We had pet dogs pretty much all our younger years...especially when the kids were still home. However, when we retired and moved to the countryside, we decided to forego pets, as we often leave for a day or two at a time. However, the neighbors across the road have one of the nicest little beagles I've ever seen, and when they go to work, she comes over to spend her day on our deck. We get the companionship, and they get the vet bills, etc.
On the flip side, there have been cases of people dumping their unwanted pets in the woods around us....such people should be "neutered". There is a very good animal shelter in town if they need to get rid of a pet. IMO, a smaller, house friendly dog is the only way to go. These huge, often violent, dogs have no real place around most households...especially if there are children present.