Wake up! Wake up! Except it’s not your alarm going off that is getting you out of bed; it’s your dog. While every other college student is hitting snooze on their alarm, you’re already up, dressed and heading out the door with your sweet pup. Having a dog in college is a concept glamorized by many young people today, but how do you know if it is right for you? There are many ups and downs when it comes to being a student with a dog.
On one hand, it is highly rewarding, and you go to sleep every night feeling fulfilled. On the other hand, it is a lot of extra responsibility that not all students are equipped to handle just yet, and the added challenges on top of academics and social life can lead to burnout. To help you better understand the reality of having a dog in college, I have curated a list of pros and cons for you to consider, helping you decide if getting a dog in college is the right next step for you.
The Paw-sitive Side of Things: To start, let’s go over the benefits of having a dog in college.
1. Increased discipline and time management: There is no such thing as poor time management when it comes to having a dog–it’s sink or swim. You are thrown into a newfound world of time management and self-discipline like you have never known before. Having a dog in college puts you on a set schedule to follow daily. You learn to navigate and build around this schedule, and before you know it, you are part of the 1% that have mastered the art of time management and self-discipline.
2. Stress relief: Ever heard of goat yoga? Or therapy dogs? These are common stress-relieving activities that all have one underlying theme: animals. This is because animals are proven to relieve stress in humans. There is no better feeling than the way my dog runs into my arms after I get home from work or class. Dogs don’t have bad days, and they don’t understand that you do, either. They are simply just happy to be here doing life with you, which is pretty special if you ask me.
3. More human connection: Oh, you’re an introvert with a dog? That’s cute, because you won’t be for long. College students typically live either in student or off-campus housing, so you are most likely living with other students your age. When you take your dog on walks or to the park, there will be other young adults there with their dogs, often leading to interactions and conversations. Don’t take this as a scary thing, some of my favorite friendships are ones I have made with fellow dog-owners while I have been out with my dog. Soon, you will have all sorts of new friends that you know share similar interests with you since they also own pets.
The Ruff Side of Things: Of course, nothing is ever perfect. Here are some challenges you might encounter while having a dog in college.
1. Making sure your dog’s needs are met: Up until this point, you may have never cared for anything that requires this amount of attention to detail. It can be overwhelming going from living your life however you want to now having to make sure an animal is fed, walked, given enough attention, and overall, content and looked after. Dogs require a lot of time and care. Pet them, walk them, play with them, just spend time with them. Dogs have needs just like you and me. It is your responsibility when owning a dog to make sure these needs are not only met but addressed with the utmost care and effort.
2. Balancing social life, school, and taking care of a living being: Obviously, being a dog-owner isn’t your full-time job. Maybe you even have a full-time job, or are a full-time student. The point is, you have other things going on in your life than just the fact that you are a dog-owner. You want to hang out with your friends, get good grades, earn a paycheck, all while taking care of your little guy back home. Finding the right balance to ensure you have enough time to feel satisfied in all of these categories can take some time to get adjusted to. If you find that you have lots of openings within your schedule, adding a dog into your routine will be much more doable.
3. Not being able to say “yes” to everything: As college students, we want to make sure that we are making the most out of these four years. Every party, every event, every club, we want to be there for it all. Unfortunately, having a dog in college means that this is just not a reality. There are some things that you are not going to be able to go to should you have a dog waiting for you at home. It is up to you to decide if this sacrifice is worth it or not. You have to meticulously plan out when to travel, and last-minute plans almost always receive a “no.”
Bringing my dog to college was the best decision I’ve ever made. Sure, I wake up a little earlier, have less room on the bed and don’t always get to do exactly what I want. Even so, the joy my dog brings to my daily life outweighs any and all of the “negative” aspects.This has helped with mental fog and the overall daily toll that comes with being a full-time student. Having a dog in college has made me more disciplined and opened up doors I would have never thought possible.
All this to say, whether or not you decide to add a furry friend into your life while you’re in school is a uniquely personal choice that should be thought about for a lengthy amount of time. It takes a certain type of person with a good amount of free time and discipline to fully reap the benefits of having a dog in college. It is not for everyone, that’s for sure, but having a dog in college can truly transform your habits and traits into valuable skills you will need in the real world after graduation.
If you have finished reading this and are now thinking to yourself, “Hmm, maybe a fish would be a good alternative,” no judgement here. But, if after reading this, you know that you will be able to give a dog the kind of love and care it deserves, I welcome you into the best next few years of your life. Oh, and here’s a link to a pooper scooper. You’re welcome 🙂