I went to some new places this month along with the usual ones, too. I spent a morning at the Grey Goose Nursery in Laytonsville. I meet the owner, Donnie, who thought I was really cool. Robin had me sit, stay, and touch her hand for Donnie. Robin told Donnie all about me and he is thinking about being a puppy raiser too!

I went to the Standler Nursery too. I walked around and meet all the cashiers, they said I was beautiful! I smelled all the flowers and trees, but the best thing about Standlers is the fish pond! Alex and Kyle showed me the big orange fish in the pond. I sat and watched them for a long time. Then I saw a frog, it hopped in the water when I got too close.

I started a new puppy class, but my good Friend Scotty is not in it. I am the only Hero Puppy in the class. I do get to spend time with Franklin, one of the new guys, he is lots of fun, too. I had some extra training this month on riding in the car. I still don’t know about this car thing! It makes me nervous. I got a bigger Hero Dog Vest and a new harness for my walks with Robin.

I have been spending a lot of time outside with the big dogs, Jake & Marley. We pick up sticks and smell all the good stuff in the yard. I play keep away with Jake every day. I can hide under the bushes with the ball, and he can’t get under there. I am almost as big as he is now, so it won’t be long before I need to find a better hiding place.

 I met a new friend this month at Silver Ridge Farm. Her name is Linda Lu, she is one of the farmer’s goats. We got to smell noses, and Linda Lu started to scratch the ground with her hooves. The farmer said that she wanted to play with me.

I spent a weekend with Miss Jill, she is a puppy sitter. I played with her dog , Rosie, and took longs walks with Miss Jill. She told Robin that I was a really good girl, and that I can come back anytime to play with Rosie.

Well, that’s all for this month, stay tuned to see what I do next month!  Maybe you can come to one of Hero Dogs upcoming events!

It is February.  My puppy raiser waited all month for something she called snow but it never came.  I was a little disappointed because she made it sound like such fun.  It wasn’t so bad, though, because the nice weather gave me lots of time to play in the yard with Jake and Marley.  My favorite game is ‘Keep Away’.  

It might not have snowed but we did get some rain and I made the best of it.  I love puddles and jump in one any chance I get.  There is a big pool in the backyard and I can’t wait for it to open in May.  After all, a pool is just a big puddle, right?  My people think I will be a great swimmer.  I think so, too.

I went to the usual places this month, like the elementary school, where the safety patrols in the front of the building give me lots of pets and I give puppy kisses in return.  I love the kids!  I also went to tutoring with Kyle, where Mrs. Pat is always happy to see me, and to the middle school to pick up Alex.   

Of course, I went to Puppy Class, my favorite.  I graduated from Puppy Kindergarten this month and am starting a new class.  I have mastered, sit, stay, down, wait, come, let’s go and am still working on walking nicely. 

Not everything I have learned has pleased my people, though.  I have been doing a little digging in the yard, which is not a good thing.  I even dug up a mole which made my Mom say, “Yuk”!  There were no treats for that one.

My puppy raiser took me to Brookeville Animal Hospital for a checkup.  Doctor Marcie says I weigh 43 lbs. and look great.  If I weren’t so modest I would have to agree.

Hi, it’s me, Gracie.  It has been a while so I thought I would let you know about my latest adventures.  Well, I am a weekly elementary school visitor and the outside school patrols all know me!  I also go to physical therapy every week with Robin.  The office enjoys having me there. They like dogs and especially me!

Not that everything with me is about fun.  I am a Hero Dog in training after all.  This month we went into Rockville and worked on walking on grated surfaces.  It took me a while before I would walk on them, but a tasty treat proved to be all the incentive I needed.  I am also getting better at riding in the car.  As you know, I prefer to look out the window from the passenger’s seat, but, I know I have to settle on the floorboard and am trying my best to do that.  I still enjoy long walks through the neighborhood and visiting with my new buddies along the way.  I walk so much better now that I am in a harness.

One of my favorite things to do is Puppy Class!   I am working on my manners and have mastered sit and waiting for my food.  (That is a really hard one because I love food.)  The best thing about puppy class is playing with Scotty afterwards!

