WINSTYN HAS A BITE HISTORY.

Once upon a time, there was a little frogdog puppy desperately seeking guidance. The frogdog previously had a loving home, but everyone knew something was not quite right with the situation. This puppy grew up eating from a golden dish and never having to answer to anyone; delusions of grandeur developed. If there had been a fairy dogmother in this tale, perhaps she would've stepped in to advise them all, but there was no one, so the household did the best they could and loved him more.

As time passed, Winstyn (the frogdog) grew increasingly insecure and wrongly got the idea that it was up to him to defend the household, his toys, his food and keep the humans in order... you get the picture. Eventually, his insecurity escalated to the point where he bit humans, and although none of the bites were considered serious, it was enough to frustrate and scare his former family. It was at this point that Winstyn landed himself a spot with FBRN.

Winstyn is thriving in foster care and is turning into the dog we all suspected would emerge; he loves having clearly set rules and boundaries. Winstyn functions best as a follower when he doesn't have to shoulder any responsibility for decision-making. He is thrilled to be in a home where confident adults have taught him what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

When he first entered his foster home, Winstyn tried to engage his foster mom in a game of keep-away and chase when she tried to retrieve something from him. It seems as though he was used to having humans do his bidding for his own entertainment and empowerment. When his foster mom made it clear that she would not be coerced into chasing down a dog, he simply gave up and handed over the item in question, yet to some he can be challenging. He's since learned to nicely give up things when he hears the command "leave".

Winstyn is also thrilled to be part of a pack where everyone has their place, and all leadership comes from a human. He sits nicely in a row of five dogs as they all wait for a special treat. However, when there was a puppy visitor recently, Winstyn was very upset by the puppy's rudeness in jumping up in his face. He did his best to avoid the puppy, and gave a warning growl when he was upset. He is a good communicator when he is upset with other dogs. Traces of his insecurity also show up when he accidentally collides with other dogs while running or playing, but all in all he loves the company of other dogs.

Winstyn loves his people and his behavior is entirely shaped by his human's confidence and leadership capabilities. We believe the perfect kingdom is out there somewhere for this former prince who now only wants to be a footman. The kingdom should be occupied by confident subjects and run by at least one benevolent ruler, who needs to understand that Winstyn should remain a prince only in title, and should never ever be handed any power over the kingdom. The benevolent ruler will in return get a loving, devoted dog who will gaze at them adoringly.

Winstyn is crate-trained, and is happy to occupy his "happy and safe" place when needed. He is entirely housebroken and is obedient. Winstyn is a dog with a lot of drive and focus and would be great at high level obedience or agility, something to occupy that fast little brain of his. It will be up to his new family to continue using the training and commands, as well as give him regular exercise to help Winstyn thrive.

Due to his bite history, Winstyn will not be placed in a household that includes children or a busy home where many people come and go. His home needs a fenced yard for his own safety and for the safety of neighborhood children. He would be okay staying home during the day, as long as someone can come home to give him a mid-day break. A dog walker would be okay, as long as the walker is a confident dog person. He might be okay in a private work environment, where he is not allowed to interact freely with other people.

Ultimately, Winstyn will only be restricted by the limitation of his owners. He has met people and behaved well, and he also does well with a pack of dogs and enjoys play with them.

As is the case with many dogs in rescue, there can be setbacks and hiccups along the road, particularly in the settling in stage. Winstyn needs people he can count on, who can ride the bumps with him without getting discouraged and be in it for the long haul; he will thank you for it in the end.

If you're the confident dog owner Winstyn was looking for all along, step up and apply for him! Get ready to pick him up in Connecticut because this very special handsome boy will not be shipped. (Applicants who live in or close to CT, and can meet Winstyn at least twice to build a relationship before taking him home would best suit this boy. All the support you may need will be provided to make his transition a smooth one.)