I've NC for this because I'm ashamed of myself.
We took on a rescue dog about six months ago. No real history on him, very worried and nervous soul. We were fine with that, we thought that he'd come out of his shell and be a gentle bugger. Rescue mentioned he was 'worried' by other dogs but not overly so.
He has come out of his shell in some ways - he adores me. But only really me - he's happy to see DP but pretty apathetic. Everyone else he ignores. Fine, he's not that outgoing but he's relaxed.
But he is awful to other dogs. Absolutely vile. He would bite them if he could. He's badly socialised, nervous and also a bit of a bully. All the dreams I had of walking a dog and nipping to the pub, making friends with dogs (pretty isolated socially here myself!) have gone up in smoke. We manage his behaviour out and about, but there's no joy in it.
He's not the dog I wanted. I take him to a rescue centre farm and he walks with the dogs that are waiting for homes. He's generally horrid to them, but calms down once he knows them. Off-lead he goes far too far in his play and it descends into aggression. However, he is making progress. But every time we go there, my heart breaks because the dogs he plays with are so gorgeous and friendly and he's this aggressive stand-offish little git!
That said I love him. He's a dream in the house, can be left, house trained, lazy. He's part of my life. But the idea of the next eight years or so being just managing his behaviour makes my blood run cold. It's so stressful.
I want another dog. The rescue thinks that when he's ready, a steady buddy dog will do him good. But I think part of my selfish drive is that I just want the dog for me. And that's so horrible of me.
I don't know what to do. I don't know if I could face rehoming him. He'd be so hard to rehome and he loves me so much. But he's just not what I wanted. And that is what makes me so ashamed, because this should be about him.
Someone give me a kick up the arse and tell me what to do. :(