28 years, the longest we've been without a dog is 10 days. Started with a staffie, then a dallie and am now a multiple collie owner. Did a transport run for a rescue today, and nearly cam home with No. 5.!

There were dogs in the house when my mother bought me home from the hospital the day after i was born! We had, at that time, a red setter, a golden lab, a jack russell and a bullmastiff. So, there has always been a few dogs at home. I moved out when I was about 17 and got my first dog which was a CKCS. Ever since then Ive had staffys, labs, CKCS, westie, 2 wee lil pugs, and i now have another CKCS and a staffy x american bulldog!

Wow, certainly a varied selection, its interesting to note how many people have changed breeds from those that they started with.

I've stuck to the big dogs but forgot to mention that we also had Cocker Spaniels, one belonged to my parents & my sister had one at the same time I had Jasper, the Irish Setter. I do still have a soft spot for Cocker Spaniels.

I've had a love of dogs all my life I think I must of been 2 or 3 when my Mum said I was trying to train the family dog

I'm now 41 and I'm still trying to train these three lunatics So in all, I've been 'into dogs' for 38 years Other than a couple of cross breeds, we always had GSD's

Our family dog arrived before me She was a yellow lab called Amber she came as a puppy in January 1959 and I arrived in December 1959 she lived a full and wonderful life for 17 years, we then had another lab for 16 years then a cocker spaniel.

Ozzie is the first dog I have personally owned in my 46 years. OMG is that how old I am

I was 'into' cats as a child (and still am) and I never had any contact with dogs or doggie people!
That was until my Dad remarried (step mother has always had at least 4 Red Setters) and then I was totally smitten
I cannot imagine my life without dogs now!

Bit older than me then Shaza

My mother bought a dog from the local rescue centre in 1971, and she grew up with me.. Never had a day without one since!

It's hard to say really? We've always had dogs in the house. I think the first family dog was Dusky, the Liver and White English Springer. A dog my Brother and Sister grew up with (I was yet to be born! ), but sadly had to be parted with as everyone had to move in with my Dad's Mam whilst building Millhouse. My Gran had a Wire Fox Terrier at the time which was a bit viscious (due to lack of socialisation, as was the case in those days ) so Dusky had to leave.

Once the house was finished (and I was born! ) we got another dog a Parson Russell Terrier by the name of Bobby. This was my first experience of dogs really, not a good one as he was a bit of a g*t by all accounts. Destroyed the house many times and preferred going down to the sewers chasing rats than being with us. He met bit of a sad end and fell through a frozen resevoir and consequently froze to death.

Apparentely though, whilst we had Bobby I spent a lot of my time pretending to be a dog by living under the kitchen table and drinking out of a bowl! I guess that's where it started for me!

Once we moved here we got Bonnie a black and white English Springer and the beginning of my love of the breed and the black and white colour. We grew up together and even though she died nearly 8 years ago, she still leaves a huge hole in my life. I think about her everyday, I credit her with who I am today. :smt049

Whilst Bonnie was still alive I got Pickles who was my first true dog and then Woody, who filled the hole of "family dog" a year after Bonnies death. Woody, for me, started my interest in Gundog work. He was naturally such an amazing worker. He never failed to retrieve the item thrown and showed so much joy through such work.

So this eventually turned my mind back to Springers and a show/working black and white kennel I had known of for some years. I was going to wait some years before I contacted them, but due to my ill health I got a big kick of reality up my a**e and along came Isla.

Through Isla my interest of showing has come about, along with wanting to continue her working lines through gundog work.

I'm hoping she'll prove well in both and if her health tests come back ok she'll be the fountain bitch of my kennel!

But we'll see!

That's my story so far.

Thats a really interesting story. I hope that Islas tests are great and that it all works out for you.