I enjoy being outside at home with the big dogs, Jake and Marley.  They play chase and even a little hide-and-seek.  Two weeks ago a big turkey buzzard flew down in the yard and scared me.  I stuck my tail between my legs and ran for cover!   Hey, you would have too if a giant monster came out of the sky after you.

I promise to tell you more soon so come back and visit again.

Gracie had a very busy December. She has been a regular at a local Sportplex. She goes on the weekends to watch soccer games. She has been to tutoring class too. Gracie loves riding in the car! We are trying our best to keep her on the floorboard, however she loves to look out of the window and sit in someones lap! Gracie went to Gaver Tree Farm and helped the family pick out the Christmas tree.

One of her favorite things to do is watch the fish in our fish tank. It’s the funniest thing! When we feed them she runs in and sits in front of the tank and then jumps up to snap at the fish. She even barked at them! (Bad dog, no biscuit!)

Gracie goes on regular walks in the neighborhood, she is up to 3 miles now. Gracie had the best Christmas. The family went to Petsmart and picked out lots of goodies for her stocking. Her Nana bought her another new bed, she has out grown the other one.

She loves napping with our goldens, Jake and Marley. They even let her share their beds with them. The family cat, Sunny, has grown very close to Gracie. During the afternoons they chase each other through the house. It’s so funny to see a lab puppy being chased by a 10 pound tabby cat!

Gracie is working very hard on her training. She sits on command and she will now wait for her food to be on the floor and will not eat it until she hears, ‘At Ease’. Gracie comes when you call her, most of the time. She enjoys meeting other dogs and adores children.

In December she also went to Walter Reed. Gracie was a big hit with the soldiers! Some of them just sat on the floor and let her sit in their laps. She gave out lots of puppy kisses that day. Gracie was on her best behavior, we were so proud of her.

She has been a regular at Brookeville Animal Hospital. Everyone knows her. Gracie has gotten lots of complements from the clients waiting to see Dr. Marcie. Gracie sits and waits politely until they call her name, not bad for a four month old puppy. Gracie took a road trip to Philly over the Christmas break. She has now meet all of our family members and their dogs. She traveled very well on the three hour trip.

Shortly after I moved in with my new family, I went back to Hero Dogs for a week so my puppy raisers could go on a short vacation. It was fun because I was with Jennifer, her family, and some of the other Hero Dogs!

I was very excited when Robin picked me up to go home again. My whole family was glad to have me back – even Sunny, the cat! Robin took me everywhere with her. In addition to long walks where I met some of the neighbors and their dogs, including Marley and Jake, and we went to where the kids that I live with go to school. I also went to a place called Silver Ridge Farm to get fresh eggs. I saw goats and chickens, and I even got to play with the farmer’s dog, Lilly. She was very nice.

Then, all of a sudden, it was what they call Turkey Day! I met my new Nana, and she gave me a new bed, and I love it! There were lots of new smells in the kitchen that day. I could smell them from my puppy play pen – that’s where I hang out when I am not working on learning a skill or playing with the boys. I even got to try a little turkey, yummy! After dinner the entire family went for a walk.  I played soccer with the boys and I am getting pretty good at that game. We play it at the bus stop with all the neighborhood boys.  One day, I actually went to see a real soccer game.

Although I don’t particularly care for sitting on the car floor, I have been getting a lot of practice doing just that and am getting better at it. I’d always rather sit on Robin’s lap, but she won’t let me. She says that as a service dog, I won’t be allowed to sit on anyone’s lap!

Have you ever run through huge piles of leaves? Well, I did when we had a yard clean up day, and, oh what fun I had! I didn’t have as much fun when I went to see Dr. Marcie though because she gave me two shots. She made it better by giving me some nice treats.

Oh, before I forget, I love puppy class! I am the youngest there but am really working hard at learning all the skills a little service dog in training needs to know. I know my name, SIT, DOWN, and am working on COME. I also have time to play with the other new Hero Dog puppies – the brothers Audie and Scotty.

We are proud to announce the addition Hero Dogs’ Grace Hopper – “Gracie”.

Gracie was graciously donated by Yellowbreeches Labs and is being sponsored by Judy Danish & Miles Greenbaum.

Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906 – January 1, 1992) was an American computer scientist and United States Navy officer.