Winston: 7 Yr Old Malti-Poo Looking for a New Home

Winston Eugene Daniel

Winston needs a home with no small children. Please share his information and lets find Winston a new family!

Breed:  Maltese-Poodle mix (purchased from a breeder in Rockwall, TX in 2004 at 17 weeks)
Physical description:  8.5 lbs, oatmeal-colored curly hair, brown eyes, black nose and lips.  White tuft in the center of his head and striped down his chest.  Adorable under-bite.
Age:  Just turned 7 years old on April 11, 2011.  We've heard malte-poos have a life expectancy of ~14 years.

Personality traits:  Winston is playful, friendly, very happy & sweet.  He is intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and desires human interaction and contact.  A great companion.  Winston greets us with cheer every time we walk through the door.  Winston enjoys taking short walks in our neighborhood and by the lake, but doesn't require much exercise, as he's happy to play chase with his stuffed animals in between naps.  Winston sleeps a good portion of the day, contently curled up in his bed or on the sofa.  At night, he sleeps in his kennel in our bedroom.
Talents:  Winston is very bright and learns tricks easily.  He'll sit, lie down, stay and play dead for milkbones or carrots.  We've been very pleased with how smart we feel Winston is, learning to use our doggie door and becoming potty-trained immediately back at ~20 weeks old.  In the 7 years we've had Winston, I don't believe he's ever had an accident in our home.
Additional information:  We are disappointed to be looking for a new home for Winston, but our 13 month old has made Winston nervous by toddling too close and grabbing at his tail from time to time.  We're expecting another baby in September and feel it might be more thoughtful to find Winston a home where he won't be awoken by sippy cup bonking him in the head :)  

In the spirit of full disclosure, Winston has nipped on occasion, which we hear is common for small dogs and confirms a home without children may be best for him going forward.  He has always given us a warning sign prior to nipping (if he's nervous about getting a bath or sleeping and doesn't want to be disturbed.  A dog trainer confirmed this is normal for small dogs.)  Winston is also very social and barks to alert us when the mailman comes, or a neighbor walks up our front steps.  I'd say Winston is true to form when it comes to small dogs and their reputations for being a) occasionally nervous around small children and b) barky from time to time.

Winston is said to be hypoallergenic and we have loved how clean he is compared to other breeds.  We have him groomed occasionally and feel very comfortable allowing him up on our sofa since he doesn't smell like a typical dog.  He is great around people with allergies because he doesn't produce pet dander.

Around other animals:  Winston is probably best-suited in a single-pet home, but he has gotten along great with my mother-in-law's chihuahua.  He may not be a good match for larger dogs or cats; at this time we don't have experience with either.

*We welcome any inquiries.  Please feel free to email Carolyn at carolyn.daniel@yahoo.com of call me at 214.335.1016.