I’m trying to persuade Hubs to check out the guide dog and service dog fostering program. Raise dogs from 12 weeks or so to around a year and a half, getting them socialized, used to people and other animals, traffic, cars, sidewalks, stores, libraries etc. When they’re ready to move on to specialized training, you have to give them up. Heartbreaking, but they leave you alive and happy, ready for the next big adventure. Then you start all over. We’re at the age when we shouldn’t get a dog, especially a larger breed dog. We still haven’t really gotten over the cat.