Exciting changes for Barney!

Well, Barney has been with me for five days and he is a completely different dog from when I picked him up on Sunday.  Here are some of the "exciting" updates:

• Barney got neutered on Tuesday.  He's not very excited about this, of course, but we all know it's a good thing for all animals to get spayed and neutered.  We had to go get a cone today because he's very upset about his recent loss and the incision bothers him tremendously.  Hopefully, the cone will help him heal faster. Here's a pic of him post surgery; we spent the evening cuddling:
  
• Barney started the week out "on lead," meaning that he had to wear a leash at all times in case he would hide in a place that I couldn't reach him.  As of last night, I decided to take him off the leash because he no longer runs from me.  While he doesn't come when called (yet), he will wait for me to come get him.
• Barney is very happy and inquisitive.  He loves to follow me around the house and watches whatever I'm doing.  His tail is nearly always wagging.  When we get up in the morning or open his cage after work, his whole body wiggles in excitment.
• Barney still gets scared occasionally, but his shaking is pretty minimal at this point.
• Barney loves his carrier and rides well in the car.  I keep it inside the house and he uses it as his safe place to retreat when he's feeling overstimulated.
• Barney hasn't had an accident in the house since Monday!!!!  I stopped using a diaper on him post-neuter and I don't think I'll need to use it again.  I take him out on a regular basis and he uses the potty outside.  I'm not calling it "housebroken" yet because I think it needs a week or two to make it official, but I'm very proud of him!
• Lastly, I'm very proud of Barney's progress outside.  The first few days, whenever I took Barney outside, he would shake uncontrollably and I would need to carry him outside and in.  On Tuesday night, we had a breakthrough!  I took him outside and when I went to sit on the stoop, he slowly made his way to me and came inside on his own.  Since then, he's begun walking around the yard more and he continues to follow me inside after he finishes his business.