Since discovering my soul dog in the beloved pet of a family friend, my heart has belonged to our fluffy companions. Toby, my soul dog, is no longer around but my passion for these animals lives on. My dog, Ellie, has been by my side for 11 years. Even though I was young when she joined our family, I took part in training her, including teaching her to use the toilet outside and a variety of basic tricks. Ellie only has one eye so I have experience working with disabled dogs/ dogs with extra needs. She also occasionally experiences hip luxation, which I have been taught how to fix. As she has gotten older, she has slowed and gets more pains. This is something I have adapted to, and I now can greater understand how dogs are feeling and how to aid them with their feelings. Ellie has always been a very calm and lazy dog but I have experience with more energetic dogs as well. One of my family member’s has a much younger and energetic dog. I often take him on long walks or hikes, sometimes walking for hours on end (though a lot of the time consists of me watching as he sniffs every inch of every bush). Often, I will check up on him during the day if he has to be left alone for a long time. My duties in these check ins include ensuring he is fed on schedule and has access to water, and taking him on walks and doing short training sessions to break up his day. Another dog I frequently check up on is a fell terrier. Quite possibly the craziest dog I have ever met, he is full of personality but also can be difficult to manage. My duties with him are quite similar to my family member’s dog, but also includes longer training sessions and teaching him how to manage his excitement on walks. Overall, my love for dogs cannot be overstated and I would love to spend more time around them, getting to know all of their unique personalities.