Interview with celeb therapy dog Cooper Winston III

Hey, everyone! It’s me, your ever-so-happy tail-wagging pup JournoDog! Welcome back to my regular rantings here on Facebook, where I sniff out the news and wag my tail for the truth.

Today, I’m excited to introduce a brand barking new feature: The “JournoDog Asks” interview series. This won’t be a weekly feature replacing my JournoDog Chronicles, but a periodic Q&A where I get to chat with someone worthy — a “pup, pet, person, or personality of interest,” for example.

First up, please meet my pup pal Cooper! We got to spend New Year’s Eve together back in 2017-turned-2018 and it was lots of fun. We even got to do a Ball Drop of our own! Well, he’s become quite the dog celeb since then and recently earned his paw prints by becoming a certified therapy dog! It’s my pleasure to share this recent bark-and-banter back and forth:

Interview with Cooper Winston III, of the House of Winston

Hi, Cooper!!! I’m wagging my tail over the chance to talk with you (by email, using my Daddy’s computer when he went to go make himself a Bloody Mary)…

JD) First off, for those who haven’t had the chance to sniff your butt or play in person, can you tell everyone a little about yourself?
Cooper) I’m a pure bred golden retriever, born near Rodgers City, MI. My coloring is very light, breeders call it English Cream. I went to my fur-ever home right from the breeder. I didn’t have a very good car ride home, but loved my new family. When I got there, my two-week older cousin was next door! Her name is Autumn and we are best friends.

What’s the story behind your full name?
My parents yelled names in the car when they were going home after picking me out at 5 weeks old. It didn’t take long to sniff out a name. They both liked Cooper. Since I’m an English Cream Golden, my papa thought I needed a good English name. He liked Winchester but mom said it was too long. So Winston was picked. The 3rd was added on to make it sound like a distinguished English name: Cooper Winston III, of the House of Winston. You have to say it with an English accent, too, for the full effect. 🙂

How many dog years are you?
I am 2, in people years… is that 14 in dog years? Am I teenager???

[JournoDog Says: Actually, you’re now old enough to go out to buy alcohol, Cooper. There’s a myth that it’s 7 dog years for each actual year, but that’s not true. This Business Insider article contains a table and sounds smart, and it says you’re 22 — a spring chicken dog, you are! I’m certainly getting up there myself, as I am over 12 in people years…]

Who is your daddy and what does he do? And your mommy?
Besides both of them giving me love and treats, I hear daddy talk about software and airports, and mommy is talking figure skating 24/7.

OK, many may recognize you most for your celeb status as one of the Dogs of Home Depot as well as starring in a Wag N’ Tails training center promotion video… what’s that all about?
My papa always needs things to work around the house so he takes me to Home Depot to practice meeting people and dogs. I want to volunteer in hospitals and other places, so I have to practice sitting, heeling, and waiting to meet people. I do pretty good! It also helps me stay calm around loud noises and crowds, and lets me work in hallways, and around interesting smells and things on the ground. My family at Wag N’ Tails where I do training really loves me. They asked me to help with their video and I did the best I could do. I’m really good at the stay command! But to make it in the movie business I’ll need to learn some tricks.

Why did you decide to become a therapy dog?
Everyone kept telling me I was kind, gentle, and loving. And since I did so good at training they said I should give it a try. My first few visits went great in 2018, but the times they needed help were not good for my schedule. So we are trying a new organization in 2019. I can’t wait to meet more people! I passed the evaluation with my mom and dad in October and November, and after everything processed in December, I was able to start volunteering on January 1. I’m having my first meeting at Beaumont hospital soon!

You’re American Kennel Club certified… is it required to be a therapy dog?
No. Many smaller local therapy groups only need an approval of the site coordinator. My organization, Therapy Dogs International, has a rigorous evaluation to pass before you can join. I trained for months to get ready for that test. AKC does partner with organizations like TDI for their Therapy Dog titles, but it’s not required.

Any advice for fellow pups considering therapy dog work?
Be kind and loving, and work hard on your obedience training. You have to be well behaved so you don’t scare anyone you are meeting for the first time.

Be kind and loving, and work hard on your obedience training. You have to be well behaved so you don’t scare anyone you are meeting for the first time.

OK, let’s talk politics: How do you feel about feline bipartisanship? And be honest: are little dogs really dogs?
I’ve never met a cat. But I bark at one on the trail behind my house every day. His name is Taz and he’s a neighborhood cat. I got close to him on the trail recently. I just want to play but papa says no I’ll get my eyes clawed out. As for little dogs… of course they are dogs. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes! As long as they have cold snouts and give love, they are good in my book. But enough with the barking already… Geez, little dogs talk a lot!

Speaking of trails… you’re also a pretty active pup beyond just wagging your tail. Can you share more?
I. Love. Running. I take my human for runs whenever his lazy butt doesn’t sleep in. I love hilly trails the best. I run right next to his heel. We are a good team. I just met a new running group and now I get to run in a pack! I love running lead dog but papa is training me to run in the middle and the back of the pack. I’m not fond of that but I’m trying to be good with it. My PSA today is for drivers: WATCH FOR RUNNERS. Especially in the morning when you are late for work and don’t stop at the sidewalk and are looking the other way to see if you can make your turn. We wear Nox Gear blinking vests and we’ve still almost been hit many times!

Did I see you also had a barktacular mud run recently…?

I’m a mudder. My mother was a mudder (old Seinfeld joke, I know). It took forever to get clean again, but muddin’ is racin’!

Any fave toys you’d like to mention?
My go-to is a nylon Kong. Or really, whatever Autumn next door brings to the fence gate that I can take from her and chew in the middle of my yard.

What can we expect to see from Cooper going forward?
If all goes well I’ll be accepted into the Therapy Dog program at Troy Beaumont Hospital and I’ll be making many people there happy. I also want to work with a children’s reading program but I’m trying to stay focused on one thing for now. I’ll have a record year of miles run (in ’18), and maybe more races too! I did one before and loved it. Can’t wait for everything in 2019!

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Thanks for the interview, Cooper! So. Much. Fun. Congrats on all your fame, and the recent therapy dog designation. It’s so awesome you are able to help people. Know you’ll bring many smiles and warm all kinds of human hearts.

Ok, that’s all for this week. Until the next time, whenever the news beckons like a barking dog you can’t help but pay attention to, #JournoDog out. Remember to sniff me out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram if you’re social media savvy.

As always, remember: Love your pets. Read a newspaper. Support local journalism. And try to smile and find a little happiness for your heart every day.

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