[Xylakant]

That's not entirely true. I specifically notice that owning a dog structures the day in a specific way. The dog does not force me to go, but one effect of owning a dog is that it needs to go out multiple times a day, so I do. Even on days where I'd ordinarily not feel like, when it's raining, when I'm tired. I go for a longer hike every weekend, things that I'd not do or prioritize lower if I had no dog. And I don't think that respecting and caring for my pets needs by performing acts that I'd ordinarily not do makes me a bad owner.