Winnie is a very scared girl who has come to us from a breeder to find her forever home. She has clearly had some very difficult experiences in her past, and at the moment she finds it incredibly hard to trust people or believe that we mean her no harm. She is an extremely frightened little girl who needs a very special and experienced home where she can begin to learn that life can be safe and that human hands can be kind.

Winnie is currently finding human interaction and handling exceptionally overwhelming. If someone approaches her too closely, she can become extremely distressed and will bark continuously as she panics. Being picked up is particularly frightening for her, and when she feels trapped or unable to escape, she will bite wherever she can reach. She may also toilet through fear when someone attempts to pick her up. These behaviours are coming from a place of extreme fear and a desperate attempt to protect herself, but they are very real behaviours that her adopters will need to understand and be prepared to manage safely. Winnie is not currently a dog who can be handled casually, and her future family will need to be very experienced with severely frightened ex-breeding dogs and confident in reading her body language and respecting her boundaries.

Winnie will need a very calm and quiet, adult-only home with no pressure placed upon her to interact before she is ready. Her adopters will need to understand that building a relationship with Winnie is likely to be a long journey, and progress may be very gradual. She will need people who are willing to allow her to take things completely at her own pace, while providing a safe, predictable environment where she can slowly learn that she is not going to be hurt.

Despite how frightened Winnie is of people, she is already showing us some lovely glimpses of the little dog underneath her fears. She absolutely loves toys and food, and although she isn't yet brave enough to take treats directly from our hands, she is more than happy to join in with treat time when treats are gently thrown towards her. She is also beginning to enjoy the simple comfort of being cosy in a big, comfy duvet. These small things are incredibly important for Winnie and give us hope that, as she begins to feel safer, we will see more and more of her personality emerge.

Winnie will need at least one kind and confident resident dog in her new home who she can look to for reassurance and companionship. Having another dog around may help her feel safer and give her a familiar canine friend to follow as she learns about her new life. Her adopters will need to ensure that any resident dog is calm, confident and able to give Winnie the space she needs.

Winnie has never lived in a home before, so absolutely everything will be new to her. Her adopters will need to be patient and understanding as she learns about home life, including house training and the everyday sights and sounds of a household. Lead walking is not something Winnie is ready for at this stage, and her new home will need a very secure garden where she can begin to explore safely without being overwhelmed.

Winnie is not going to be an easy dog, and she will require a significant level of commitment, experience and patience from her adopters. However, she is not a lost cause. She is a deeply frightened little girl who has not yet had the opportunity to understand that people can be trusted. Seeing a dog like Winnie slowly begin to feel safe and choose to engage with the people around her can be incredibly rewarding, but her adopters must be prepared for this to take time.

Winnie needs someone truly special who understands just how serious her fears are and is willing to give her the space, security and patience she needs. Beneath all that fear is a little girl who loves food, adores toys and is beginning to discover the comfort of a cosy bed. With the right experienced home and plenty of time, we hope Winnie will one day feel safe enough to let her true personality shine.

WInnie has a travel document.

Winnie has been given the Gift of Life by Jo Rowlands

Can live with other dogs

This dog can be homed with a resident dog.