I've spent my entire life raising dogs and cannot imagine a life without pets. I have a small dog of my own who is very friendly and leads a healthy and balanced life. We also have an orange cat who is part of the pack here in our home. She likes most dogs and is pretty good about keeping her distance from dogs she thinks might be aggressive or too energetic. Though we have a small fenced yard to which they have access to around the clock, we go for potty walks at least 3 times a day in addition to our regular exercise and sniff walks. I try to incorporate beach/swimming outings a few times a week in the afternoons or when weather permits. I often care for pets belonging to family members or close friends who go on vacation or have other engagements that do not permit pets. I have also been employed as a dog trainer. I am the pack leader in my (dog) household and dogs often feel safe and comfortable around me. I believe that tired dogs are good dogs and engage my dog in a lot of stimulating exercise. I also believe that socialization is very important in rearing dogs and will encourage my dog to engage with other social and balanced dogs. I also believe in the need for dogs to be companions and often bring them along when running errands. I work merely 5 minutes from home and can check on the pets easily or via the web through our home camera.