I, too loved Dyson - I had a DC01, DC02, DC03, DC04 and only last year bought the City Vac, which was taken back as it was crap!
The uprights in my opinion are much better but their hoses are rubbish and the plastic quality isn't the best - treat the older Dyson uprights for carpet care and no above the floor cleaning and it should last a long time.
I am also a pet owner - 1 cat, 1 dog and an old budgie who loves nothing more than to spit out the seeds all over the floor. There's nothing worse than cleaning up after pet hair and ANY BAGLESS vacuum is so much better because you're constantly running after the pet hair. BAGLESS is good if you want a cheap vacuum but like all vacuums, the bagless design means it needs to be cleaned out.
However, I was brought up to appreciate a bagged vacuum which is why I prefer it. Even if I have to buy bags, bags from some brands last longer than others and you get more for your money. It is far cleaner to dispose of dog hair with a bagged vacuum than it is with any bagless vac. Cat hair is finer, easier to manage and thus any bagless vacuum like the Vax Mach Air or Dyson uprights are great for that - again its dealing with the filters and the stink that you have to deal with afterwards in the bin -which the HEPA or whatever filter doesn't seem to cover. I find HEPA is pointless in a bagless...