Winston #4...DC

Winston is such a wonderful dog, and my fiancé and I want to thank AADR for making this all possible. Winston is very special, and I felt an immediate bond with him. We both love him very much. Winston seems to be doing well here in D.C. He's still uncertain about larger dogs and manhole covers on the sidewalk, but we're pleased with how quickly he came out of his shell. Winston is a very mellow, easy-going dog, but he also has a little spunk and puppy-like silliness. He takes the lead on walks, he hogs the couch, he insists on lots of belly rubs (which we gladly give him -- he's so cute!), and he makes friends with everyone we meet. He's especially popular with the under-5 crowd in our neighborhood, and happily, he seems to enjoy attention from children. Winston is still a little timid at the dog park, but he's making progress quickly and already has some smaller doggie friends. We are also working on his anxiety at bedtime when we crate him (and any advice you have would be much appreciated), as he doesn't seem to understand that he can't sleep in our bed. True to what AADR told us, Winston is generally well behaved. We love the fact that he's house trained and will tell us when he wants to go out for additional bathroom breaks. He knows basic commands, and he's picked up a couple more in the two weeks since we got him. Even when he's acting like a typical dachshund -- e.g. refusing to go on walks when it's especially cold -- he manages to turn on the charm to get his way. The other day, it snowed in DC, and he tried three different strategies in rapid succession to avoid walking in the cold before he found the one-- rolling over, paws in the air-- in the middle of the sidewalk. It was so pathetic and hilarious all at once, and as I carried him back home, I was bursting with pride at having such a smart dog. It certainly makes life a little more interesting! We are really grateful for AADR's efforts to find us a dog that was a good match. Winston's foster mom, Celeste, was fantastic throughout the adoption process. She kept us updated with feedback on Winston. For example, I had never adopted an adult dog or owned a dachshund before, and so I was a bit unsure about whether Winston was the right dog for us. Celeste was great about explaining why Winston was so special, which helped boost my confidence about adopting him, as did Winston's affection for Celeste when she dropped him off. It's obvious that Celeste did a lot of great work with Winston during the fostering stage. I've attached a few photos of our pup. Thanks in advance for your advice on crate training and separation anxiety at night. Best, Allegra (& Andy)