It is with mixed feelings that I announce that Winona (who we talked about days ago in our 2012 goals) went to a new home on Friday. After their weekend trial period, her new family has fallen in love with her.
Winona at 7 weeks
I get frequent enquiries about border terriers, and Winona has been ‘on offer’ for a while – however, with certain conditions. Namely, that we can continue to show her to her title, and that we can have a litter from her at a later date. This is a pretty big ask.
Her new family contacted me after their border terrier cross died, and after a lot of consideration, came to visit. To say that Winona and I haven’t bonded would be an understatement… And this meant I didn’t have a lot of good things to say about her. Winnie barks. A lot. Winnie is mouthy when she’s over excited. Winnie isn’t toilet trained.
Her new family thought she was cool, despite this. Clearly a case of different horses for different courses.
I said I would show her some weekends, and she’d have to be available to me until she got her title. She would also have to come back for a litter and, if there was only boys or crap in her litter, then I would need another one.
Her new family understood that she was important to my breeding program. I wouldn’t accept a dog on these conditions but, again, who am I to say no?
They gave me a call on their first night, and told me that Winnie had spent the afternoon watching TV with their daughter on the couch. I clarified, yes, on the couch with their daughter. At my house, Winnie wouldn’t sit on the couch with me – she’d prefer to sit on the couch on the other side of the room. I laughed at her independence, but was secretly offended.
I’m thinking, perhaps Winnie and I were just not meant to get along.
Winona at 1 year old, a few weeks ago
I know this has worked out for the best for me, for my existing dogs, for Winnie, and probably her new family too (seeing they like her and all).
Winnie, while living here, was just a dog. Now she gets the opportunity to be Winnie.
Good luck, Winnie. I’ll pick you up for our next show and we’ll hang out again then.
Winona with new friend Diago, the staffy x shih tzu.
LOL!
Good luck Winnie
Dachshund Nola
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Winnie is super cute. I am not sure I would have taken her under those circumstances either but apparently this was her perfect family. Yay Winnie!
Thanks for stopping by, Jessica. Both me and her new family think they’ve done well out of the whole arrangement – so it’s a Win/Win (hehe) situation.
aww, it’s so nice to see that she’s enjoying her new home. as much as the thought of re-homing a dog can be sad, i think if it’s done with care and to better the life of the dog, it’s smarter to admit to the fact that the relationship isn’t working out and perhaps it could with another family. i commend you for being brave.
Hi Lauren. Thanks for your comment. Obviously, I agree with you. 😉 So far they haven’t found Winnie too noisy, or too mouthy, and they think she’s getting better with her toilet training… If they can achieve that much in a week, then I think something about my environment was bringing out ‘the worst’ in Winnie. It’s definitely working out for Winnie and her new family.