I never had a dog of my own..We had a few family dogs when i was young, but they really belonged to dad..MY kids had some, but I was never home and worked all the time..said I didnt want a dog till I could spend time with it, and wanted one I could keep inside and it be part of my family..so Sammyj is really my second dog.The first got stolen ,many years ago and so I waited to get another..and im glad I did..I dont like dogs on chains..their are 2 on the other side of me that have a big chain link fence and and a large covered pourch and their owner takes them in all the time..and he comes out and plays with them..Hes a local truck driver, but takes a lot of time for his dogs..that makes me happy to see that.