Winston is a gorgeous little guy!! And I'm so glad you found Bonnie a pal!! I have owned ONLY mini-schnauzers for the past 20 years because once I met my first the breed & I just clicked better than any other dog breed I'd been around. I understand the thing with Bonnie acting "90" years old though because although my prior two mini's were pups when they adopted me my mini now is one that I adopted from the mini-schnauzer rescue here in Oregon & he had been one of 6 from a puppy mill that had been shut down. He was 3 when I got him which was in 2001. Once my son & grandson moved out of my house & things got quieter with it being only me he also began acting very old & unmotivated. He just seemed unhappy & lonely even though I'm home all the time because I'm retired. Well, I am unable to have 2 dogs where I live so when my son needed a ferret sitter when he went out of town I agreed to with some reluctance. OH AM I GLAD That I changed my mind. After having him here for a week (& after I ferret proofed my home!) I found that they had become such buddies that I had to talk my son into letting me adopt him! WIth reluctance (& the fact that my mothers day & birthday were coming up!) he agreed to let me take him. I was able to let him get out more often too so he has become my Kokoa's (my mini S.) little furry brotha!!! They just really have so much fun together. Kokoa gets out of bed in the morning & goes straight to the ferrets cage to say "good morning"!!! He then makes his trip outside to potty then he comes right back in cuz he knows it's time for his friend to come out of the cage.
I have found that the breed are SERIOUSLY social animals. None of mine have ever enjoyed being alone, So everyone who talks about the independance of their mini's... Well, I dont have a clue what they're even talking about! Winston is a gorgeous guy!! I'm a newbie on here & have talked too much already so will send a pic of my two guys soon!
Linda