My name is Winston!

Winston is a very special dog and we are sad to have to say goodbye. He is a happy boy, very low maintenance, and a wonderful house guest. He is also a perfect little spoon – if I could cuddle him all day I would!! He attaches to his humans and is eager to please. He is an “easy”, calm dog and just wants to be loved and have some fun! Winston is approximately 1 1/2 – 2 years old and currently weighs 31 lbs.

Here is what else Winston’s foster family had to say:

Winston is a calm, gentle, sweet dog. At 30 pounds, he is a great size if you want a “big” dog in a smaller package. He is a strong boy but has such a calm demeanour and has been friendly with everyone he meets. He surely was someone’s pet before coming to us considering he is pretty well mannered and has excellent social cues with humans and dogs.

Winston came to us at a healthy weight and doesn’t seem to have any health issues at all. He is a great eater, pooper, and sleeper 🙂 He is calm and well mannered yet still has the energy for long walks and lots of playtime! He is very calm and well behaved in the home. If given a chance, however, he can run around like a cheetah! When Winston first arrived in our home, he was shedding an unbelievable amount! However, after a bath and a good brush, he has the most beautiful, soft coat and sheds low-moderately. I imagine he was never bathed or brushed before coming into our care.

Winston is a social dog – he is happy to meet anyone, even children. However, he is not the type of dog that craves much attention and doesn’t seem interested in lots of pets or cuddles (until its bed time 🙂 ). To me, this is a great trait as he is often happy just observing and doesn’t require all your attention. Winston has not had the chance to meet many stranger dogs, but has been a great roommate to my chihuahua, Ray. Even with little Ray being bossy and space-sensitive a lot of the time, Winston has never snapped back nor has he shown any aggression. Winston appears to have excellent social cues when interacting with Ray. As well, Winston has walked past other dogs on walks and watches them out the window and does NOT react. I imagine he would be great with any dog with proper introductions. He is such a gentle, easy going guy. Winston does not appear to be shy with anyone.

Winston does not show any signs of separation anxiety. Of course he wants to go wherever his humans are going but he’s content to take a nap in his crate if he must. Not a peep from him and he doesn’t even jump out of the crate once opened. Though we crate him at bedtime and when he’s home alone, he is not destructive and would likely be totally fine if left loose. Winston is a happy-go-lucky kind of dog and has been a champ on walks, in the car, and even on the boat!! He loves playing with any toys or a tennis ball. He is good at keeping himself entertained, even with an ice cube!! Winston is very quiet in the home. He may let out one or two barks if he hears someone coming to the door, but otherwise, he’s quiet as a mouse.

Winston is a great house guest. He does not get into anything he shouldn’t, and responds well if he gets shooed away or told NO. He does love food and will look at you with his sad eyes while you’re eating. I don’t doubt that he would steal your food if you left it alone for a few minutes but he has not tried to counter surf even though he can reach. He is house trained and does his business outside. Winston knows “sit”. He definitely needs training for his recall/come command, but he is a smart cookie and will learn fast. During the day, Winston is in his crate when home alone.. anywhere from 0-5 hours. He sleeps in there at night as well. Doesn’t usually go in on his own but doesn’t resist when being led in. He lays right down and appears to be relaxed. Its worth noting that when at the cottage without his crate, he slept in one spot on the floor all night. It only took one correction for him to understand that he was not invited on the bed.

Winston loves his walks and gets excited to smell all the smells. He pulls quite a bit but after the initial excitement of getting outside and some corrections, he eventually slows down and will walk at my side. We tried using a Halti that clips under the chin but he did not like that. He will likely do better with a chest halti instead or better yet, properly leash trained. Winston has tried to bolt out the front door but likely because he thought he was going for a walk. He usually listens if told to “stay back”. Winston drove three hours in the car to and from our cottage and was great, not a peep. He enjoyed looking out the windows.

Due to Winston being so easy going, I think he would do well in pretty much any environment. He would be happiest with anyone who has the time and energy to make sure he is properly exercised and stimulated. Preferably someone with a big yard for him to sprint around in but not necessary as long as he gets his walk, etc. I could see him being the perfect companion to a single man or woman, but I think he would also love being a part of a family. If placed with another dog, I would recommend one closer to his size so that they can play and play (him and Ray struggled in that department due to the size difference). Anyone who ends up with Winston is extremely lucky and I hope for updates!!!

If you think this pet would be a good choice for your situation, please visit our main website at http://www.uglymuttsdogrescue.com and submit an adoption application.