I have never not had a dog. My mother bred and showed beagles up until I was a late teen. Because of this I was involved in the birthing and the care of our newborn puppies up until they were adopted as well as the continual responsibility of our adult dogs, which typically averaged ten (at least!). We offered a boarding and grooming service to families who adopted our puppies, which I took over when I was fifteen. At that time I also extended the service to our neighbors, teachers, family friends and the like. Because of my dog centered upbringing I am comfortable with the vast majority of breeds, sizes and ages. From having been around so many dogs of different backgrounds I learned how to perceive certain behavioral traits and understand that each dog reacts differently to new people and social settings.