Look at me! I’m 10 months old now and they tell me that I’m growing into quite a handsome young pup.
I try to keep my good looks by getting lots of exercise and fresh air. Petra takes me on a nice long walk every day and I also get lots of playtime in the yard chasing balls and playing keep away with my favorite Kong ball. I try to keep the yard squirrel free by chasing them but those darn guys are really fast and I can’t climb trees! I’ve also been helping with yard cleanup. I can pull the garden wagon and I can help with raking the leaves.
Aside from playtime and helping around the house, Petra and I have been going to lots of CFC events. We’ve been to so many interesting places like the Pentagon, the NIH, and lots of government buildings and military bases. I wear my vest very proudly and I “say hello” to so many people. I try hard to be on my best behavior as we go through security and walk through long hallways and up and down elevators. We go to these events to raise awareness for Hero Dogs and to encourage people to make donations to our organization. The people we talk with are always very impressed with all the skills I have learned at my young age… like when I pick up a set of keys or a cell phone and put them on the table, or pick up a quarter or credit card off the floor. What I like best is when Petra lets me pull the chair or backpack across the floor as if it were a wheelchair. I always get lots of oohs and ahhs for that!
We had our quarterly Hero Dogs meeting this month. That’s always so much fun since I get to see all my Hero Dog friends. Unfortunately, there’s no time to play since there are about 20 of us… but it’s fun anyway. We have to learn to sit quietly during the meeting and then we have some time to practice some of our skills. I learned that golden retrievers can’t catch a treat as well as those Labradors. I think it’s a “golden thing” – they just bounce right off my nose. I just need more practice!!
