Church Visit and a Hike

Hi! I just thought I would write a quick note and tell you about my latest adventures! On Saturday I got to go to church with my sponsor family, the Thomas'. I slept during the service, but everyone says it's OK for me to do that. I don't think it's OK for people, though! That was the second time I got to visit with the Thomas' this week - yippee!! I love to visit them because they always give me lots of loving. I got to meet Stephanie for the first time. That was great! I was very good in church and got to visit with a lot of folks that helped make it possible for me to be a guide puppy and be raised in Asheville. After church we went out to dinner and I was very good. The people around us didn't know I was there until we left. That's just what my people want!

On Sunday I got to hike up the mountain with my family and Deacon, my dog brother. They didn't think I could make it because it is a very long, steep hike. Mom told Dad to save me room in the backpack just in case, but I made it the whole way - no problem! Here is what it looked like at the top. God sure did a good job making the view around here

{Me resting in the shade}{Deacon foraging a path} 

It was tough, but I wasn't going to quit! Besides, if I had ridden in the backpack, I wouldn't have gotten to pick up acorns, leaves, sticks, and rocks.

{This rock was very tasty}

There were SO many cool things to taste and smell. We saw LOTS of wild animal droppings and I had to stop and check out each one. I think there was one by a coyote and several by racoons. VERY cool! Mom wouldn't let me taste it, though. *sigh* She spoils a lot of fun but I listen because she knows what's best for me - and I don't want her to get upset with me!

When we got to the top, I was exhausted and took a good nap - whew!

I was ready to go down when it was time to leave, though, and I wasn't even sore the next day. Mom says it's not fair that Deacon and I have "4-wheel drive" because it's much easier for us to go up and down!

I'm still a very good boy. My mom says I talk too much, but I only do it when my toy gets away from me or when I need to tell someone that they need to PLAY WITH ME!! Today at work Mom was trying to take my picture and I asked her, "What are you doing?" Here I am saying that.

I didn't really bark, just talked, and she laughed even though she said, "Quiet!" She knows I'm

so cute and can't really get mad at me *grin*

When I got back home, Dad sat in the floor with me and when I put my legs

up, he made me look silly and mom took a picture. I look kind of scary,

don't I?

Sometimes I let them by silly, just to humor them.

Well, it's time to rest. Please share my journal with everyone so they can watch me grow

Update by SAM

Goodness, I'm afraid it has been two weeks since I've written! I'm so busy all the time that I hardly can find time to sit down and write! Unfortunately, I haven't done anything really exciting, but I wanted to check in and let you know that I'm growing, growing, growing and learning lots! I'm probably twice as big as I was when I first came here! They canceled one of our meetings because of the gas problem. I was very disappointed because I was really looking forward to seeing all of those people but it might not have been good anyway, because the day before I got shots at the vet and it hurt!! I made sure that the mean doctor knew I didn't like it one bit!! Also, I yelped anytime someone picked me up for the next few days because I wanted them to know they needed to be very easy with me. I might not have liked it too much if we had been around all of those people and they had wanted to pet me and pick me up, so I guess it's good that the plans changed. Mom says I'm a softie, but I just say that I have a "sensitive" side. That's good, right?!

I'm really a very easy pup so far. My mom keeps waiting for me to get wild and out of control (like most of her other dogs have) but I think I'll just keep being a good boy. Life is much easier if I'm just nice! Everyone sure loves me and that makes me want to make everyone happy, too. Fortunately, all I have to do is just look at them with my big brown eyes, sit pretty, and people come right up to me! Usually when I do that, my mom lets them pet me. If I try to go up to them first, though, she says they can't pet me. That makes me sad! They love how soft I feel and will rub and rub. I really like that!! I especially like kids and they all seem to like me, too. I try not to wiggle or jump on them because that will scare them away. Several people have seen me and now they want to be puppy walkers! I can't blame them a bit because I am SO cute!!

I have been learning to go for a long walk - almost two miles - through the big city (Weaverville - population almost 1700) with my brother dog, Deacon. The first time I did NOT keep up and my mom waited a week so I could grow. She took me by myself the second time but I wanted to just drag around and it wasn't much fun. The third time she let Deacon go with us again and it was great! I kept up almost the whole time and didn't get too distracted by all of the yummy, good smelling temptations on the ground! We've done it two times now and she says we will try to go for a nice walk several times a week. Yippee!!

