Were you always a small dog person? Big dog to small dog convert? Just curious.

My husband and I (no kids) have always been large dog people. He currently has his two shepherds from before we met, a male and female. I had a Border Collie before we met, but he passed away and I didn't own a dog for a couple of years.

One day I was browsing Craigslist when an ad caught my eye: a teenage girl was looking to long-term board her Chi mix while she went to university. She would pay for care and food, and wanted to see her dog on the holidays. I wanted to help, so we made arrangements.

I am sure you can guess what happened...

The girl sent one e-mail to see how her dog was doing, and I responded that she was less housebroken than I expected, but other than that she was just great. I didn't get a response to that e-mail. I couldn't reach the girl by phone or e-mail after that point.

Two and a half years later, Epic (the long-term boarder, haha) is still with us. She was fully housebroken in three weeks, so I do hope that wasn't the reason her owner wanted to dump her. We've moved a few times (including across the country) but my e-mail address is the same as it has always been, so I am sure nobody is missing her.

Epic totally turned our lives upside down. We adore her. We will never own a dog bigger than 10 lbs. ever again! Haha! Even my husband wishes he could shrink his dogs down to Chi size.

So, how did you get into Chi's, or small dogs in general?

I absolutely hated small dogs, especially Chis. In fact, I told a former roommate to take down her chi calendar because i couldn't stand the little beasties. Then my Aussie Mix DNA tested at 20% Chi. I was devastated. My big handsome guy was 20% rat? Then I started to notice Chis . . . everywhere . . . talked to the owners . . . petted a couple . . . went to the humane society . . . found Finn . . . DNA tested him at 100% LH Chi . . . and now we rescue Chis. Life is interesting.

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My story isn't as interesting as yours LOL. So, this one day in the middle of summer, 1986, my mom delivered a baby girl. Aaaand it was me. And my grandparents owned a little chihuahua mix. Fast forward about 25 years, now I have 4; and am actively involved in rescuing/fostering more. =P

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http://www.facebook.com/rescutopia

Wow, I bet that's the most extreme story! Hating, to rescue!

What a story! First, I was like "OMG what's gonna happen?!" Then I was like, "whoa!" and then I was like "that's deep, man... Deep." :P

J/K

@Jayar- I love your story!! Too funny. Yet too bad her "owner" never stuck to her word. Although it is always interesting how life pans out. But it worked out in your end!!

I was always a big dog person until I came across my rescue, Cody. Cody is my heart dog and totally changed my view. I never "hated" small dogs--or any dog for that matter. I just had never owned a small dog. Still, I have 2 Pit Bull terriers and Cody my Chihuahua but I love the breed!

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Well when I was a kid my Mom always had a dog but it was a bigger dog we had a shepherd, doberman,and a Irish Setter though out my child hood growing up. She now owns a Husky. When I moved out on my own got married had kids I got a tri colored Collie loved her to death she lived to be 11 years old and passed back in 2005. Well in 2007 I got Zoe at the age of 2 from a friend of my husband's because he felt sorry for her in the living situation she was in and every time he would go over she would jump in our car ready to go so he told them he was taking her home and they said ok they did not care they had to many dogs and did not take care for them well so that's how we got her and I just fell in love with her she is the best little thing ever only wants love and was a very good girl in the house. I learned it was easy to take care of a smaller dog bathing was easier,less food cost etc. We loved the breed so much we adopted another little girl back in Dec of last year Holly who is 12 weeks. I to was never a small dog lover I thought they to were yappy little mean dogs as most I had came in contact with were mean and snippy but my girls are really good and love everyone.

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~Jenn~

Finn, great story! Funny how things work out.

Me, I was always a cat person, and totally not a dog person. I have always *hated* how dogs smell. Then one morning I woke up with Chihuahuas on the brain. I could not stop thinking about them, so I started look at Chihuahua pics on the internet. I wondered if I would be ok with the smell of a Chiahuahua, so I went looking for breeders. About a month later my husband gave into my insanity and we got JJ, who smells wonderful! My husband went from being a fan of St. Bernards to the biggest fan of little Chihuahuas. And so, more recently, we rescued Monty.