VanLady, yes, I do intend to get a dog... eventually. Life w/o a dog seems kind of empty.
And I discovered that I kind of depend on their senses, even at home. If I hear an odd sound, I look at the dog. If she just yawns and rolls onto her side, I don't worry. But if she's standing up, alert, listening with nose raised, I pay attention. And when the CATS start pacing and growling, I know something is REALLY wrong, like coyotes in the front yard.