Transitioning from a lifelong career into retirement is exciting. It can also be disorienting. The structure, schedule, and sense of purpose that once shaped your days are suddenly gone, replaced by open time that doesn’t always feel as freeing as expected. Without something to anchor it, that freedom can quickly turn into a lack of direction. So the question becomes: what will take its place? For a growing number of retirees, the answer starts with adopting a dog.