Winston the Westie

From pandemic puppy to Instagram star, Winston brings personality, love, and a whole lot of cheese-fueled charm to the Prendergast home.

The Prendergast household is home to Kelly and Michael, their three children—Kayla, Ashley, and Patrick—and their beloved dog, Winston. Winston is a four-year-old West Highland Terrier, affectionately known as a Westie. True to his breed, he is smart, charming, and loyal—the perfect fit for the Prendergast family.
Winston was named by his older sister, Kayla, after the fun-loving character from the TV show New Girl. He joined the family in 2020, when Michael made the long drive to Texas to bring him home. As a pandemic puppy, Winston spent much of his early life at home with his family, giving him plenty of time to learn tricks.
He mastered most of his special skills thanks to Kayla and Kelly, who taught him to sit, stay, roll over, shake, high five, and even play dead. With the simple command “Bang!”, Winston dramatically drops to the floor like a true performer. In addition to his acting skills, he’s also a talented runner—dashing through the yard, around the house, and even at Grandma’s place. When he’s not running, Winston loves an intense game of tug-of-war with his family. He never loses, even if it means being dragged across the house. Once playtime is over, he can often be found napping on the couch or burrowed into a warm pile of clean laundry.
Winston has a medical condition that prevents him from processing meat proteins, so he lives a vegetarian lifestyle. Still, he’s a devoted foodie. His favorite treat? Costco’s Mexican cheese. The sound of the bag opening sends him sprinting to the kitchen in anticipation.
To the Prendergasts, Winston is more than a pet—he’s truly part of the family. Every evening, Michael takes him on a post-dinner walk to kick off Winston’s nightly routine. Around 9:30, Winston curls up in his dog bed next to Kelly. Once he dozes off, she gently carries him into his kennel in Patrick’s room, where he sleeps through the night.
Winston also loves dressing up for holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas. No Prendergast holiday photo is complete without Winston in his matching tie. His human siblings frequently share his outfits and adventures on his very own Instagram account: @mr_winstonn_.