The turning point came when we got a book on dogs for our son as a Christmas present.
As I was leafing through it before the holidays, I came upon a picture of French Bulldogs.
In that instant, my loathing changed to love.
I knew I would have to get a Frenchie some day.
I did not know why I felt like that suddenly, but there was no denying my feelings - it was more in the nature of a compulsion.
I did eventually acquire one of the best dogs ever born, Gabby, a brindle French Bulldog.
I sent pictures of her to my sister by email, and her response startled me.
She sent me some pictures in return.
These were very old photographs of our paternal grandmother with her French Bulldog, Caruso.
The pictures were from the very beginning of the 20th century, and I had never known that they had existed before as, at that time, I had not got involved with our family tree.
My father had never mentioned dogs of any kind in connection with his family, so I had no preconceived notions regarding Frenchies.
I can only guess that my love of these dogs came down to me through my genetic heritage, and that somehow, my grandmother's attraction was passed on to me.
I never knew this woman, she died before I was born, but finding out about her love for French Bulldogs has drawn me closer to her, and given more dimension to the life of this woman, about whom I knew next to nothing.
It is odd to think that not only our looks and talents can be passed on from generation to generation, but perhaps our preferences, too.