WINSTON.

Let us introduce you to Winston, a very dapper and distinguished young gentleman! Winston is a nine-month-old Cocker Spaniel who came to MUTTS as an owner surrender, through no fault of his own. He’s been lapping up every second of his new life in foster care, and has shown himself to be quite the loyal companion! It’s time for Winston to start the search to find his new family!

There is no denying that Winston has a real zest for life! One of his favourite activities is meeting new people and dogs, and since he loves going for walks, he has plenty of opportunity to make friends! Winston is very good at reading the body language of any pup that he encounters, and if he feels the other dog is a bit too hyper for his liking, he’ll stick close to his foster. His excitement when meeting new humans has resulted in jumping, but Winston is quickly learning to respond to “down” or “off,” and this behavior is already improving! When it comes to children, he instinctively knows to be extra gentle and loves giving kisses. Winston would thrive in a variety of family environments, but given his love of hanging with his humans, the jackpot would be an active family who can commit to spending lots of time with him and including him on as many adventures as possible!

If there’s one thing Winston can’t get enough of, it’s affection! It’s safe to say he’s pretty obsessed with his foster and spends a good portion of his day tracking her every move. He loves to follow his foster around, or at least have eyes on her (he cares not for anyone’s desire for privacy!). Winston prefers to be within a few feet of his foster, and will move closer if she moves away. This has translated into separation anxiety, and though he hasn’t shown any destructive behaviours, he will cry when he is alone. He hasn’t been left on his own that often, but if his foster pops into a coffee shop and leaves him outside, he cries the whole time. Winston has done some crate training and other than a bit of whining, he settles quickly (though this has yet to be tested for a longer duration). Winston’s adoptive family should be prepared to address this sooner rather than later so Winston can build his confidence and become more comfortable hanging on his own!

Winston currently receives about two cumulative hours of walks per day (one longer, two shorter), as well as lots of playtime. He loves a good round of zoomies, as well as playing fetch and tug o’ war, and is also very good at keeping himself occupied with chew toys. He sometimes confuses paper towel or tissues as acceptable chew toys, but doesn’t seem to mind when those are replaced with actual toys. His leash walking skills could use some improvement – he likes to pull, especially at the beginning of a walk – and he has shown a prey drive for squirrels and birds. He’s learned a few basic commands and excellent recall! Winston barks on occasion, namely when he can’t see the source of a noise, or when someone enters the house.

Winston is microchipped, neutered and up to date with his vaccines. He has been dealing with an ear infection, though this is fairly standard for the Cocker Spaniel breed. To keep Winston looking and feeling his best, his adopters must commit to regular grooming. His foster noted that he requires consistent brushing, eye care and general hygiene, but thankfully he’s a HUGE fan of being brushed and does not fuss at all. Winston is potty trained, though he did have a few accidents when he first arrived. Regular bathroom breaks have been key to helping Winston stay on track with his potty training – though he has been known to pee when excited!

Little Winston is ready for a fresh start with his new family! If you’re looking for a pal who will smother you with affection, help carry sticks on walks, and eagerly join in on your Sunday self care routine, our boy Winston is the perfect pup for you!

SOCIABILITY: Humans (adults and children) and dogs; not cat tested
ENERGY: Medium
QUIRKS: He LOVES being groomed! Once he spots the brush, he will either lay belly-up or sit right on top of his foster so he can be brushed!
TRAINING NEEDS: Continued basic obedience, leash skills, separation anxiety, continued training re: proper introductions to new people and dogs
WEIGHT: 27lbs
MEDICAL NEEDS: None
FOSTER LOCATION: Toronto