I read this yesterday, but couldn't respond because I was upset.

I can see the hurt in your posts and know that you don't really want to re-home him, but you need to do what's best for the dog. He can't make his own decision, so whichever way you go has to be for his welfare and happiness.

He's still in that energetic and boisterous stage. I'm sure over the summer with some training and maturity he'll settle a bit. The sausages are nine months old, and Buffy is entering a new phase of whining and tantrums, which is driving me nuts. But time, perseverance and tiny signs of improvement make a huge difference.

If you want to keep him badly enough, I know you'll find a way of re-organising your time and priorities to meet his needs.

In the meantime, do you know anyone in the neighbourhood who can take him for a walk once or twice a week? I used to do that for a couple of neighbours' dogs when they were away. You might find a dog lover who isn't able to own pets who can help you out a bit.

Or the local newspaper might have ads for dog walkers, pet sitters and doggy day care.

Do you have any friends or family in rural areas with land? Maybe Ozzy could do some overnight stays and romp around to his heart's content for a couple of days at a time?

Hope this helps.

{{{hugs}}}