I am deathly allergic to dogs and not really a dog lover other than the occasional wonderful and gentle animal here and there. I was bitten by a dog as a child and I'm naturally a touch afraid of them. Oh, and I am also a coward. You can't discount that part. But I think I would enjoy having a dog to hike with and one that would ride in the back of my truck. And I don't have a truck, but I would get one if I had a dog.