The wife has explained she doesn't want a dog because for her the pain of losing her pets LONG ago is still too prominent in her mind. She had a pair of German Shepherds that were loose in their backyard. She has told me they looked after her kids, especially the little one, if he wondered off a bit one went with him.
They had a bit of property and no fence, not even around the pool (in France). I've seen some photos of them around the pool having fun.
I'd love to have a dog myself, I really like dogs, but we travel too much and I think it's unfair to have a larger dog, which I'd like, 50 pounds or so, cooped up most of the day. I see folks in the park with their dog off leash, which technically is illegal but they do it when the park is lightly visited during the week. There also are two larger dog parks in the park which is fun to watch for me.
I have pondered if the wife predeceases me if I'd get a dog. She says she would hate to be last to go. Not a fun topic. Losing a dog is bad, losing a wife or kid is just way way way worse. I'm coming up on that anniversary, August 3. My FB feed is "reminding" me.
