I am a recently retired military officer, and I have three dogs of my own who are treated just like loved family members. I have raised all my dogs since they were puppies, so I understand all the stages of development. My oldest is a 14 year old lab/shepherd/chow mix, and I've learned to understand his needs as a senior dog and watch for signs of discomfort. I also have an 11 year old terrier mix, and a 6 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They are all very different in personalities, but I have been able to train them to behave similar to each other. I can assist with training basics, such as sit, lay down and small tricks like shaking hands and sitting pretty. My dogs are my children, and I will treat your dogs just the same.