I don't know what was wrong this past Friday but I felt really yucky! My mom was off work and we went shopping - usually one of my favorite things to do - but this time I didn't enjoy it. I threw up in the car three (or was it four?) times! My mom got a little worried because I threw up several more times over about 8 hours so she took me to the doctor. He gave me some medicine to soothe my stomach and some really bland food (ugh!) I ate it, though, because I was STARVING by this time!! I felt much better the next day and by the afternoon I was running around like usual. Mom was relieved and kept asking me if I had eaten something I wasn't supposed to, but I don't think so because she watches me so closely ALL THE TIME!! (*sigh*) She won't let me eat grass, or sticks, or rocks, or dirt, or plants, or paper, or tissues, or toilet paper, or toys, or furniture, or ANYTHING! I can't understand it!! Doesn't she know that's what puppies DO?! We have to eat all that stuff if we want to grow up big and strong! Sometimes it's tough to be a future guide dog, but I really do want to do a good job and help someone so I'm trying really hard!

Saturday I went to obedience class with my friend, Neil. (My mom used to be raising him until I came along.) Since I'm so young, she wouldn't let me work like the other dogs and I had to sit in her lap the whole time. Since that's my favorite place to be, I really didn't mind. Also, some of those other dogs (especially Neil and Max) were very rough and I didn't like that. They scared me a little but my mom protected me and said they better watch out because one day I'm going to be as big as they are!! I still don't think I'll be that rough, though. 

Note from Deacon - Don't let the kid fool you! He's already pretty rough on me! Sometimes he grabs the skin around my neck and hangs on or bites my legs or ears or anywhere he can reach. Mom makes him quit - which is good because I really don't want to have to teach him a lesson myself!


{Kids just love me....and I love them too!!} 
Well, I better close now since I'm really tired and it's time for a nap! I hope you're enjoying my notes.

New Exposures and Other Fun Things

Hi!!
Thanks for checking back to see what I have been doing! I have been very busy! On Friday, I went to a place where they teach people that have trouble learning things. What a WONDERFUL time I had!! They all wanted to pet me and have me kiss them. You know that I really enjoyed that! I promised them that I would come back every few months and they could watch me grow and learn. I will watch them learn, too. A few of the people go to my church and they asked my mom where I was. She explained that she doesn't take me on Sunday morning because she is in the choir. I was sorry I missed them.





{Puppy Kisses are the Best}
As soon as we left the center, we met Aunt Barbara at Olive Garden. I slept under her feet while they finished lunch and then we went out of town to their lake house!! I got to go out in the boat and everything. What fun!! I was posing on the bow (I think that's the right word) of the ship and Aunt Barbara was taking my picture while Uncle Scott was getting ready to ski. I moved and fell in the water - yikes!!! My cousin Andrew jumped in to help me out. I was scared and didn't do too well at first, but then I just let my instincts take over and started paddling toward the shore. They kept trying to get me to swim after toys for the rest of the weekend, but I decided that I might wait until I was a little older. We had a really good time together and cried a little bit when we thought about how much Matthew would have enjoyed me. I spent a lot of time with Andrew and he's already very special to me. I know he loves me a bunch!!

{PICTURES COMING SOON}

When we got home from the lake on Sunday, I met Mom & Dad in the McDonald's parking lot to go to a church party at Camp Windy Gap near our house. There was another lake there!! Mom thought I should go swimming so she took me out a couple of times - not too far, but the water was over my head. I showed her that I knew how to swim - and headed right to the shore.



She knew I didn't really like it much, though, so we didn't do it again. The best part of the night was a bunch of the kids that are in our choir were there. They were really happy to see me and they carried me around and loved on me a lot. I really like that!!

Monday was a work day and I was glad to get back and see lots of my good friends there. My buddy, Susan, takes me for several walks a day and that's fun! If she would just let me eat grass, I would really be happy, but she is like my Mom and is always saying, "NO! LEAVE IT!" *sigh* I snuck some today and now I'm making all kinds of wonderful smells, but my mom doesn't appreciate them!

