Ash, could you try writing to him and telling him that if he ever feels he doesn't want to be *tied down with a dog* any more, you would be willing to take Tiffy as you felt you got along very well with her for those 3 months she was at your house? Who knows, it may plant a seed in his mind and some day he could take you up on the offer. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

As for falling in love with someone else's dog, it happened to me too a long time ago. Fortunately she lived only two doors away from me, so I got to see her often and she would stay with me when her folks went away for vacation. I was confident that she was well cared for, so that wasn't an issue as it is in your case. Eventually (three years later) she had puppies and I got one who turned out to be my soul dog .