Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Dog Name: Winston (also responds to Win & Winnie), 1 year old (born June 2023)
Good with dogs? Absolutely 100%. We believe Win’s preferred living situation would be with other dogs.
Good with kids? Yes. Might be good with older kids (6+) for the next year or so because Winston is still figuring out how to control his body and he’s very floppy and can be clumsy.
Good with cats? TBD, extremely curious about cats; probably would do well with cats that are accustomed to dogs.
Has experience on a leash? Yes, getting better with a leash. Responds best on a Martingale collar. Chest or back-led harnesses result in too much pulling. We’ve been working on Win’s response to seeing other dogs/people while on walks, along with walking beside his human (to prevent pulling), waiting at crosswalks. Win’s is very food-motivated, so a stash of treats on every walk have produced so much improvement in Win’s on-leash behaviors.
Potty trained? Yes. Win’s cue that he needs a potty break is a sudden zoomies outburst. But with regular walks & breaks outside, Winston’s been very good with his potty training.
Crate trained? No. Does not like crates at all. Crates exacerbate Win’s separation anxiety.
Where does the dog stay when it is home alone? Puppy-proofed level of house. Baby gates/closed doors prevent entry into specific zones of home. Win’s responds very well to baby gate boundaries (but the gates need to be taller than usual gates, because he can/will jump those like an Olympic-hurdler).
Where does the dog sleep? Prefers to snuggle in bed with humans (he’s the little spoon), but also sleeps in his dog bed & on the floor beside bed.
When does the dog eat? Morning & evening (6am, 6pm), plus snacks/training treats throughout the day.
What does the dog eat? Kibble with fish oils – current home will provide name/brand of food, along with a supply for transition. We went through several variations of food to find one that works very well with his digestion (he doesn’t have a sensitive stomach, just wanted to find a good food that filled him up and generated good poos). And the fish oils because wire-terrier can have sensitive skin issues.
Temperament/Personality: Winston is an extremely lovable pup who loves being a floppy, silly dog. He’s very bright, picks up on training quickly; a wiz who has no problems figuring out food puzzles. Win is also very snuggly – if you’re sitting on the couch, he will want to sit beside you, if not on you. If you’re working at a table or desk, he’ll be under your feet. At bedtime, he’s the little spoon. Winston is VERY social & outgoing – he loves being around other dogs. At daycare, at the dog park, if there’s another dog around, Winston wants to be with that dog (big or small, young or old).
Winston also has separation anxiety – he does not like/enjoy being alone and being alone can cause physical separation anxiety symptoms (panting, pacing, howling, drooling) along with destructive behaviors. Current home has been working with Winston & a behavior therapist to improve Winston’s ability to be alone and he has been responding great to the exercises. He’s made it up to 3 hours (with proper preparation & his daily medication) being solo at home (current routine includes a massive walk/play session beforehand, harry potter audio book playing, a frozen peanut butter kong, all windows and curtains closed to reduce outside noise/distractions).
What does the dog's ideal home look like? First and foremost, at least one other dog so Winston can be the little brother, and always have somebody to be with. For the humans, ideally at least one person who’s home more often than not (a remote worker or stay-at-home parent). Older kids are good (maybe 6 or older) just because Winston’s still young and learning to control his floppy body (Win’s never bit or been aggressive at all with kids or adults).
What are the dog's strengths?
Winston is very quick to pick up on training/obedience skills – he’s very food motivated (not aggressive though) and with dedication and repetition, he seems keen to pick up on just about anything. Current list of commands are sit, down (to lay down), stay (still a work in progress), off (if he’s on anything he shouldn’t be), bed (to get him in his bed), settle (a calm down command, usually preceded by ‘bed’ so he gets on bed, and then settles down), leave it (to keep him away from things he shouldn’t put in his mouth – also have had success using this when he sees crows or cats on our walks), drop it (whatever’s in his mouth, he drops), scoot (he moves a little if he’s on couch/bed and you want to sit down), back up (he’ll walk backward to move out of the kitchen, usually), out (whatever room he’s in, he leaves).
What is the dog still working on? What can they improve?
Building trust & working on his separation issues. I do believe with a home with another dog, Win’s anxiety will be reduced. We’ve had a family dog in our home for a few days and Win loved every moment of it and we saw zero anxiety signs. Regardless of where Winston finds his forever home, working to build trust and reducing anxiety when the humans have to leave is a key area of improvement.
If your foster were a celebrity, who would they be?
Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf – he’s lovable, so excited to see everyone, believes in Santa, will eat anything left on the counter and sometimes makes mistakes but didn’t mean to hurt anybody/anything.
If your foster dog were on a dating site, what would their profile say?
If you're looking for a good boy, look no further.
I do not like walks on the beach, but am totally down to Netflix and Chill, as long as I get to hold the popcorn bowl.
Beach or Mountains?
Mountains – Winston doesn’t seem to be too fond of hot weather or water too much. But he loves a good walk/sniff-fari and a good hike fits that bill!
Squeaky/Bouncy/Chewy, what do they look for in a toy?
Chewy & squeaky – he loves chewing on his chew sticks and the squeaky toys just get him so excited, especially to rip it apart and see what’s make the squeak.
Complete this sentence “My foster wishes they had a friend with whom they could share…..”
Every. Waking. Moment. Of fun and awesomeness.
What’s your foster’s favorite dessert?
Peanut butter – frozen in a kong, from a spoon, leftover on someone’s plate. Peanut butter everything. Also, the occasional pup cup/whipped cream is pretty awesome too.
Winston is being rehomed due to anxiety. He is currently on medication but the current family has noticed that he doesn't seem to be as anxious with another dog around. He is being rehomed to find a doggy sibling.
Rehoming fee $350
www.northwestwagrescue.org
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