Monday night my friends Midnight, Penny and Neil came to the office for a meeting. I wasn't too happy to see Neil because he is TOO rough with me, but Mom and Georgie kept him from bugging me too much. We worked on lots of hard things - walking in a circle, turning around and going the other direction, sit, stay, come, down, leave. WHEW!! I also took them through the building and for a ride on the elevator. Then we went for a LONG walk down the greenway in front of UNC-A. Coming back we had to go up the BIG, LONG driveway - all uphill! I was tired, but I made it. My mom said I did really well and was proud of me. I thought I was pretty good, too, but I'll be happier when I can do even more stuff. I have SO much to learn!


{Puppy Just gotta have fun!}

{Good "Sit/Stay" everyone}

{Obedience? Aah who needs it??}

{SAM, Midnight and Neil}

{One Tired pup}

Well, it's time for me to go downstairs with my mom while she works out. I will watch her exercise for a little, chew on my bone, and then take a long nap since I will be very tired from all of that exercise going on!


Talk to you later!

*slurp* SAM

I'm Learning a LOT!

Only one day has passed since I wrote last and I already have more things to say! I forgot to talk about going to see my Thomas' family's homeschool friends. I hope Aunt Barbara will send me some pictures and tell a little about it. It was a lot of fun. I already really love kids and I'm sorry we don't have any in my house - just a bunch of old people!

I also went to the doctor's office with my mom yesterday. There were a lotof interesting smells there, but none that bothered me and I laid down and took a nap - I'm very good at that no matter where we are! I even slept through MOST of the two choir practices last night.My mom let all of the kids love on me - ahhhh, that felt good! I saw the other dog in choir but
we couldn't play. After looking at each other for a while, we both gave up and curled up and went to sleep. Everyone says I was very good!

Here are some things I know how to do already. I'm not 100% reliable, but Mom says I'm VERY good for just a young pup (I am 11 weeks old TODAY!)
Sit when told
Sit at the door and stay until told to go forward
Stay in the floorboard of the car while Mom goes around. I sometimes get up, but not often and only once did I get on the seat. She was gone for at least 10 seconds and I got worried! I like to lie there near her so that she can pet me all the time. I also like to rest my head on the center console, although it's not soft. I guess I like it because it keeps us close.
Come when called. I'm very good at that and Mom gets really excited.
Busy and Big Busy on command. I will go to the bathroom if I need to, but I still have accidents sometimes. Usually it's Mom's fault, though, because she can't read my mind and know I need to busy!
Usually I also do "down" when told, as long as she uses her hand and
reminds me what she means.
I can go up and down the stairs, too. I want to run up them, but Mom makes
me go slowly.
I rode the elevator a couple of times - no big deal!
The only thing I find REALLY hard is not to pick up every leaf, stick,piece of paper, etc., etc. I mean, they are RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MY NOSE! Something inside tells me to GET it and carry it around and I just can't resist!! I also like to carry my leash around, but Mom is trying to teach me not to do either of those things. *sigh* Sometimes it's tough being a puppy but I'm excited that one day I might get to help a person get around without getting hurt. I'm going to try very hard so I can be a good guide dog.

{I like to eat lying down! You can clean the bowl better that way!}

Well, I better go. Mom needs to work and I need to busy and then sleep.
Writing is very exhausting work!!

*slurp*

SAM

My First Post

Hi, this is SAM. I was born July 3rd and I’m a beautiful golden retriever. Thanks for checking up with me. I’ll grow SO fast and learn SO much that I’ll try to remember to write often so you can keep up!

I was picked up at the NY airport on Thursday, September 11 by a really nice lady who works for US Airways. She took good care of me while we flew to Charlotte and then caught a smaller plane to Asheville, NC. I was very good on the plane and not afraid at all. I slept most of the time. That’s what I do best right now!

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She carried me from the plane to meet my new families because she was worried that I might have an accident in the airport. I have to admit it might have happened, because I was only 10 weeks old and didn’t really know about where I should busy. Soon I’ll be very good about it, but I’m still learning right now! It’s up to my Mom to make sure I get plenty of chances to busy outside. I’m doing really well at night already and can go all night long without having to go out. That makes her VERY happy!

When we got to the airport I had a big surprise! Not only was my Mom there, but also two members of my special sponsor family – Andrew and Barbara Thomas! I got LOTS of hugs and kisses and I cuddled right up to them. It felt good to get so much loving and I kissed them a lot to let them know that I love them, too!

