In a world with a lot of anger and division, it is important to focus on the things that unite us—like our love of puppies. Everyone loves puppies, especially college students. Some colleges, such as Virginia Tech, have started offering puppies for students to play with during periods of high stress. A lot college students even decide to own their own dog. This is not a decision that should be made lightly, so I’ve gathered some lovely ladies with dogs, including myself, to talk about all that comes with owning a pup in college!
Deet at the pumpkin patch! You can follow Deet on Instagram @dailydeet
What is the best part of having a dog in college?
Allie, myself, 20, owns a Dutch Shepherd named Athena: “Having a dog means having a bestfriend that is always willing to go on an adventure, go for a run, cuddle with you on the couch while you binge-watch Netflix or comfort you when you’re stressed.”
Christy, 20, owns a Yorkshire Terrier named Dietrich (Deet for short): “One of the very best parts of having a dog at college is the infinite love and admiration they have for you when the stress of school gets to be too much. Deet is always overjoyed to see me when I get home, and it is the best feeling ever!”
Katie, 21, adopted a Beagle mix named Millie: “The best part of having a dog in college is always having my best friend at home waiting for me. It’s impossible for me to stay in a bad mood when I come home and see Millie wiggling around and bringing me one of her toys. I am so much happier since I adopted Millie my sophomore year.”
Athena relaxing in the clover!
What is the hardest part of having a dog in college?
Mary, 20, owns a English Retriever named Scout: “The hardest part of having a dog in college is the time commitment when trying to still complete school work assignments!”
Allie: “When your puppy gets sick, there’s the vet bills, the juggling of classes with taking them to the vet and having to keep a close eye on them. Some professors are more understanding than others when it comes to emergencies with your puppy.”
Christy: “One of the hardest parts of having a dog in college is making sure they are getting all the attention/time/exercise they need. But, once you get into the groove of things and have a set schedule, it isn’t so hard.”
Katie: “The hardest part of having a dog in college is needing to find time between classes to walk her. I feel bad if I’m stuck on campus for over 8 hours and Millie is stuck in her crate all day.”
Millie modeling on her walk! You can follow Millie on Instagram @millie_moo_the_beagle
Do you have any advice for students considering getting a dog?
Allie: “Really take into consideration if your lifestyle is conducive to owning a dog. It’s a big responsibility to have a life constantly dependent on you.”
Christy: “My biggest piece of advice would be to make sure you remember that having a dog is much more than just ‘having a dog’. By that I mean you need to be financially prepared for vet visits, all the food, grooming, accessories, etc.”
Katie: “Consider adopting instead an older dog rather than getting a puppy because they often take less time to train and you can find a dog that is already potty-trained! There are also so many dogs in shelters that are waiting for their forever homes! Before you get a dog make sure you fully understand the time commitment because it’s not fair for the dog if you aren’t home enough or if you end up leaving them at the shelter.
Mary: “Consider having your roommate help out with walking/exercise. It never seems like it’s hard until you have an assignment due in two hours and your puppy is giving you those lonely sad eyes!”
Scout showing off her toy!
If you want more time with animals than just watching cute videos of them on Facebook but are unsure if you are ready for that level of responsibility or time commitment, consider volunteering at your local animal shelter or fostering animals for the shelter!