In our house, dogs are family members, not pets. We have always had dogs of our own, including an very mellow adult lab/retriever mix that we currently have. We have fostered pets before and it has been a great experience for our whole house. We also have a special affinity for big dogs -- ones you can hug! While our yard is unfenced, we have lots of space for walking and are in a very safe location (cul-de-sac off of low-traffic road). We are very cautious about foods, plants and other things that can be hazardous to dogs. We also are comfortable giving pets medicine, baths or other things they need to ensure they are healthy and feel loved. The worst part of dog sitting is when they need to go home :)