My first experience with dogs (aside from meeting them on the street and playing with friends' dogs) was when we got a family dog when I was 7, and who we had until he passed away 17 years later. Admittedly, my mother provided most of the care and took on the responsibility of training him, especially in the early years. As I got older, I helped out more with walks, feeding him, and cleaning up after him. Being the biggest dog lover in the house, I was also the one who spent the most time playing with him and goofing around with him, which continued through my college years before I moved away from the city where I grew up. Now, I have a wealth of experience with dogs that I couldn't have boasted of when we had our family dog, because I've been a volunteer at PAWS Chicago for the past year. I spend plenty of time there walking, feeding, cleaning up after, and playing with dogs. I am currently a Level 2 volunteer, which means I have experience with some of the bigger dogs who can be more of a handful, both on walks and sometimes behaviorally. I have a soft spot for big dogs, but ultimately I love them all the same!