Josie is a super smart, very energetic, and muscular 52 pounder that we guess is somewhere between 1-2 years young. Her perfect weight will probably be around 55 lbs.
Initially very shy around people, and underweight after weaning a litter, Josie is now part of the pack
along with the two of us and our male dog, Sonic. Last weekend we had some friends over for the
evening and she was happy to see them. A month earlier she shied away from the same people, so she
is getting used to strangers.
She’s perfectly housebroken and has never had an “accident” in the house, always asking to be let
outside. We’ve never had her in a crate because she is so easy at night. An old blanket or expensive elevated dog bed are both equally welcome sleeping arrangements. Josie sleeps all night and has not
been bothered by thunderstorms or hearing fireworks. When it’s time to eat she will show her
enthusiasm by doing her wiggle dance. A picky eater she’s not.
Josie loves to sit on the retaining wall and take in the morning and evening sights, sounds, and smells.
She loves being outdoors so much that sometimes we have to convince her to come back in. The best
method we’ve found is to do our own version of her wiggle dance. A bent-knee take on The Twist works
about 95%, but you really have to get into it. She knows if we’re all doing the wiggle dance something
good is happening.
As mentioned before, Josie is very intelligent. She picked up on “Sit”, “Down”, and “Stay” in 2 tries each.
We’re just starting on obedience so it’s not perfect but she’s coming along fast. Josie has the potential
to be a great obedience dog.
Josie loves to play hard with Sonic, the 70 lb. male. She definitely holds her own, starting the play most
of the time. While a fun playmate for a larger, equally playful dog, she may not be suitable as a
packmate for a small dog. We haven’t had her around children.
Like most dogs, going for a walk around the neighborhood is a high point of the day. She is doing great
with her harness training. Josie will stand still to have on her collar and harness put on, no chasing
around the house before a walk. She is learning to enjoy car rides, especially when she sees Sonic
enthusiastically jump into any available open car door or hatch.
Unlike a lot of dogs, Josie will let you touch her ears, around her eyes, legs, and toes. She’s really easy to
towel off after a muddy walk. Being brushed goes over big, but that pales in comparison to having her
teeth brushed. Poultry flavored dog toothpaste is a big treat. I think it’s her version of going to the spa.
She tolerates a bath though it’s not her favorite thing. She has shed very little so far this summer.
One last thing. If you’re missing a sock, check Josie’s bed. It won’t be chewed up, it’s just a keepsake…
