Dogs are never obsolete.
I have just taken my 2 year old Patterdale terrier bitch to our town for our messages. I am thinking of taking her south to a horse show and wanted to know how she would cope with the big bad world. She was perfect. Totally happy trotting along beside me, saying hello to those who wanted a greeting, sitting and waiting like a lady in shops while we were window-shopping. I asked every shop keeper if she could come in, guaranteed her behaviour and she was 100%.
One group of shop girls said we had made their day alot nicer by meeting her.
So, no, dogs are never ever obsolete in my eyes.