What type of animal is Leo? F1b English Mini-Goldendoodle, 6 years old.

Tell us about how Leo became a part of your family: I got him from Indiana in 2018, and drove to pick him up. It took us 9 hours to drive back and he was 8 weeks old. He did great in the car, and continues to be a great driving companion. 

What is the story behind Leo's name? Yes, my mom is originally from Brazil, and she and I are huge soccer fans. He was scheduled to come home with me the same week as the 2018 FIFA World Cup, so I almost named him Pickles after the famous dog who found the stolen World Cup trophy and saved the 1966 games.  But when I picked him up, I didn't think he looked like a Pickles.  So he was named Mr. Puppy for his first week with me. I finally decided to name him Leopold, which I thought fit better and was in homage to my mom's hometown Leopoldina in Brazil. I also added his middle name, Neymar, who is a Brazilian soccer player in celebration of the 2018 World Cup.  

What is special about him? I was hoping I could certify him as an Emotional Support Animal, but as he got closer to his first birthday, he showed signs of fear-based reactivity towards other dogs. When he moved into his adolescent years, he barked and lunged at other dogs. The pandemic was actually helpful for us outside, because everyone stayed at least 6-feet apart. I've worked with some great DC dog trainers (currently Juliana from JW Dog Training) and he has a veterinary behaviorist (Dr. Amy Pike is great!). Ultimately, it turns out he needs as much support from me as I need from him.  So I've started calling him my Mutual Support Animal.  He still gets nervous outside, so if you see him outside, we will keep our distance from other dogs and please no petting.    

What do you like best about Leo? Even with all his quirks, he is a great indoor dog and loves getting belly rubs.  

Tell us some funny stories about him: I call him "Indoor Leo" and "Outdoor Leo" because of his two personalities, he loves photo shoots and even has his own an Instagram @leopoldtheminidoodle