Nina Dobrev is having a little fun with her love life following her split from Shaun White, and jokes that she’s already found a “new man,” even if it’s not exactly what fans might expect.
The 37-year-old actress shared a fun update on Instagram on Thursday, February 5, posting a photo of herself crouched on the ground and cuddling a Doberman named Winston.
Alongside the image, Dobrev wrote: “The new man in my life,” before adding: “Officially off the market. Sorry guys.”
The original post, shared by Tara Garlinghouse, was titled “A love story @nina and Winston.”
In the photo, the vampire diaries The star is seen kissing the dog while dressed casually in a loose-fitting black top and headband.
She later shared another clip on social media showing her and Winston engaged in a light-hearted game of tug-of-war, leaning even further into the joke.
The light-hearted posts come months after Dobrev’s split from ex-fiancé Shaun White in September 2025.
At the moment, Us weekly reported that the actress was “devastated” by the breakup.
A source said the couple, who had been together for five years, were thinking about next steps for the home they shared, which they had been renovating together.
That same month, a source shut down rumors about the split, explaining that there was no infidelity or disagreement about starting a family.
According to the source, both Dobrev and White wanted to have children, and there was no situation where “one would want [a family] more than the other.”
Dobrev and White first sparked romance rumors in February 2020 after sharing similar photos from a trip to South Africa.
Several media outlets confirmed their relationship a couple of months later and shortly after made Instagram official.
In 2021, White opened up about how they handled long distance and explained that they made a real effort to prioritize time together.
“You just make it work,” he said at the time, adding that making time for each other was key. He also gave credit to Dobrev’s organization, saying she always found a way to make things happen.
The couple announced their engagement in October 2024, and White staged an elaborate surprise by pretending to attend a dinner hosted by Anna Wintour.
Instead, he took Dobrev to a room filled with roses and proposed with a pear-shaped diamond ring. Sharing the moment online, she wrote: “RIP boyfriend, hi fiance.”
Now, with Winston by her side, Dobrev appears to be embracing a lighter chapter, one that’s about humor, healing, and a very loyal four-legged companion.