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When we left there, Mom took me to see Uncle Scott Thomas at his dentist office. He sat down with me in his lap and just loved on me, too. I’m so glad they are all part of my family! Thank you for helping to make that possible by giving money to the school in Matthew’s memory!

We drove home and I met my “dad” and Bethany. They seem very nice. I also met Deacon (the 6 year-old vizsla who was supposed to be a guide dog but didn’t make it) and Diablo. Diablo is a 12 year-old lab and he is the king of the dog world at our house. He tells us youngsters to leave him alone and we do – most of the time. Sometimes we can’t help it and we aggravate him, but he puts up with us anyway.

That night I slept in a crate in the bedroom beside my mom’s bed. I didn’t like it at first and kept telling her, “Hey, what’s going on?! I’m in here! Did you forget me?!” She didn’t let me out, though, and told me to be “QUIET!” several times. When I was quiet I would get a small treat. I learned quickly that I am NOT to bark when I’m in the crate and I want them to like me so I do well about that now. Even when they went to church without me on Sunday, I only protested a few times. I don’t understand why Dad won’t take me to church and let me sit with him! I know that Mom is in the choir or she would take me, but she said that one of the other pups barked in church and embarrassed him so he won’t take the pups. I would NEVER do that!

On Friday I went with Mom to work. I was a perfect angel and everyone came by to meet me. They all think I’m very snuggly – which I am! I guess I’ll outgrow that pretty quickly, though. I do hope they will keep wanting to pet me, though, because I’ll always want lots of loving. I slept most of the time at work.


It’s very boring there when no one is visiting but I didn’t cry or bark when Mom would leave me and go to the bathroom. I knew she would be back soon because she has promised to take good care of me. She was very proud of how I acted! We left work early and met Erin and Midnight at the elementary school near my house. Mom and Erin talked to 80 4th graders while I slept.

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After they talked, we got to show them what we could do already and THEN all of the kids came up and took turns petting us. I LOVED that!

{Midnight and I entertain ourselves while our mommies clean up}

Friday evening we got to go to the Mountain State Fair. WOW!!! I got to meet the other puppies that are working to be guide dogs. We practiced walking around and sitting and stuff. I already know how to sit and down and most of the time I stay when I’m told. I’m VERY smart! We also got to see LOTS of very interesting animals. I wasn’t afraid of any of them, or of the lights, or the rides, or the people, or anything! It was exciting. Everyone there kept coming up to me to pet me and you know that I loved that! After about an hour, I was very tired, so another puppy walker family let me share the stroller with their youngest girl, Charlene. What a relief!

After the fair we drove to Charlotte and I got to stay at my Gram’s house. The next day I got to meet my mom’s Grandson, Mahlon. He’s 18 months old and very cute! We had a good time together, although I had to stay on the porch a lot of the time. I understood that he was a little unsure of me and that my mom wanted to spend time with him, so I didn’t complain. We did go for a good walk and played in the park, though. That was fun!

On Sunday I was good while everyone was at church and then I got to play outside for a long time with my mom and Deacon. Most of the time I sat under her chair in the shade because it was VERY hot. I like to pull up grass and eat it and that’s not good for me so she has to watch me very carefully and teach me not to do that. *sigh*

I’ve already been to Sam’s (nice name!) several times.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books I ride in the cart most of the time because I get tired! I’ve also been to the grocery store and the library and the drug store and the hardware store and some other places I can’t remember. I like going everywhere and seeing people and they always want to pet me. Who can resist? I’m just TOO cute! I’ve been to work every day this week and some of my new friends even take me for walks – what fun!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books Today when I was out doing my busy at the office, a guy came by with his golden retriever. They were walking in the woods but when they saw me, Tank came running up to meet me. He looked just like me – only bigger! We enjoyed saying, “Hi!” and we were both very happy to see each other. I hope he comes back someday.

Well, Mom says it’s time to eat supper so we can go to choir practice. I’m looking forward to it. I will get to meet all of the 2nd-6th grade kids in the choir she teaches and then get to go to her adult choir practice. They have drums and guitars so that will be fun! There is also another lady who brings her seizure-alert dog. He’s a cocker spaniel and we will get to be good friends. He can’t play right now, though, because he had surgery on his elbows. *sigh*

I better go now! I’ll try to remember to write again soon!!

*slurp*
SAM