March hasn’t been an interesting month, so I am filling you in only halfway through. I went to class one day and tried to teach Steve how to train me, but he wasnt very adept in giving me treats whenever I was due a reward. He seemed to think that just because I sat, I didn’t always deserve a treat. Jeepers, I need to teach him better. Alison is the same way, but I have given up on training her.

For most of this month my activities, like playing with other dogs at the field or with my BFF Dakota, have been limited. I have been behaving myself. Alison’s parents came to visit and I was very very good. Alison’s mom said I was a sweet girl! Alison warned them that I have “soulful” eyes and not to give into my pleading. I thought that was uncalled for! I was willing to show her where we keep the treats, but it seems Alison’s parents had previously met Radar and knew the rules for Hero Dogs. I did get a special treat for being a good girl – well, we all got a treat.

I will see you soon! April should be a better month, with more mud and walks and time to play!

In addition to playing with other dogs at the field, I play with my BFF, Dakota. He is a chocolate lab and very handsome. He has a great yard for running and a big spot with dirt for rolling around. Alison and Dakota’s mom Laurie just stand and talk… which I think is kind-of boring for them, so we run up to check on them occassionally and make sure they can share in the excitement…and the mud.

I have become very handy around the house. I “take” and “bring” almost everything and at any time, whether wanted or not – I am just trying to be helpful. At times I try to help Steve with his chores. I am very good at “place,” but sometimes I do forget where I should “sit.”

We had a visitor this month. Remember my friend Tonja from CFC? If not, you need to check out the Hero Dogs Facebook page. I will wait… Gretchen owns Tonja and Mike and wasn’t feeling well this winter. So she came over to hang out while Tonja had to go to work for meetings. She used my crate, which was a little confusing for me, but I am okay with sharing – most of the time. Gretchen seemed very content in the crate and slept most of the time. Sometimes she sniffed me to say hello, which was good because I was worried about her, but soon she was up to her old tricks.

I had a bunch of fun playing in the snow. If I ran fast enough I could slide around the tree and be off under the other tree before Otto could turn around. Alison and Steve threw snowballs for Otto and me, but they disappeared in one bite. I like playing with our large mesh balls. They are also Otto’s favorite toy. I have learned that I can play keep away from Otto better if I take both of the balls, but Otto is clever. He will ignore me until I get bored and drop the balls. Then he will come and steal one! I have still a lot to learn about patience.

Happy New Year to my friends and family. I spent a glorious New Year’s Eve with my friends Jeff and Jen, Scott and Tassia, Alison and Steve, and of course Otto and Saki… oh, and the baby. What a party! I wanted to smell a beverage but Alison said “leave it!” We stayed up way too late, but I made sure to get everyone up and going early in the morning. Saki certainly appreciates the early mornings because she is ready to eat breakfast as soon as we wake up.

The winter has been full of many activities. I go to the field to run with Hero Dogs Annie and her friend Tucker. Sometimes Otto and Saki come, but it has been so cold outside that sometimes Saki stays home. Otto has a crush on Annie, and Tucker doesn’t seem to mind, but Alison does mind because Otto gets a little protective and doesn’t want me to roughhouse with Annie. Alison holds onto Otto so Annie and I can play. Annie and I run and run and run, then roll and roll and roll. Even though she gets pulled through the mud, she never looks dirty! I look like a brown Labrador after we are finished playing. That’s okay, because I dry out in Alison’s car.

Now that I have gotten older, I have learned when it is appropriate to share my opinion and when it is not. As a result, I get to go out to many more places. Alison and I have been to White Flint Mall, CVS, the grocery store, Petco, and all sorts of places. Petco has become a bit of a drag. I used to be able to talk to the other dogs and people, but now it has become a “learning experience.” UGH! I have to “sit” and “wait” and “look.”

I visit Alison’s real office every so often. Usually there are people to see, but I go in on weekends too. I like it better when I can meet people but it’s also fun on the weekend. Alison and I play hide-and-go-seek, which I am getting really good at. I practice “under” while she is sitting. I don’t like getting under her desk, because there isn’t much room, but I am very good at getting under the conference table. I often get a treat to chew on while I am waiting for Alison; one particular dog chew is my favorite. I love watching the cars outside through the window. I don’t usually get to survey the world at such a high height. The only unfortunate side effect is that the people can’t see me! If they only knew what they were missing.

