I grew up extremely afraid of dogs. When I was in middle school my best friend had Marley, a Doberman Sheperd mix ; us girls all wore the same perfume he would run to me all the time. My friend explained how different dogs like to be touched in different ways and respond differently to tones and expressions and take cues from the humans around them. Since then my fear for dogs changed. When I was about 13 I "saved" a little boy from a Rotweiller by giving him the same information during his panick. I believe this is when I developed a love for dogs that I never expected. Another childhood friend had a dog he thought was pregnant and asked if i wanted one. As time passed they found out the dog was not pregnant and I was so sad I decieded I needed a companion of my own. My 9 year old cockapoo is more like my son than my pet and I wouldn't have it any other way.