I'm a working programmer, and we have a dog. We used to have 2 but one died recently after a long and happy life. Dogs are great, and very rewarding. There is effort required, but it rewards you, like with many things.

We have boxers. They suit us. If you take a dog, you should research the breed before deciding. Some breeds will suit you more than others.

Dogs need to be walked daily. If humans were pets, they would say the same about us. It works out for the best.