Growing up, we rarely if ever heard of a frum family owning a dog. In the neighborhood in which we now live, there was a time you hardly ever saw it. However, lately, we’ve been noticing more and more frum ppl with dogs. I don’t know the reason for this. I myself would not own a dog just because i’m not really a “dog-person”. If i visit someone who has a friendly dog, i’ll pet it and think it’s cute. But i can’t see myself taking care of one.
i guess – to each his/her own. as far as the halachic implications, i suppose ppl should ask their local rav.