Happy holidays! It has been a glorious month. I am getting bigger and bigger. My buddy down the street, Dakota, is a lab like me, but brown. He is now smaller than me and he is older. I will not tell you my weight – so please don’t ask!

I have been trying very hard at all my classes. I almost got the majority of bones in Puppy 2, but I came in second because I had a little trouble not wiggling. I was supposed to come, sit, and stay, but my tail doesn’t always listen to me. I would much rather show you through intense wiggles and waggles how happy I am to see you. I have been told I shouldn’t bark, but I continue to have some problems restraining myself. So I wiggle, I waggle, I bark… and Alison sighs.

She still takes me places in hopes that I will soon learn that I need to settle and be quiet. Don’t tell her… but I do know how! I just don’t want to. On Saturday mornings, I meet with Alison’s friends for coffee at Caribou. They are nice. I try so very hard to behave, but sometimes we don’t stay for very long.

We did a few events for CFC during October, but the BEST was the CFC Dessert and Charity Fair this month. As soon as I walked in I found a tray covered with sweet stuff in the trash – right at nose level. I had barely gotten my nose in the can when I heard “LEAVE IT.” Oh the cruelties of public life… I pulled away but first I got some on my nose – yummy. I met lots of fun people at the event. I even saw my neighbor, Tonja. She made a special trip from her building down the road to visit me. She brought two of her friends. I was able to drop my business-like appearance to wish her hello.

Alison and I go for walks every day. On one of our walks, I met a young girl. She was very friendly and so was her Dad. She made me sit and down. Alison showed her how I can relax and roll over. I really like to roll over. I can go back and forth and back and forth… relaxing is tough though.

This month I noticed a lot of very weird and disturbing structures in people’s yards. I wasn’t too thrilled with seeing these things – some even flapped in the wind. I didn’t like that! I am not by nature cowardly but these funny red and white objects worried me. Alison let me take my time to check them out. I wagged my tail and sniffed. They didn’t respond… very odd creatures. After a few more walks they didn’t bother me quite as much, but I will be glad when they are all put away. Especially at our house.

This is my very first holiday season and I am disappointed that Radar or Otto didn’t warn me of the shenanigans in store for me! Yes, Halloween should have been a warning, but I am young and forgetful. I put up with all the silly outfits and the forced posing for pictures. I put up with the weird noisy toys. I even stayed away from the tree! But the Dolley doppelgänger holiday ornament was an indignity no dog should have to withstand! Yes, our ears match- please, no ear jokes.

I enjoyed wandering through the mall meeting the festive holiday shoppers. As long as we keep moving, I don’t mind shopping. When we stand and wait, I get annoyed. I found that others in line are a little annoyed too and I can help them by looking pretty. Well, I think by looking pretty I lighten their moods. I don’t think its the calisthenics Alison has me perform. Sit, down, stand, down, sit, stand, down… ugh!

I got to hang with my BFF, Annie this month. She is smaller than me, but wow! she is tough. We drove to the airport together and met up with Jack and Scotty. Somebody (sorry not so good with names- better with smells and he smelled like a husband) took some wonderful pictures of us, which we added to Facebook.

My favorite shot was with Annie. She is so good. I was distracted because someone was coming to the door. I was sure they were coming to see me so I needed to prepare.

I got to play in snow for the first time in my life! Oh, it was so much fun. It was wet and cold and mushy! Otto and I caught snowballs and we all made yellow snow which then turned to mud. It was kind-of gross, but when we went inside, we were rubbed down with nice, soft towels.

Alison is making me do harder and harder commands. She makes me pick up and give her just about everything. Otto helps. Sometimes when I am really confused, I touch him with my nose. Its not the right thing but it makes me feel good to do something.

I am getting much better at behaving. So much better that sometimes Alison will let me out of the execise pen to hang with Otto while she is working. I would rather be up on the sofa with Otto, but understand as a Hero Dog I have to be tough!

Happy new year to all. Catch you in 2013!

Hello, I hope you haven’t missed me too much and you have been following my updates on Facebook and Flickr. I have been a busy girl. I am in Puppy 2 now for the second time and the STAR of the class. I still have a lot to contribute, but every time I try to share my opinion I have to do “puppy push-ups.” I do a sit, down then sit, down then sit, down until I am exhausted. Much too tired to share my opinions with Tammy and Alison.

