Meet Winston

This is Winston.  He's a Poodle/Pomeranian mix.  He's my brother and SIL new puppy.  He's just adorable.  They lost their dog Albert last October to old age.  We knew a new pup was coming along as soon as their trip to Hong Kong was over, which was in February.

The one thing we all can't quite get over is Winston's resemblance to Albert.  Normally, that wouldn't be something to be concerned about except that Albert was... errr... what's the right word... hmmm.... psycho.  I guess that's the right word.  He bit me 3 times over the years and even I wouldn't say he was mean or vicious.  As long and you didn't touch him he would not bite you.  Crabby... is that the right word?  He was pretty much crabby from a very early age.  When my brother would tell us stories like how Albert had severed his left nostril we would just laugh.  Then we made jokes about it.  Like "don't smile until it's completely heeled."  Inferring his nostril would snap up like a window shade.  As the years wore on it just wasn't funny anymore.  He bit my brother and his wife so many times they lost count.  Of course Albert lived to be nearly 19.

(We love to mess with his hair, don't think he particularly likes it though.)

So, we were all trained to avoid a small whitish brown dog and in walks Winston.  We all need retraining.  Only problem is Winston has some mental issues too.  He's 4 months old and my brother knew he wasn't treated well at the home he was at.  Not that he was physically hurt in any way, but that he was chased around and shoved into a kennel a lot.  That's the theory.  Winston has bonded to my brother and wife.  He really wants nothing to do with anyone else.  He's also very territorial for such a young thing.  He doesn't know how to greet another dog nor does he want to.

My dog's first encounter was going to be on a leash as she is quite bossy, BUT with the excitement and lateness of us arriving at the cabin that didn't happen.  In walked my dog thinking the cabin was dogless when a white furry things lunges at her.  I'm only guessing, but I think my dog thought a cat or squirrel was in the house.  Winston got something he wasn't ready for and that was a full on chase by something 3 times his size.   I caught Little Star on the stairs as Winston headed up and then decided he didn't want to go up to no man's land.  Little Star just wanted to sniff him and find out what he was.  Little Star literally scared the poop out of him.  My brother scooped Winston up and 2 little pellets shot out of him.

My dad was convince Little Star was trying to eat Winston, but my brother and I knew different.  We knew with both dogs on a leash they would get use to each other and they did.  Quite quickly too.  Once my Little Star knew there was a dog in the house she settled right down.  Once she learned Winston wanted nothing to do with her she remembered to stay away.  See she was trained to stay away from Albert too.  No new training there.

We have high hopes for Winston though.  He's cute, once you can get hold of him he's cuddly and he doesn't bite!  My brother and his wife are committed to making him a good citizen.  They have already had their first puppy class.  They are working hard at socializing him.  He's so adorable we're glad he's found a safe haven with us.

PS. My parents are getting a new poodle puppy this Wednesday.  After their heart break in January when they lost their beloved Twinkle to liver cancer they decided it was lonely without the companionship of a dog.