"She's pretty small for her age," said Beth Schneider of her 6 month-old Cocker Spaniel, Leah Lou. "I think she was the runt of the litter. I grew up with a dog, but she's my first puppy. I just fell in love with her."

Leah Lou was playing at the Golden Gardens dog park, trying to lure larger dogs into chasing her.

"But when the big dogs do chase after her, she freaks out," said Schneider as Leah Lou ran toward her and clasped her ankle for cover as large labs and retrievers playfully circled.

Soon Leah Lou will have the opportunity to pick on someone her own size.

Schneider explained, "We're moving in with my sister in Chicago this August. She has two pugs, so Leah Lou will meet her cousins for the first time."