By Gabi French—Being in college brings lots of responsibilities. A college student is on their own which means no rules, no parents, and basically the freedom to do what they like. One thing that one would probably never think of when going to college is getting a dog.
Living off campus has been so nice. Don’t have to worry about quiet hours, noisy roommates, and most importantly you can have a dog. I have an eight-month-old black lab whose name is Cash. Getting a dog in college was the best and worst decision I could’ve made.
Having a dog during college has its benefits, but also its disadvantages. One of the benefits that come from having a dog is that you always have protection and a guarantee cuddler. Another advantage of having a dog in college is the fact that you have a go-to if you need a break from anything, especially schoolwork.
One of my best friends since high school, Adrienne, has a dog of her own, but her dog lives at home with her parents. I asked her if she has ever thought about bringing her dog up to live here. Adrienne said, “ With Kimber (dog) being a farm dog, the environment would be too hard for him to adjust to. I think he would end up losing his mind up here because there isn’t anywhere for him to run.”
One of the disadvantages of having a dog in college is the expense that comes with having one. Whether that’s getting dog food, shots, or even the cost of getting them fixed. In the end, it all adds up.
Another disadvantage would definitely be time. It can be hard to get your dog out to the dog park to go run and burn energy if you constantly have school work, this is where Adrienne feels not having a dog up here is for the best.
When it comes to deciding on whether or not to get a dog while in college, it’s going to come down to your commitment and dedication to the dog. They are a ball of fun, but a lot of work as well.
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