March was my first full month in my new home! I had several more sleepovers at Jennifer’s but really know where I belong now!!! I think I mentioned in my last entry that my female charms were working on Cody (the golden doodle that lives here also), well I was right.  I believe I have won him over.  One day he just started playing back!!  Now we rumble and tumble together all the time; he chases me and I chase him. Life is sweet.

I finished my first six weeks of  puppy class in the middle of the month, and went straight into round two!! Some of the dogs are the same from my first class and there are new dogs also. This time around there is only 1 other Hero Dog in the class so this time I will have to learn to play with other puppies that look  different than I do. Stacey says it is a very important part of my socialization(whatever that is).  My approach to life is puppies just want to have fun, and oh yeah and eat too. 

Stacey said my sponsor would like to hear about what I am learning in class.   All I have to say about that is that I hear the following words over and over again, “Rosie”, “sit”, “stay”, “come”,”wait”, “at ease”, “take it”, “give”, “easy”, “let’s go” , “get busy”, “kennel”, and “settle”.  Speaking of sponsor, I have met mine.  It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon at the HD training center full of pictures, hugs and kisses and playtime. Yippee!!! 

Anytime I go to the Hero Dogs training center I have a blast.  I have met my half older brother Maverick and the other older Hero Dogs and we have had lots of fun.  There is a cat there also; I have been cautiously curious around the feline addition to  the menagerie.  I met another cat at my friend York’s house while we were playing outside.  I was very curious and brave at first; when I got close I changed my mind.  I was still curious, but not so brave.  

Outside of that wee bit of hesitation, I have been brave and curious in all of my adventures this month.  I have continued to visit some of the same  places as last month, the vets, the bank, the pet store and new places as well.  I went on a long ride to Pennsylvania  to see Grandmother who lives in an assisted living facility.  There were people who walked funny as well as canes, walkers and wheel chairs.  I am a regular member now of the dog walking group on Saturday mornings, I keep up just fine.  

During the third week of March, I made my first trip to the city and we saw the Cherry Blossoms.  I have no idea what a cherry blossom is, but there were lots of people walking around looking up at the trees.  Go figure.  Stacey kept saying how proud of me she was becasue I was not afraid of all the hustle and bustle.  I even got my picture taken in front of the Washington Monument, and even better was all the love and attention I got in my little vest!!  I am told I look stunning in it.   On the last Saturday of the month I went to my first dinner out with family.   We went to “Outback”; boy does that place smell terrific.   Stacey and family said I was a perfect angel and that I behaved better out around the food than I do at home.  It was pretty easy to be still because I had played very hard just prior to leaving the house.  I just curled up near Stacey and ate my dinner;  good as gold  I was.

I arrived at my new home on Valentines Day, actually it was Valentine’s night. Before I arrived at my new home I started puppy kindergarten. It’s like heaven if you really want to know. It’s basically non stop food for an hour and a romp with new friends! Ok, I do have to sit and down and come a couple of times but what a pay off.

It only took me a couple of days to settle into my new home and to sleep all night long in my kennel. My life is simple, I eat, play, sleep and I am very “BUSY”. I am not sure what it means but my puppy raiser is always telling me that it is time to go outside and get busy. She must say it a least fifteen times a day! It’s fine with me because, when I get busy she is very happy with me and I get to play or I get a treat. What a deal. Stacey tells me I am a very blessed dog because I live in a gated community; all I know is I spend lots of time in the big kitchen room with her. 

I had only been here for a few days when they had to “go out of town”, so it was back to Jennifer’s for me. Don’t cry for me, it is a blast! There are at least three big dogs to play with at her house and then we go to the center and there are four of the best dogs in the world to play with. I was so tired when I got home, I slept all day.

I have been for a lot of rides in the car. Stacey keeps saying how happy she is that I like riding in the car. So for a while pretty much all I did was ride in the car and take walks with the big dog, Cody. (Speaking of Cody, I think I am winning him over with my special charms).

Finally, one day I got to wear the big girl vest and go on a real service dog field trip. First we went to Walter Reed and walked around for a little bit and the next day we went to the bank and made a deposit. So easy, life is good!

A big Hero Dogs thank you to Barbara Lawton for sponsoring Hero Dogs first female golden retriever — “Rosie” the Riveter!

Rosie the Riveter – “Rosie” was graciously donated by Ellee Neilands of Cassiopeia’s Golden Legacy Kennels (as was “Teddy” and “Maverick“).  Like big brother Maverick, “Rosie” is being raised by Stacey!  Thank you Ellee!  Thank you Stacey!