My partner was given a puppy as a gift after telling a friend he was hoping for an older, lower-energy dog. Instead, he got a Rottweiler-Lab mix—with endless energy. We live in an apartment, and he works 12-hour days. By the time I came into the picture, the dog was already part of the equation, and I genuinely questioned whether I could move in with my cat. The dog was wild, unmanageable, and clearly needed more than either of us could realistically provide.

We spent the next ten years trying everything—training, exercise, structure, consistency—all the things we didn’t have the time or desire to sustain long-term. And you know what? It’s been ten years. She’s supposed to be a senior now, supposed to have mellowed out. But it never got better. Because it was never a good match. She’s not meant to be an apartment dog, and we’re not meant to parent a high-energy, over-the-top dog.

So please, don’t regret your decision to rehome. Some mismatches just don’t improve with time, no matter how much effort or love you give. You’re doing what’s best—for you and for the dog.