Leona

Leona is a sweet and spunky little girl. She appears to be a chihuahua mix, possibly with a dash of Feist. Although she was initially estimated to be 3 years old, her behavior and energy level after settling into her foster home suggest that she may be closer to 1-2 years old. She weighs about 9.5 pounds.

Leona is house-trained, but because she is still young, she needs to go outside every couple of hours to reinforce her training. She would love a securely fenced yard, but one is not required because she walks like a superstar on her leash. In moderate temperatures, she can easily walk more than one mile!

This bright, playful girl is happiest when she has an active family and a canine playmate who is at least her size and has a similar energy level and enthusiasm for play. Leona gets along wonderfully with her three foster siblings; however, they are all seniors and much smaller than she is. When she gets excited, Leona can play a little roughly, so she would do best with a confident, playful dog who can match her energy level and with people who will supervise interactions and help her practice good manners.

Leona also loves chewing on her antler bones and especially enjoys tearing apart her colorful wool balls. These wool balls are nontoxic and designed to be destroyed. Her fosters will send a few along with her in case her new family would like to continue providing her favorite toy. So far, Leona has not shown much interest in stuffed toys, ropes or tug toys, although that could change.

Leona can be cautious when meeting new people, but she warms up quickly-especially when they have cheese or dog cookies! Patient introductions, positive reinforcement, and allowing her to approach at her own pace will help her feel comfortable and build trust.

Leona sleeps quietly through the night in bed with her people, and we would like that to continue in her new home. She is generally quiet, but when she does not immediately get her way, she can become loud and vocal. She is a fast learner though, and usually settles down quickly. Leona is crate-trained, but she may initially cry before settling down. Her new family should be prepared to continue building her comfort with the crate and to use consistent, reward-based training to help her mature.

For these reasons, Leona needs a family with breed experience who understands that her small size comes with plenty of energy, opinions and personality. She will thrive with people who enjoy daily walks, interactive play, structure and continued training-and who will appreciate her affectionate, entertaining nature. Because of her small size, Leona needs a home with adults only, or if there are children in the home they must be responsible and respectful towards animals.

Leona is a beautiful, energetic and intelligent dog who very much wants to be someone's special baby. If you live in the Central Florida/Orlando area and believe you have the active, patient and committed home she needs, please complete an application and tell us more about yourself!