[farahnm]

Hi Mr Eff,
As your question ask whether can a Muslim have a Dog, with no choice i need to touch little bit on the religious issue.
I hope dog's owner here not feel offense.
According to my knowledge as a muslim, dog is fall under "Najis Berat" in Islam, which falls in the same category as Pig. You must know that Muslim cant touch, eat, and keep PIG. That apply the same to the DOG.
So, any keturunan come from DOG, either it is a mix breed between DOG and CAT, or DOG and chicken, as long got Dog bloodline, is consider as Najis in Islam.
What if u touch the DOG?
If you touch the DOG, and you realized the Dog's fur is dry, u can simply wash hand with soap and water. If you figure out it is wet, you need to "samak" it.
If you touch dog's saliva, u need to samak as well. If the dog peed or pooed, u need to samak the place where it pooed or peed.
So, my advice to you as muslim sister is, not to adopt Dog as your pet.
Dog can be a good guardian for your house, or farm, or ur property, but not as your pet where need u to touch and pet it everyday.
It is frankly nothing to do with Malay mindset.
You can have a cat as an option if u love animal.
Thats my 2 cents, hope it help you.