Leo is AWESOME! Such a sweet soul, which defies logic in my thinking. Given his history on a puppy mill you’d think he’d have some personality issues, but he’s been gentle, loving, and rarely barks. He loves people, is intrigued by little dogs but has been friendly, and has been melting many hearts.

After working with him in the first month on his name, it breaks my heart to think people thought he might be deaf. Instead, he was probably never spoken to, so human speech held no meaning. He now knows his name, basic commands, and is picking up on visual cues like me grabbing the car keys or his leash. You know, like a normal dog. He’s also surprisingly well behaved in public spaces, like dog-friendly patios.

I think we’ve figured out his allergies, which have really subsided under Cytopoint injections. Pred worked, but it made him pee all the time and really isn’t sustainable over a long period of time. I’m wondering if they are seasonal too. Time will tell.

We’re working on jumping into the car with consistency (he knows how, it’s just still a small battle), getting to know water, and other things that he’s missed out on.

I have yet to get him working on stairs, but that’s also on the list.