I presented to a 9/10 year old community service class. They wanted to know about Hero Dogs and volunteering, but most importantly they wanted to see me! Alison says I did very well. I didn’t knock anyone down with my tail, I settled when told and I picked up the keys she dropped. Then I got to meet all of the kids including some from the preschool. I just love the little humans. They are so fun to lick – like candy.

Alison telecommutes when she isn’t traveling to exotic places like Plattsburgh, NY, but once in a while she needs to get into the office. I get to go in with her. I am very helpful as I visit with her colleagues and improve morale. Unfortunately, Alison is there to work not socialize so I need to settle in her office. I really don’t like to settle, but sometimes I get a Kong with peanut butter- I am okay with that. Last time we were there, I met one of Alison’s coworkers, who has heard of Hero Dogs through his vet, Brookeville Animal Hospital – OMG! He even contributes to our organization. I made a point of thanking him personally with a good butt wiggle.

The Fall weather was so nice. Alison and I took loads of walks. We went out to Brookeville to meet up with Molly and Annie and I had TONS of fun running around. There was a skinny dog like a small Saki who was really hard to catch but I tried. Mostly I just rolled around with Annie.

Radar came to visit because of Sandy. I am not really sure who Sandy is, but my people were a bit nervous. We stocked up on dog food – just in case. PHEW!

I am bigger than Radar. Well, except for my head and I do think my ears are prettier. We had some confusion during dinner. I was told kennel and ran in to find Radar already there. I just sat patiently until he understood that I needed to eat first.

Halloween was fun! I dressed up as a ballerina and went trick or treating down the street. I didn’t get any candy but I did get treats for sitting pretty for the kids.

I also helped carving the very first Dolley-o-lantern. I had final design approval.

November was a FUN month for me. Alison and Steve went on vacation in November so I got to take vacation, too. They were gone a long, long time. I stayed with the Dyers. Boy, did I have a great time. We went for many walks, and I got lots of attention, which I didn’t have to share. By the end of the visit, I was exhausted. I did miss Otto and Saki and was happy to get home.

Recently, I went to visit our friends, Tassia, Scott and Lily, who moved to Shepherdstown, WV. I don’t like sharing the front seat with Alison- she takes up all the room. If I scootch over a little I can rest my head on her legs and get comfortable, but then she moves. I wish SHE would SETTLE.

Lily and I played. She would pick up my toys and give them to Alison. She was really good about petting me. I was very gentle because I have to be gentle with babies. We stopped in many stores while visiting our friends. Lily got to sit in the stroller. I tried to keep pace with her because she kept dropping her baby doll and I had to pick it up.

Apparently, my help wasn’t appreciated- might have been because I had to give the baby doll a little chew to remind her to stay put. Towards the end of our walk, we met Santa!!! I asked for all types of special gifts, but most importantly, I asked Santa to help me be an AWESOME Hero Dog!

I have been remiss in writing because I have just been so busy, busy, busy. You know that a girl like me has so many engagements and people to see – to say nothing about puppy class. I am learning how to be a well-behaved dog. Alison also works with me at home because in addition to manners, I must learn all there is to know about being a Hero Dog like my buddy, Radar.

We spend countless hours visiting stores and other places, where I am learning that I shouldn’t bark and that I need to be patient (UGH!). It is very hard. I mean last week we were waiting in CVS and it was such a very long wait that I had to tell the people to hurry up, hurry up!!! Alison explained to me that a young lady representing Hero Dogs needs to be better mannered in public, so I am trying.

We do get to go shopping together, which is so much fun. Don’t I look so pretty?

I especially like it when people talk to me when we are walking around. I sit and wait when they pet me or give me a treat. Everyone says I am a good dog and comments on how big I am for my age. Personally, I don’t think it is appropriate to comment on a girl’s weight, but Alison seems pleased that I am growing. Although, if the comments were about HER weight, I bet she wouldn’t be so pleased.

I have gone out on the boat with Steve and Alison a few times this summer. I love swimming in the water, the feel of the wind in my ears, and the treats. The fish I could do without. They taste nasty and are totally gross.

Yuck, stinky fish! I mean really do I have to put up with this?

We went to Lake Frank and I got to swim for some sticks. Otto came too, but I am better at swimming than he is. See, I can almost fly through the water. I think my ears make me more aerodynamic.

