I always wanted to be a dad. A real dad.

And now I am – I’m the father of a groodle puppy named Winnie.

We do everything together. We play in the morning. We have naps on the couch (she gets the recliner). When I exercise in the garage, she sits in her pen and plays with her toys. We watch lots of TV and have big cuddles.

Right now - as I’m writing - she’s curled up at my feet, eyeing off my slippers.

She sleeps right throughout the night, too. I put her pen in my bedroom and hear her rustle and stir in the morning.

During the day, she barks at her reflection thinking there’s another Winnie in the room.

But there’s only one Winnie.

I’m toilet-training her at the moment. Sometimes we have accidents (Winnie too).

That’s ok, though.

We discuss which bets to put on for the footy. She loves the underdog. Oh, Winnie.

Her favourite toy is a plush sloth, but she also likes the pink blanket her mum used to have.

And I feel if I took her from her mum, then I’ll do my best to make sure she’s ok.

Here’s some pictures of her.

She’s the best.

I love her.