I will elaborate more in the replies, just be nice.
Tldr… I hate how one of the most common advice you receive as a loner without social life or a partner is to get a dog. I’m taking care of a dog for a while now as a favour, since I’m unemployed and have “nothing to do” (my brother went to his gf beach holiday house for the summer with her, his daughter, my younger siblings and my mom, couldn’t take the dog, it’s old) and I’m miserable, I HATE this. I don’t wanna have to deal with any animal after this.
Yea, that hasn’t been my experience at all.
As a young adult, our dogs were chick magnets, my girlfriend would get jealous all the time (though was good natured about it).
If you’re out with a dog, and treating it well, it sends a message about you. Especially how you interact with one - it really exposes lots about us (having worked at a vet, I learned a lot, and have seen a lot).
But - if you don’t want a dog, that’s fine. In fact, your willingness to own that, and be clear about it, is a credit to you. Know what you like.