Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Jonnatti
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Orlando in 2017 to study at the University of Central Florida. I genuinely had such an amazing experience at UCF, but after graduating, the #1 goal on my mind was settling down and adopting a dog. I’ve always been an animal person and after my childhood dog died, I needed a companion to put all of that love into. I got tremendously lucky in the fall of 2022 and rescued Lyra from a small organization near Sebring called Barking Out Loud Rescue.
Of course I was obsessed with her and taking as many pictures and videos as my phone could possible store. Our Instagram account started as just a platform to share those cute and funny moments with Lyra, sorta like a scrapbook. She was the craziest puppy I’d ever met, all bright eyes and velociraptor teeth. For some people, it might not be much, but I could never of imagined growing our following to as big as it is now. It’s been an absolute honor to create new and lasting friendships within our community and get the opportunity to explore Orlando together.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our journey has definitely had its ups and downs! As a preface, Siberian Huskies are one of the most prominent breeds found in shelters. This is for good reason, some people don’t do their research before adopting one and end up biting off way more than they can chew with a husky puppy. They are high energy dogs, often destructive and hard to train.
Of course Lyra was no exception- she was a very obstinate puppy and loved to get into trouble. She even chewed up a pair of AirPods once! I’ve always been set on training her with positive reinforcement only, but figuring out the HOW was tough for me and sometimes it felt insurmountable. Queue lots of YouTube videos, conversations with friends and Husky experts, plus some group training classes along the way…
After two years, our progress has been awesome. We’ve even collected a few AKC titles! Although I’m tremendously proud of how far she’s come, I want to be realistic and say it hasn’t been a complete 180 since puppyhood. She loves digging holes in the backyard and jumping when she gets excited. The optimist in me considers these personality quirks, but I know there’s always room for improvement. Training with her has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It’s forged an unbreakable bond between us and given me so much love and respect for Siberian Huskies as a breed.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The content I take the most pride in creating are posts centering around our experiences. Whether its celebrating at a local dog event or just going for a walk in the park, I love documenting our time through Lyra’s eyes and getting to share that with our friends. If I can offer advice or recommend a fun spot to another dog parent along the way, that’s even better.
As they always say- dogs are only a small part of our lives, but to them we’re their whole existence. It’s my personal goal to give my girl the best life she can possibly have.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can follow along with our adventures on Instagram! @lyrahuspy
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyrahuspy/
Image Credits
In order of appearance: Oviedo on the Park, Secret Lake Park, Edward Perry (@wondersoflifestudios) at Dog Sports Unlimited, n/a, Pups Pub Orlando, Potter’s Wax Museum in St. Augustine with Henry Flagler, Harry P Leu Gardens, Lake Underhill Park, Hot Dog! Pet Photography (@hotdogpetphoto)
