10/15/2026
🐾 Our oldest Bernese Mountain Dog, Winston, went in for his annual physical and shots today.
The vet says he’s doing wonderfully. In a couple of months he’ll turn 10, and I’m grateful for every healthy day we have with our big old boy.
For anyone new to our page, Winston came into our lives after our puppy Rocky died at just six months old, nearly 10 years ago.
Losing Rocky devastated us. We couldn’t imagine bringing another puppy into the house when we were still missing him so badly.
But within days, a family contacted us about Winston. He was a little Bernese Mountain Dog puppy who needed a new home because a child in his family was severely allergic to him.
They didn’t ask for their money back. They wanted him to live with people who would love him.
We agreed to meet him, though we thought it was too soon.
Courtney held him while he was still small enough to fit comfortably in her arms. Winston rested his head against her, and she smiled through tears for the first time in days. ❤️
He never replaced Rocky. We still wish we’d had more time with our first puppy.
But Winston gave us comfort when we needed it most.
As he grew, he became the gentle center of our household. Every dog who joined our family afterward learned something from him: how to be patient, how to welcome someone new, and where to settle when everyone is together.
Now he’s almost 10. His walks may be slower, but he is still Winston—the dog who helped our family find its footing again.
I hope today’s good news means we get to enjoy many more days with him.
He entered our lives when we were grieving. He has filled them with love ever since. 🐾❤️