Winston Pup Unleashed
Meet Winston: my wavy-to-curly, Irish Setter–Poodle mix, strawberry-blonde supervisor of all things yard, garden, and cozy and sometimes crochet. He was born on my birthday (11/3/2019), which feels exactly right, because clearly the universe decided I needed a furry twin with better hair and louder opinions.
He is a sweet, snuggly lover boy who believes three things with his whole heart:
- We are his people.
- The yard is his kingdom.
- There is danger absolutely everywhere… probably… maybe… better bark just in case.
And no, he is not available for adoption. This guy’s spoken for – forever.
The Winston Owner’s Manual
Model: Irish Setter / Poodle Mix
Finish: Former deep auburn, currently faded to “strawberry blonde heartthrob”
Primary Functions: Supervising the hubs, monitoring imaginary danger, and snuggling.
1. Respecter of All The Things
Winston would never dream of chewing on anything that belongs to us or doing something he knows he shouldn’t do. Shoes? Off limits. Furniture? Untouched. Yarn? Safely ignored (bless him).
He respects our stuff like it’s his job… which, frankly, it kind of is.
2. The Professional Sitter
Winston believes sitting is the highest form of communication.
- Want to go outside? Sit.
- Want a treat? Sit.
- Confused? Sit.
- Don’t entirely understand what the humans are babbling about? Sit and stare meaningfully until they figure it out.
Sitting is his love language and his negotiation strategy.
3. The Morning “Not a Person”
Winston is absolutely not a morning dog. He sleeps in late, waiting until we are properly up and around before he slowly unspools from his latest pretzel-pose, gives a big yawn, and stretches like he’s just completed a twelve-hour shift.
If you’re looking for a 5 a.m. jogging partner, Winston politely declines. He will meet you around… brunch.
4. The Contortionist Napper
Winston sleeps like someone half-assembled him and didn’t read the instructions.
Legs up.
Spine gently question-marked.
Head askew.
He looks like a canine yoga model specializing in the pose “Soft Pretzel With Extra Twist.”
And he is so pleased about it.
5. The Siren of Imaginary Danger
Leaf falls? Bark.
Bird flaps? Bark.
A squirrel three yards away thinks a thought? BARK BARK BARK.
He alerts us to all potential threats—real, imagined, or possibly happening in another zip code. If Winston is quiet, either he’s asleep… or plotting how to retrieve a toy from under the couch.
6. Fetch Champion / Game Supervisor
Winston lives for fetch. He runs crazy fast—fur flying, ears blowing back, sprinting like an Olympic athlete chasing gold. You can’t catch him. He is pure joy in motion.
If we’re not retrieving his toy fast enough, he has notes.
He’ll bark or give a low grumbly growl that clearly translates to:
“HELLO. EXCUSE ME. THE TOY HAS BEEN RETURNED. THROW IT AGAIN, PLEASE.”
Occasionally, he takes a fetch break and goes to lounge on our bed like a king between rounds. Even athletes need rest.
7. The Great Escape (With Squeaky Recall)
Given the opportunity, Winston loves to take off for a quick jaunt into the neighbor’s field or a joy run into the woods. Because, obviously, patrol routes must be expanded.
Does he come back when called? Sometimes.
Does he come back when someone squeaks a squeaky toy like a maniac? Oh, absolutely. He rockets back like he’s been launched. Squeaky toy = homing beacon.
8. The Hubs’ Right-Hand Dog
The hubs is Winston’s main “outside buddy.” Winston spends a lot of time with him, supervising lawn mowing, garden work, and whatever mysterious project is happening next.
From Winston’s point of view:
- The hubs works.
- Winston supervises.
- Everyone comes inside tired and happy.
Perfect system.
9. The “Ask Mom” Guy
Oddly enough, even though the hubs takes him outside, Winston always comes to me when he needs to go.
He walks over, gently places his head in my lap, and stares up with soulful, pleading eyes like:
“Mother. A matter of great importance requires your attention.”
It works every single time.
10. Champion Snuggler & Lean-In Lover Boy
Winston is a sweetheart. When he wants cuddles, he’ll come over, lean in, close his eyes, and just soak in the contact.
He doesn’t need toys, treats, or a reason—just contact and calm.
Instant stress relief. Instant heart melt. I love it.
11. Olympic-Level Leaps
We have five steps from the ground to our front porch. Winston takes all of them in one flying leap—graceful, effortless, dramatic.
It’s like watching a furry gymnast dismount the balance beam with flair.
Every time, we gasp. Every time, he acts like it’s nothing.
12. Known Aliases
The hubs is responsible for pretty much all these nicknames:
- Dudes
- Little Dude
- Winster Dinster Doodle Dandy
- Buddy
- Budzer
Winston answers to all of them.
Winston FAQ
Why do you call him “Winston Pup” if he’s not a puppy?
Because it instantly tells readers he’s a dog—not a child, coworker, or neighbor I keep mentioning. It’s his official “newsletter name,” like a stage name… but furrier.
What kind of dog is Winston?
He’s an Irish Setter / Poodle mix—sometimes called an “Irish Doodle.” Around here, we mostly call him “Winston,” “Buds,” or my personal favorite, “Winster Dinster Doodle Dandy.”
What does Winston look like?
He’s a wavy-to-curly strawberry blonde boy. When he was younger, he was a deeper auburn. Over time he’s faded into more of a soft, golden, sun-kissed look. Think fluffy redhead who’s spent a few summers in the garden.
Does Winston chew on your yarn or crochet projects?
Shockingly, no. He’s very respectful of our things—including yarn. He does not chew shoes, furniture, or handmade anything. He saves his chaos for barking at invisible threats and sprinting through the yard.
Is Winston really that sleepy in the mornings?
Yes. 100%. He is a “slow start, strong finish” kind of dog. Mornings are for stretching, yawning, and thinking about life. Actual movement is optional until the humans have clearly committed to being awake.
Does Winston like to help with crochet?
His contributions include:
- Napping nearby while I crochet
- Not chewing yarn (gold star!)
- Alerting me to every imaginable danger
- And sometimes insisting it’s cuddle time, which may or may not align with my pattern-writing schedule.
He considers himself middle management.
Why do you talk about Winston so much in your emails?
Because he’s woven into our everyday life here. When I’m crocheting, writing, taking photos, or out in the yard, chances are Winston is somewhere nearby—supervising or napping in a ridiculous position. He’s part of the story of our home, just like the yarn, hooks, and half-finished projects.
Does Winston travel with you?
Very occasionally and only when necessary. He gets car sick, poor guy. So he’s more of a “home base” pup than a “road trip” dog. He’d much rather keep an eye on the property than ride in the car.
What’s Winston’s favorite thing to do outside?
Run, chase his toy, and “help” the hubs in the yard. He believes every stick, leaf, and garden bed is his personal jurisdiction.
What’s his best trick?
Winston can shake paws, lay down and come when called (kind of). But his best trick? Perfect, polite sitting—especially when he wants something. That, and convincing humans to squeak toys on command.
If you’ve ever wondered what Winston looks like or pictured him while reading my newsletters, now you’ve officially “met” him.
Just imagine a strawberry-blonde, curly boy with kind eyes…who sleeps like a pretzel, barks at suspicious leaves, adores his people, and thinks squeaky toys are the highest form of communication.
That’s our Winston pup.