Leo, a Dachshund and Jindo mix, entered the Seocheon Municipal Shelter in South Korea without his mother or littermates. He was rescued before euthanasia. He made the journey to the United States, spent time in foster care in New England, and is now home with his adoptive family.
He is a high-energy puppy still learning house rules — and, in his foster’s words, a dog who follows you even to the bathroom just to keep you company.
Leo is affectionate, cheerful, curious, social, and playful. He loves people, seeks out physical affection, follows his caregivers from room to room, and enjoys interactive play with people and dogs alike. He is observant, responsive, and eager to be part of whatever the family is doing.
He is a little timid but not truly fearful. His foster describes him as more considerate than most people they know — a puppy who approaches slowly, waits when another dog says no, and gives back more affection than he is given.
Leo must be adopted into a home with a friendly, active, playful resident dog. A home with only calm dogs, or no other dog at all, is not recommended. He genuinely enjoys canine companionship, reads other dogs’ social cues well, and thrives with an energetic playmate.
He is friendly with large and small dogs alike. He approaches gradually, backs away when another dog asks for space, and adjusts his play style to his partner. In his Korean foster home he played actively with an older male dog — an eight-year-old Italian Greyhound — and when the older dog had had enough, Leo would retreat, wag, and wait. In his current New England foster home, he lives with an adult Jindo mix.
Leo has not lived with cats. He has watched outdoor cats calmly, wagging rather than lunging, and has shown no aggression toward them — but he has never been properly tested with a cat indoors, so his compatibility with cats remains unknown. A home with a cat would need slow, carefully supervised introductions.
Small animals are not recommended at all. Leo showed strong interest in newly hatched quail and once picked one up. The bird was not injured, but he should not live with birds or other small pets.
| House trained | Well on his way! He loves going outside and does most of his business on walks, and when he needs to go indoors, he uses a pee pad. He is not yet fully house trained: in his Korean foster home he occasionally urinated on a sofa or defecated indoors, mostly when his routine changed or when he copied the resident dog’s indoor habits. A consistent outdoor schedule, close supervision, and reward-based training will help him finish the job — his Korean foster believes 99% outdoor potty habits are well within reach, provided no other dog in the home is eliminating indoors. |
| Alone time | He has stayed home for several hours alongside a resident dog, and his Korean foster reported successful absences of about five hours. An earlier foster observed separation distress — indoor urination and chewing items carrying the caregiver’s scent. It improved markedly once he moved to another Korean foster home with a resident dog. Expect a possible temporary return after adoption, and build alone time up gradually. |
| Barking | Generally quiet in previous foster reports. He may whine when he needs to go outside, and bark briefly at sounds near the door or when his caregivers return. No howling has been observed, and no neighbor complaints. |
| Destructive behavior | Leo may chew or tear clothing, soft fabric, diapers, and elastic items. He once swallowed a rubber band and later vomited it up. His home must be carefully puppy-proofed — clothing and small non-food objects need to stay out of reach. |
| Car rides | Mixed. Earlier Korean fosters reported vomiting on several rides, especially past about 50 minutes. His Korean foster managed rides of up to three hours in a pickup truck with no vomiting when he could lie on a cushion, even after eating. He needs to be lifted in and out. Plan for possible motion sickness on long trips and ask a vet about medication if needed. |
| Favorite activities | Squeaky balls and soft toys, chase games, and interactive play with people and his resident dog. Soft toys need supervision, since he may chew and swallow fabric or elastic. |
| Crate training | Not crate trained. Previous reports described him as hesitant to go in even for treats — he would give up the treat rather than enter. Crate training needs to be gradual and positive. |
| Grooming & handling | Tolerates baths and stays manageable, though he may move away. More comfortable having his nails trimmed gradually with treats afterward. Previous care included dental chews; tooth brushing had not been established yet. |
In his Korean foster home he had about three walks a day, usually 20 minutes each, plus active play with the resident dog. He is a high-energy puppy and needs the exercise, the play, and the enrichment together — walks alone will not be enough.
He enjoys walks and usually pulls only lightly. He may pick up food from the ground but generally responds to a verbal interruption. His recall is good in familiar settings — his foster says he will even leave his food to come when called — but he should stay leashed outdoors unless he is in a securely fenced area.
Leo is reported healthy with no known illnesses and no allergies observed. He is neutered and vaccinated. He receives NexGard Spectra every month for parasite prevention, and it must continue monthly year-round, including winter.
He weighed 22 lbs as of October 2026, with a normal body condition. His most recently reported food is Now Fresh Puppy. He has a good appetite and is not picky — though he may try to eat another dog’s food, so meals should be supervised. His favorite treats are sweet potato and meat-based ones. No resource guarding has been observed with food, toys, people, or resting spaces.
Required: a friendly, active, playful resident dog, and a family prepared for a high-energy puppy.
Best fit: patient adopters who can provide daily walks, energetic dog play, plenty of affection, gradual alone-time and crate training, consistent outdoor house training, and a securely puppy-proofed home. His foster asks for a family who will treat puppy mistakes as something to work through together rather than as misbehavior.
Not recommended: a home where Leo would be the only dog, a home with only calm dogs, or a home with birds or other small pets.
“He is a little timid, but he loves animals and people without reserve — he follows you even to the bathroom just to be near you. I don’t think anyone, in Korea or abroad, could dislike him. He needed no settling-in period at all: he loved his big brother (the resident dog) and his people from the very first day. He is more considerate than most people I know and always such a comfort — somehow the love we get back from him always feels bigger than the love we give.”
Leo has been adopted!
Leo has found his forever family. Many wonderful dogs are still waiting for theirs.