I’ve always liked dogs. I grew up in a home where we had wire-haired terriers and hunting dogs. My father trained pointers and setters, which were kept outside in a kennel. He always had two dogs and each had his own doghouse lined with straw for warmth. My dad groomed them to use for bird hunting. Keeping dogs outside would be considered abusive now, but they seemed to thrive.

Our inside dog was another story. Our first wire-hair was easygoing and lovable.