Picking up smelly poop - you get used to it.
Being tied to the house - you can leave the house for 4 or 5 hours at a time (unless it's a puppy.) Yes, it requires sacrifices but that's part of the commitment to owning a dog.
Vet appointments and fees - unless you are very unlucky, a healthy dog won't need anything other than routine treatment until the very end of its life. Life insurance is available or savings. I rarely buy takeaways; and I never buy coffees on my way to work or purchase food at work. The money saved goes into a savings account for vet fees.
Dog smell - dogs don't smell if their bedding is washed frequently; and they're given an occasional bath.
Extra cleaning - it goes with the territory.
Exercise with your dog - walking is great physical exercise, it's free, it's excellent for your mental health and for making new dog-owning friends. It also builds a strong relationship with your dog. When you have a dog you have outdoor clothing and footwear to cover every type of weather.
Unpredictable behaviour - a puppy is unpredictable and a very old dog with Canine Dementia can be unpredictable. However, a well-trained, adult dog is highly predictable, so long as you put the obedience work in, learn to read it's body language and build a solid relationship with your dog built on mutual affection and respect.
Fleas/worms/mites - fleas and worms are easily prevented with tablets. No dog should have mites, this indicates neglect - a clean environment with clean bedding prevents mites.
Smelly dog food - a good quality, complete dry food doesn't smell. Wet dog food does smell but that's a matter of personal choice.
"I'm struggling to find the pros"
- There is nothing on this planet as loving, loyal and discrete as a dog.
- Dogs are highly entertaining. My dog makes me laugh all the time with her antics.
- Dogs are protective. Their sense of hearing and scent is thousands of times greater than that of a human being. Your dog will growl and/or bark if someone so much as approaches your car or front door. Furthermore, your dog's vocalisation will make that person aware that a dog lives at that property and that your dog is aware of their presence. A would be burglar or thief won't hang about, they'll move onto an easier target. The peace of mind a dog provides is priceless. It doesn't even have to be a dog traditionally associated with guarding. My Black Labrador for example - who had an excellent temperament - was one of the best guard dogs I've ever owned.
- Dogs are excellent judges of character. If your normally friendly, level-headed, well- trained dog acts cold or generally out of character towards someone, you can trust that that person is someone to be very wary of.
This is just off the top of my head and not a comprehensive list by any means!