There were numerous dogs about from the moment I was born, but my own first proper was a beddie/whippet at the age of ten. My dad made me make the phone call myself to order the pup.
I f****d it up, got fed up with it, dad threatened to get rid, I didn't listen, then he got rid of said dog while I was at school, came home to empty kennel, lesson learnt........the hard way.