the same time! It was really funny looking. Then, one by one, they fell out and now I have a set of big beautiful white teeth! The better to bite you with - LOL! I still love to chew on things but I mostly stay with my toys. The other day I did find a really cool thing to chew - it had all this string in it! When my Peggy Mom saw what I had done, she laughed, then took it away. She told her friend I ate the container with the dental floss! Maybe I was just trying to take good care of my new teeth! Oh, and I almost forgot - because I've been losing my teeth, Momma Ellen has been giving me this really good stuff called Frosty Paws!

I'm over 40 pounds now! My hair is getting really, really curly. Momma Ellen says I look like I have a perm! I love being at Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich's. There are no other dogs there and I get to be the center of attention! I have a cat sister, named Brandie but she doesn't want to have much to do with me. When I'm at my Peggy Mom's, well, I'm just one of a bunch of dogs. I really do like playing with Tobie - she's my favorite. We roll around in the dirt and chase each other all over the yard! Sometimes we get yelled at for playing in the plants. There's just so much that's being going on. I've been to the mall recently - really fun and there's lots of kids there!. I've been to a ton of meetings - not so much fun because all I get to do is take a nap. Puppy class is getting really interesting - there is a whole new crop of babies in the class! I really would love to play with them all! I've been getting bad marks in class because there are so many new dogs there I just can't seem to pay attention. You should see how cute they are. My moms say I used to be that cute - now they say I'm in that awkward teenage stage - my Peggy Mom keeps calling me a "baby elephant" - wonder what she means by that?

Well I have a few new pictures to share, so this is as good a time as any! See you soon!