Are you looking for a Southern gentleman who speaks softly, looks at you with adoring orange eyes, and grins without drooling? How about one that loves to spend quality time and lavishing all his attention on you?

Ozzie, also known as Ozzie Oz, is a special boy indeed and might just fit your ideal wish list. To run down the basics, Ozzie is a male, estimated to be about 9-10 years old, has the beginning of cataracts, and has been neutered by a previous owner. He weighs in at 56.6 pounds, is 25” from his dog collar to tail, and is 20” from the ground to the top of his shoulders. I affectionately say that he has a large “oompa-loompa” (rear end) that requires some assistance getting in and out of cars.

He currently resides with four other mixed breed dogs, 2 spayed females and 2 neutered males, and does exceptionally well with all of them. The only thing he has been protective over thus far is his personal bed while in the X-pen. If he is laying on the bed and another dog attempts to smell him, he will snap out to let the other dog know to back off. I tried a XL wire crate with him; it appears that this type of cage was used as punishment as he continuously barked (always in sets of three barks) to be let out. Therefore, Ozzie got the upgrade to an X-pen. Most of the time, he will go in once the others are crated and he knows that you have a cookie to throw in; sometimes, he will walk in on his own, and there are still times where needs assistance in being pointed in the right direction. Ozzie enjoys sleeping with floor fans blowing air on him and adores his fenced-in backyard where he can walk around, look out and take long snoozes under the bench.

I am not certain how Ozzie will be around children and cats as I have none. If my biggest dog happens to accidentally step on him, he will also snap in frustration; therefore, I would not personally recommend small children. Overall, I would state that his activity level is low-medium. He loves to sleep outside when the weather is cool or if he can find a good spot in the shade; he has come inside when it was above 85 and plopped in front of a floor fan. He adores sleeping outside at night until it is time for bed and there are times that he doesn’t want to come in; he will come in, but you must convince him it’s for his own good. Once inside,he is happy to find a rug to lie on and take a snooze. There have been a few nights that I did not put him in the X-pen and woke up to find him in the same spot, stretched out and dreaming about those good ole hunting days.

Ozzie seeks attention; he will come to you, extending a paw or placing his head under your arm until that head gets a rub, or he will show you his belly, pawing the ground with his front feet to get your attention. He grins and has started rolling in the backyard.

Ozzie also keeps a watch out all over his backyard; he will bark at others dogs in the far distance and that lone plastic bag blowing through the neighbor’s yard. He senses birds flying overhead well and will watch the bird’s flight pattern. He is happy to take a car ride; he sits in the back seat, watching out the window. Ozzie can pant very heavily when he is nervous and in a new situation. No accidents have occurred in the house and he is being let out every 3-5 hours during the day. After a long snooze, you will need to wake him up and walk around the yard with him and he will potty. Ozzie just needs a few minutes at times to make up his mind about what he wishes to do; get up, eat a cookie, or start eating dinner. He is always ready to go outside though!

Ozzie is a very happy boy looking for someone to give him a place to enjoy his retirment and that has lots of love to share (and a free hand available for petting his head or belly)!