[Quiet Man Cometh]

[QUOTE=Lawtan;1672321...may be good to have a companion. Biggest thing is that a dog is another being, and I don't want to risk that I could hurt it by not giving it enough attention.[/QUOTE]

That would depend on the dog (if we're talking dogs). Some breeds are different from others and dogs within a breed vary, too. Some are more independent, others are clingy. I had a Cavalier which is considered to be a very social and "sticky" breed. He never seemed to require too much of my attention (unless I had food) but he was always in my company. If I sat on the couch, he was on the couch. If I got up to put a dish in the sink, he came with. Upstairs, downstairs, the other room, etc. If I was anywhere, he was somewhere in the same area if not within five feet. Feeding him would get me up in the morning, and looking after him had me doing more than I normally would in a day.

Learning about him (his individual habits, his breed, and dogs in general) also gave me something else to focus my energies towards. Training, caring for, and working with an animal can give someone a feeling of capability which can also help self-esteem.