My normal day starts with me having to wake up Alison at 7 am. Sometimes she doesn’t get up when her alarm goes off so I need to help. Otherwise, I may not get breakfast on time. Once I eat and Alison reads her paper, we go for a walk. Our walks take us all over the place. Sometimes we will walk by the school so I can watch the little kids. Other times, we will head over to the park where I can sniff for animals.

The best is when we can play on the jungle gyms in the playgrounds. I can run up and down the stairs. I have even slid down the slide. Alison didn’t seem to happy about it though. I think because she had to follow me down the slide- it was funny. While we are walking, Alison makes me sit, wait, stay, down, and touch. I have also learned paw. I often will run through all the things I have learned before Alison figures out what she wants. I don’t know if she can always keep up with me.

During the day, I like to take a nap with my friends while Alison works.

I get to visit Radar at Hero Dogs. Alison and I visit during the week sometimes. One visit I got to see her friend Molly. Molly raised Abe and has a dog named Tucker. They are really cool. Radar and I have so much fun playing. We can play forever, but Alison and Steve make us stop every so often to rest. Pretty soon I am going to be bigger than Radar!

Well, I will catch-up with you all later with the fascinating details of my life, but now I think I need to just chill and watch some TV- I like Nat Geo- WILD.

HIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!!!!!! I am DOLLEY! I am named after one of the first ladies. Not the pastry which is spelled without the E. I am living with Alison and Steve. They have 2 dogs, Otto and Saki. I have an older “step-brother” called Radar. Radar is really smart. He’s in college.

I am learning a lot of new things like where to pee (outside!), what to chew (not furniture), where to sleep (in my kennel) and when to bark (never!). I really dont understand why I cant bark! I have important things to say and I need to say them often and LOUDLY. Saki and Otto just dont listen to me so I try to get their attention. Saki has been spending more time in the basement since I have arrived. I think its because it is cooler down there. I am tied to a door so I cant go down to see her, but I talk to her all the same. I am not quite sure what Otto thinks of me. Okay, so I am a girl. I still like to play. He seems a little confused.

Its fun hanging out here. I get to go to some interesting places, but sometimes when Alison talks to people I feel I need to contribute. Then she makes me do this “settle” thing… I dont think so… but I guess I should help her out.

If I am quiet, Alison will take me to work and let me play with my toys. I have lots of cool toys. I just wish someone wouldn’t keep putting them away.

We had a HUGE storm recently. Alison made Saki and me hide down in the basement. Otto had to go with her to get the radio and flashlights. We were ok, but a lot of our friends didn’t have lights so they came over to visit. Radar came to stay with us for awhile too. He is so much fun. He played in the pool with me.

I am learning about this kennel issue. Apparently, I supposed to sleep, eat and get comfy with staying in a box. I am to be quiet… I am not sure it will work for me. I mean come on, no blankets, no pillows, no curtains. A little privacy please… I am a girl.

Radar was good enough to show me its not all that bad. He said if I go into the kennel nicely, I will get food and treats, which will get better as I get better. Food is a good thing, but only in moderation. I dont want to lose my girlish figure. I am not completely sold on the kennel.

Alison and I went for a long hike at a park near the house. I got to go swimming. Oh my DOG! It was so much fun. I hope I get to do it again. I met some people on our hike. They were very nice and told me I was cute. They especially liked my long flowing ears. I do think they are my best feature.

I have been to puppy class a few times. Seems kind-of easy. I say hello to people, play with the other dogs and get treats. Once in a while I have to sit, lie down, or stop biting, but I do all that and MORE at home. I can even wait.

Well, I need to go. Its time to bark at something… not sure what, but I am sure it will come to me.

Or not…

The Bay Family is sponsoring Hero Dogs Dolley Madison!  Thank you for your generosity!

Cool - it stretches!

Hero Dogs welcomes Dolley Madison! ”Dolley” is a yellow Labrador who was graciously donated by Beth & James Burch.

Now that “Radar” has returned to Hero Dogs to enter his next phase of training, Hero Dogs  ”Dolley” is being raised by Alison & Steve!  The Bay Family is Dolley’s sponsor.  Thank you!

Dolley arrived just in time for Hero Dogs Volunteer Appreciation Open House.  She met so many peopleand ”Radar” was sure to give her the scoop on Alison and Steve.  Overall she had a great but exhausting day!