I personally enjoy the company of a well-mannered, good-tempered dog.
But I (a) don't want to have to pick up and store his poop, and (b) don't want to be bothered with attending to its needs every time I want to leave my house for more than couple of hours, and (c) don't know if I am willing to tolerate the expense of keeping it healthy, feeding it, and grooming it.
Best to have an adult child or close neighbor with a good dog, so I can enjoy it from time to time, with none of the bother.
Parenthetically, isn't it queer that Presidents feel that they have to have a dog, to be considered "normal human beings"?