Leonidas the Pack Leader

As expected, the older grandkids really liked Leonidas! Kylie (10) even walked him up and down the street. They actually did very well. I neglected to get any action photos - sorry about that.

He is still a big brute and wants to be the center of attention! It will be extremely important for Spec A to establish himself as the pack leader because Leonidas is a very dominant type dog and constantly demonstrates that behaviour.

I believe the only reason he has made so much progress is because he has learned that he is no longer the pack leader (and he forgets and reverts often!) I'm confident that he has always been a pack leader and has never before been anything but a pack leader. However, with that said, he has changed a lot since he has been with me and I need to make sure that Spec A will continue as his pack leader for the best chance of success for both Spec A and Leonidas.

Here are a few more things I've noticed about him:
- will chase his tail
- will chew on anything (including power cords, sticks, landscape lights, etc... )
- like golf balls and chewed the cover off one
- likes to play tug of war and will bring the rope to you when he wants to play
- will now bring a ball back to my hand if he's not distracted
- will poke holes in a tennis ball and even "destroy" them if he's allowed to chew them
- is still shedding - a lot
- will bark at strangers, cats and squirrels, but will let anyone approach and pet him if they are not too scared - the mail lady got out of her truck and came to meet him even after he barked at her from across the street - I think he really liked her and she liked him too

I've told Leonidas many times that if he were a little nicer and showed more manners, more people would pet him - he is just not at that place yet. :-)

I did get him a vest, however, it was WAY too small and he didn't like wearing it anyway. I mentioned before, he also doesn't like wearing a "harness" and much prefers the wide collar. I'm going to try to get him another vest - one that fits and hopefully he will wear. I think this is something that will take a little time for him to get used to and he will - just will take some time.

I think he will get another bath on THR this week.