how old were you when you started really getting into dogs?

I think I was about 12 or 13 when I really started to favor dogs over other animals. I used to be OBSESSED with horses. But I guess i was more likly to get a puppy for christmas, than a pony[&:] ( lol jp)

oh my god, that letter is so cute!

ORIGINAL: whinny__g

so yeah basically like the topic says: what age were you when that "turning point" came and you were into dogs i.e. researching nutrition, training, breeds, accumulating canines, etc. (i know some may have been into dogs from the get go!)

 
I had a dog as a child, but I was not responsible for it, we were playmates, then I went off to boarding school and that was that, she became my grandmother's dog.
 
But I really got into dogs I would say about 4 yrs ago, when I decided I wanted one in my life.

I've never not had a dog in my life.  It's obvious from this photo that I did not take care of this dog myself but she was my baby sitter.  Mom would put me in the stroller and Nipper would stay right by my side.  Woe to stranger who wanted to pet her or try to steal me.

i always had outdoor dogs growing up. i never really thought i wanted to share my house with a dog until a couple of years ago. we have had indoor only cats since 2000. the cats are great pets, but not as needy as dogs. they pretty much do their own thing most of the time and only occassional demand to be petted []. since adopting amelia (jan 2005) at age 31, i couldnt imagine not having a dog living with us.

right now we have 2, and i would really love to have another dog. i have been trying to talk the wife into getting a small dog to go along with our mediumish sized dog (amelia) and our soon to be large(er) dog (sydney). i have loved having both amelia and sydney since they were (are still in sydney's case ...~9months) puppies, but i think i would like to adopt an adult dog if i can talk her into a small dog.[]

My father was the executive president of the National Animal Control Association when I was born.  And later the president of a handful of humane societies.  My step-mom was an Orange Co. California animal control officer.  So, I'd say the day I was born.

I've always loved animals since I was little, but I think that cats were my favorite when I was really little, more than dogs were. I also wanted a horse a lot! I think it was when I was about 11 when I started to really get into dogs, but more recently when I got online to research stuff. I got my first dog at 10. ( Oh, and I've got a horse now, too []) I also have a lot of other animals here, but horses and dogs are my favorite, I research a lot and know the most of those two....as far as breeds, training, and all of that.

I had dogs growing up and I've always loved them, but I didn't really start educating myself on how to properly raise a dog until my 23rd birthday when I got Ash. She changed everything. I had never really looked into nutrition and I'd never had to raise a puppy on my own so it was big eye opener. Now, I want to make a career out of being with dogs. I want my future children to grow up surrounded by dogs and learn to be responsible dog owners from the very beginning.

Having a dog (just starting a few days ago!) is a big thing for me, one that I've been slowly prepping myself for since I met my husband, a lifelong animal/dog lover. I've always respected animals, and while my mom loves animals (and vice versa,) my dad came from a home where both parents were scared of/didn't like animals, especially dogs (and his family also has really, really bad asthma and allergies so it wouldn't have really been an option anyhow.) Therefore I never really had a lot of exposure to animals (my mom finally got my dad to break down and get a cat a few years back and he's definitely warmed up,) and as a kid had a bit of "fear of the unknown." Not to mention it seemed like most people I knew who had dogs had crazy untrained dogs that kind of freaked me out!
 
I'm looking forward to a long and happy experience with our new dog, and that this one will be the first in a lifetime of dogs! [] []

We got our first dog when I was six weeks old.  He was born the same day I was and I have never looked back!

I love all animals, PERIOD.

I was born into a breeding/showing family and took to it naturally.  I was training the dogs to do jumps and tricks at age 3, and was in the ring winning junior showmanship classes by age 8.  I noticed that quite a few of the "dog family" kids went through phases where they had other hobbies besides the dogs, but they have always been my main focus.  I've turned down jobs, colleges, etc because I had to be able to keep and afford my dogs. 

I am planning a 2007 wedding in which all 5 of my dogs will be an intergral part of the ceremony.  I wouldn't have it any other way. (They won't be in clothes, though, just fancy leashes). 

Fun thread!

I have always loved animals. But I guess I really started getting into dogs when I was about 16 and this stray came into the yard that became "mine". I took care of her until I went away to school and my parents now have her.

When I moved to CA (when I was 19), my b/f and I got a dog and that's when I began to suspect that I really really NEEDED to work with animals (dogs mostly).

Then, when Yukon died (very suddenly, unexpectedly and devestatingly), we got another dog and he had some behavior problems so I really really started doing some research and figured out what I knew all along. This was my thing.

So, then I was about 20. I didn't, however, listen to my inner voice and kept going to school and now I own a perfectly useless degree in English. [&:]

I'm 23 (24 in August. Gulp!) now and I work in an animal shelter and am starting a track to go back to school to hopefully get my PhD in animal behavior (and I'd like to specialize in shelter behavior)

I'm so thankful I was able to really figure out what it was I wanted to do.