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- Joy is a 10yo Australian Shepherd. I purchased her from a breeder in Ohio when I was living in Indiana. I had picked the litter, and the breeder had picked Joy for me but gave me the choice between two girls. After testing both (at 7 weeks), I liked them both but chose Joy because she was smaller and had less coat. Looking back at the videos from that day, I see that Joy chose me the moment she sniffed me. I’m glad I picked her!
- She. Screams. Not just a yip or a howl. A full-out, chainsaw massacre in the shower scream. She screams when she is frustrated, when she is excited, when she wants to cuss at me and when I’m not throwing the ball fast enough. She did this first at about 12 weeks of age. And I have never heard another dog vocalize quite like this. I’ve been able to temper the screaming a bit by stopping play when she’s screaming for play… but when she’s frustrated-screaming, it doesn’t do me any good to increase frustration. She gets reinforced by myself and others when we laugh at her screaming and the behavior/emotion is very, very persistent.
- She has been through so many transitions with me, and she’s adapted to every one. The last years 10 have seen a LOT of changes for us. She’s been a family dog, a puppy class helper, an agility partner, a shelter dog playgroup helper, and a go-anywhere companion. We’ve gone from a full house of children, dogs and cat to traveling alone (together) in a 22′ trailer and then adding a puppy to our tiny home on wheels! Joy has accepted each change with alacrity, and she’s done everything I’ve needed her to do. Our bond and friendship has grown such that I hardly have to ask her to do things – she just knows what’s next. And emotionally, she has been here for me and inserted herself when I most have needed her support. She’s the best.
