No, of course not everyone wants a dog which is why I, and several other posters, are asking why exactly they paired Harriet who seems like a dog hater with Richard who has a dog.
I am a big animal lover and could never ever have married someone who doesn't like animals (plus the fact I never totally trust people who don't like animals).
I didn't think Richard was boring. He seems a lovely person but I think living with the miserable Harriet (and she certainly came across as boring) totally subdued him.
Harriet is old enough to realise there was a good chance that there would be no "spark" on first meeting a stranger. Ok she didn't fancy him but she didn't even try to get to know him better to see if there could be any spark. Some couples almost hate each other on first meeting but go on to have very happy marriages.
Surely each of them would have said what type of person they find attractive. So if neither Steph or Harriet like men with beards I would hope they would not have been matched with Ben and Richard. I, and many others, think Richard is good looking so, again, I wonder what it is that Harriet wants.
I think Ben is very much concerned about appearances (even though he wears such awful clothes). The first time he saw Steph she looked gorgeous. Since that day though she has slopped around in baggy clothes, no makeup and pulled back hair. She really looks very plain like that. No, it shouldn't matter but I think to Ben it does. Also surely when you are first dating someone you make an effort, dressing nicely, makeup etc.