I had a dog in my household as a child but didn't have one of my own until I was in my late 40s. I adopted him as a puppy having no clue how much work puppies are! He was a pit-bull mix who proved to be super smart (easily trained). He was the love of my life, but he died a few years ago. I miss having a dog, but at this stage of my life would rather "borrow"them. My house and yard are dog-friendly, and my neighborhood is a great place to walk. I am happy to discover each dog's quirks and preferences and accommodate them. I understand their needs for human interaction when their owners aren't around and am happy to fill the gap. I’m extremely flexible and accommodating and can accept pets with incontinence issues caused by age or health, but I can’t accept healthy pets who aren’t house trained. I currently don’t work outside my home so am able to provide a routine that meshes with what the dog is used to at his or her home. I just mesh my guest dogs into my household, following owner’s guidelines for feeding, walking, and potty times but otherwise just giving them attention and affection inside the house or in my yard.