Leo with an avocado he recently harvested

Last May, I wrote a blog post, Lessons from Leo, where I shared why my husband Drew and I felt like we’d hit the jackpot with our new fox-colored lab puppy, and some of the important lessons he was teaching us. Leo celebrated his second birthday two days ago, which inspired me to write a sequel: Lessons from Leo II.

Before I share more Leo-inspired wisdom, I must disclose that this past year with our adorable pup wasn’t all about fun and frolicking. Leo spent a good part of it plagued by terrible allergies and tummy issues until we finally discovered his long list of food and environmental sensitivities.

Leo also turned out to be overly adept at fruit harvesting. The little farm we live on has more than 100 fruit and nut trees, and Leo and his older brother Henry have mastered impressive vertical leaps and seem to have insatiable appetites for produce. Unchecked, the two of them will pick countless plums, apples, avocados, Asian pears, figs and persimmons from branches of every height, furiously gobbling up their bounty until they get sick. So now, instead of letting them roam free, we need to keep our untrained farm dogs on leashes. Leo either doesn’t remember that we are tethered together or truly believes that being leashed equals a game of tug-of-war. I am constantly being pulled and yanked by Leo who weighs over 80 pounds and is incredibly strong.

Despite it all, Leo continues to bring immense joy into our lives in myriad ways. He is an exuberant being who embodies sweetness, love and delight. So in honor of Leo’s second birthday, here are some more lessons he’s been teaching me that I am most grateful for:

1—Chores don’t have to be a chore. One of the cutest things Leo does is happily carry his food bowl back to the laundry room with his tail a-twirling after eating while I carry Henry’s bowl. I never trained Leo to do this, he just started helping out spontaneously when he was little pup. To Leo, bowl-clearing is just one of many fun activities he relishes, which reminds me how much better life is when I embrace everything I “must do”—from laundry to dishes to brushing my teeth—as an opportunity to enjoy myself versus simply something to endure.

Leo never bites or nips, even when eagerly awaiting treats with his nephew Hank (left) and brother Henry (right)

2—Always be gentle. One of Leo’s most lovely qualities is how remarkably gentle he is. From the time he was a small puppy, he was always careful with his mouth, never biting or hurting anyone with his sharp baby teeth like most young dogs. He appears to truly tune into whoever he’s with (except for me when I have him on a leash), instinctively knowing if some sweet show of affection is called for rather than rambunctious play. Because of his kind and careful manner, Leo inspires calm and trust. As I aspire to cultivate more the wonderful quality of gentleness, Leo sets a terrific example.

3—Do what delights you. Leo knows what he wants to do, and it’s frequently different from whatever everyone else is doing. Every day he can be seen exploring new places, making up games, or perching himself in unusual locations. Leo helps me remember the feelings of freedom, joy and relaxation that arise when I look inside myself to discover what I truly desire rather than taking my clues from the outside—what other people, society and my habitual conditioning tell me I ought to be doing or wanting.

Leo enjoying the earthy taste of a pinecone

4—Enjoy time in nature. Watching Leo’s glee as he investigates the natural world—cocking his head to listen to bird calls, burying his snout deep in the soil, exuberantly running and exploring—reminds me that being in nature is endlessly fascinating and fun. Leo motivates me to get offline and outside more often.

5—Keep learning new tricks. Leo is always surprising me by coming up with new games. His latest is getting on my bed and rolling his ball between his extra-long front legs off the edge right into my lap. Leo must know what studies show: continually learning new things is healthy for our brains, boosts confidence, makes us feel accomplished, breaks us out of our ruts, and enhances self-esteem, satisfaction and optimism.

6—It’s okay to be different. Leo is very different from every dog I have ever known. Not only is his personality eccentric (he likes to chew rocks, for example), he requires 50% more food than a typical dog his size to keep him at a healthy weight. The importance of lovingly embracing who we naturally are is one of life’s most challenging and important lessons. As Maya Angelou says, “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Leo, who is 100% confident that he’s worthy of boundless love just as he is, is a wonderful role model.

7—Take time alone when you want it. Although Leo is a very sociable fellow, he often gets up and leaves the room where everyone else has congregated to settle himself in an empty room for some alone time. This can last for can last for ten minutes or two hours. As someone who relaxes best when I am by myself, I admire how Leo does this. Solitude offers me a chance to tune into what I am feeling, relax, reset, and revitalize. If Leo takes alone time when he wants it, so should I!

Leo (right) having a cuddle nap with his brother Henry

8—Be a cuddle-bug. Leo is a magnificent cuddler. He snuggles up close and places his head where it’s easy to pet as he relaxes completely, soaking up the loving attention. It turns out that cuddles not only feel delicious, they also promote health and happiness by stimulating the release of oxytocin, the calming “love” hormone which reduces stress, improves immune function, elevates our mood, relieves pain, lowers our risk of heart disease, and helps us sleep better. No wonder Leo makes me feel so happy!

Happy 2nd birthday Leo. Thank you for all the joy and important life lessons!

Read “Lessons from Leo” and “Lessons from Leo III”