Back on the farm! August 15, 2011

I was back on the farm this weekend. Really good time playing with Tobie, rolling around in the leaves and the dirt and going swimming! I went in the big pool over at Momma Ellen's and I also got my very own baby pool! None of the other dogs even want to swim in it - so it's all mine!

I bring in my yellow tennis ball and then splash and splash! My Peggy Mom sat on the edge with her feet in the water - it was great. I could then jump up all wet and get her all wet too!

Oh I almost forgot to tell you. I went to the vet for the very first time. I have to potty (number one) a whole lot and the other night when we went to Chik Fil A (I'll post pictures later) everyone was concerned I might have what you call a UTI. So I went to the vet. Good news, no UTI, but really really disgusting, I had worms. Dr. Griffith gave me some medicine which made those bad things go away!!!

Overall, I had a really good, fun weekend. My brother, Cody was home from the Navy so I got to make a new friend too!

A Sienna Update - Saturday August 6. 2011

Hi! It's nice to be back - my Peggy Mom has been really busy so she hasn't been helping me tell my stories. You won't believe how big I am. I already weigh 20 pounds! My Momma Ellen and Peggy Mom are shocked. They still remember when I was only 8 pounds. They say I have really big feet so I may grow really big - like maybe 70 pounds.

A lot has been going on. I've been back and forth between my two houses. It's really fun because I get to do all kinds of things no one else does. I like to go for long walks with Momma Ellen and Daddy Rich. When I'm at Peggy Mom's my friend Tobie likes to play with me. I lay on my back and kick my feet in her face. She likes it too because she bites me on my neck and tickles me. It doesn't really hurt. If things get too rough, Peggy Mom always comes to my rescue. Sometimes Tobie tumbles me in the dirt! Then I have to be toweled off before I can come back into the house.

I sleep all night without making a single sound. I wait until I hear my Peggy Mom's alarm clock. Then I know it's okay to bark. As soon as I bark, she comes and takes me out the front door to do "busy." I've had a couple of accidents but I'm getting much better.

I learned to speak this week. I learned in about 5 minutes. My Peggy Mom thought if she could teach me to speak on command I might not talk so much the rest of the time. Hasn't really helped much because I have a lot to say. Now we are working on shake. Don't get the point, but I'm still trying.

This week at puppy class I was really tired.

I went to the Orlando Humane Society on Wednesday morning and had to speak to a group of 25 kids! They were really noisy and every single one of them wanted to pet me. Peggy Mom told them all about New Horizons Service Dogs and what I'm going to do for a living when I grow up. Then, that same day, two more young girls came to Peggy Mom's office and played with me for a really long time. By the time I had to go to class, I was ready to go to bed! At class, they were having me do stuff I already know how to do. We had to go up and down stairs. Oh big deal! I do that every day at the office. Some of the big dogs were afraid though. They needed extra help. We also had to walk along side while Momma Ellen and Peggy Mom used a wheelchair, a walker and some crutches. Like I've never seen that before. They should come to work with me and see everything I've learned there.

Here's a picture of me riding in the car. I have this really cool hammock that covers the back seat. I like it best when the AC is blowing right in my face.

I heard I might get to go swimming! I'll be sure and tell you more about that later!

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.