I was born and raised as a full-blown, big-time dog-lover. It's practically in my blood.

The first two dogs I ever had were a part of my family before I even was. Popeye and Olive (yes, after the cartoon, but these two pugs were much cuter).

Princess and Chewy came along when I was four, starting my family's golden retriever obsession. And then came Chrissy and Freckles, the Brittany Spaniels, about seven years later.

As the group kept changing, it also kept growing because my mom found King, a lost little pug that didn't have a home. And we eventually adopted Bear and Ginger: the two most beautiful (you guessed it) golden retrievers you ever did see.

So I guess you could say I'm a pretty biased dog-person, but I wouldn't have it any other way. And if you love dogs like my family does, then you know these next 10 things to be true...

1. Trying to take a picture of all your dogs together is a major challenge, if not impossible.

2. Your dogs are included in the Christmas Card every year: their names, a photo and all.

3. You only have a king-size bed because your dogs share it with you. Every. Single. Night.

4. You are swimming in debt because the dogs come first and you also have no regrets about that.

5. Not only does each dog have their own individual personality, but they get their own spot on the couch too...I hope you didn't buy that couch expecting to sit on it.

6. If you're ever sitting down in your house, there is a dog sitting on top of you... no matter the size of the chair or the dog.

8. About 85 percent of your family's conversations are about dog-related topics.

9. Losing a dog in the family is one of the worst things you'll ever experience. After all, they really are your best friends.

10. They love you as much as you love them.