I've always been a dog-lover and dog-wanter, but due to my mom's allergies and my current apartment's rules, I've never been a dog-haver. My grandma was a big influence on me when it came to pets. She always had dogs, and she taught me basic commands, how to greet and pet them, and other aspects of care. Most importantly, she taught me by example the positive effects dogs have on our lives. I stayed with a friend for a summer and cared for her dog, Bonnie, an anxious Border Collie/Lab mix who was 5 at the time. I'd visited their house often before living there, so Bonnie was familiar with me. Of course, she had some reservations at first - especially when going on solo walks or waiting with me while my friend ran errands. I kept my distance at the right moments, and with some consistency, Bonnie got comfortable. That summer confirmed my plan to become a dog-haver and spend as much time with dogs as possible. Note: I only hesitate to care for XL dogs since I'm very short, I have less experience with them, and I want you to feel 100% confident in my relationship with your dog.