Imagineer's Irisz I's RWatch'n AKC TD, CGC, ASCA STDcd,OTDs,RTDs

How Irisz came into our lives had a bittersweet start. After Hazel passed away Joe was very heartbroken and wanted another companion, but who? It would be very difficult for another dog to come to our home and help sooth the loss of her. We knew another dog could never replace her but we wanted our pack to feel whole again.

Joe spent at least a hundred hours on the internet looking at Australian Shepherd websites, talking with friends, and basically networking to look for the right puppy. He ended up at Imagineer's site and looking at a beautiful red tri bitch named Spooner who would be having a litter soon. He showed her picture to me, and I started to giggle after looking at her pedigree, her father was Ez's father! (I thought there was a familiar something about her) This was a definite sign. We contacted Gemi and Eric about the litter and after much correspondence decided this would be the right litter. When they were 6 weeks old Joe and Roseanne drove to Ohio and Butch and I flew there. Joe and I spent hours upon hours (Thanks Gemi and Eric for being so patient) playing with all the puppies. Joe picked a spunky, cute, red merle fluffy girl to be his. Joe and his brother drove to Ohio when she was 8 weeks old to bring her home. That was an experience! She voiced her displeasure at being in a car over many state lines.

She has honestly been our easiest aussie to live with. She is usually quite biddable and enjoys many different activities and has a lot of stamina. She is excellent with children. We do not have any, but when some come to visit she is in Heaven! She enjoys meeting new people, she checks them out, and once they are deemed friends she never forgets them and greats them in a typical wild abandoned aussie fashion.

She is very much a thinker. Our other aussies jump into a new situation with complete abandon and generally not a clue as to what we are asking. Irisz trained us to be better trainers. Once we explain what we want in a consistent manner she will do what we ask of her. It has made entering stock trials with her a non-stressful event. We are still learning but are becoming a better team.

She also loves to track and she definitely enjoys the stinky articles. She is also quite the ham, when she finds an article she lays down. When I tell her to "kill it" she picks it up, swings it in the air, and grabs it again and prances with her caught "prey" to the nearest available spectator or judge. She demands that they be as impressed with her as she is! She has a strong and gregarious personality.