Before we bought our house, we took every opportunity to dog-sit for friends and co-workers. We bought our house and fell in love with the large yard. We knew it would be great for dogs and 2 weeks after we moved in, we rescued 2! We have a female german shepherd-mallinois and a female chocolate lab, both approximately 60 pounds and 2 years old. Our backyard feels like a dog park so we spend a lot of time playing fetch and chase outside. I'd love to socialize them as much as possible and dog sitting seems like a good way to do this. Our living room and main level of the house is all tile so there's really no damage that can be done. Our dogs love to lay on the cool tile vs their dog beds most of the time. The bedrooms and bathrooms are blocked off with a gate and is a no dog zone. We try to promote good house manners and do not allow dogs on the couch unless they are invited up. Absolutely no people food is given and no begging is allowed. Our lab is a work in progress but consistency is key! Our yard is 2 levels and all dirt at the moment. The top level has a large covered patio and is shaded by several mature trees. The lower level is open space, great for running around.