THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A DOG IN COLLEGE

BY SOFIA MARTINEZ

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​Are you ready to bring a puppy into your life and love them for the rest of theirs? I did it, and it has been the best decision I ever made. At first I was just a college girl looking at cute teacup puppies on my Instagram feed. Next thing I know, without even thinking about it, I had a dog named Gigi. Here are some of the things I wish someone would've told me before getting a dog in college. 

DOGS ARE FOR LIFE

​Getting a dog in college is a weird time frame. You are going to graduate and move out of your comfort zone, start to work, or travel. I always tell my dog, Gigi, that she’s going to be there at my wedding and maybe even when I start a family. Which is crazy to even think about!

BREED RESEARCH

​ I can never stress this enough, getting a big dog in a college size apartment would be way more challenging. Dogs require a lot of daily needs, and researching beforehand is the best way to figure out what breed best fits your personality, lifestyle, and needs.

PUPPIES ARE HARD WORK

​The puppy days are crucial for training, so I suggest to set a schedule with your dog. Dogs are all about routines, and you also need to be as well if you want to build a strong relationship. Potty training is crucial and extremely important, especially if you have roommates.

DOGS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE

​Dog expenses never stop: Medicine, food, and grooming accumulates each month. Even if you’re just getting the bare minimums. Puppies need a lot of chew toys if you don't want them eating all your shoes. From experience, accidents also happen, maybe you’re having friends over and a little bit of alcohol spills on the ground and then next thing you know, you’re paying $200 vet fees at 1 AM. 

IT'S TIME CONSUMING

My biggest sacrifice was time. In college the most common thing is having roommates, which is beneficial knowing your dog is with someone trustworthy. In my case, I live alone, so no more staying out all night, no more 2 day benders of not going home. I became a woman with a schedule. 

PREPARE TO DOG PROOF YOUR HOME

As a college student I learned no more leaving paraphernalia on the coffee table. They love the smell but it's extremely bad for them. And you know the rest of the basics. Keep valuable things off the floor, they will find a way to get to it.

PREPARE YOURSELF

It sadly isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and just preparing yourself for the worst might be the smartest thing to do. You never know if they are going to be barkers, biters, anxious, or reactive. Patience and consistency is key in the training process to have a happy and healthy dog. 

BE READY TO GIVE LOTS OF LOVE

In my opinion, this is the easiest to do. Your dog will look up to you and love you every second of their life. You become family and so you should make sure you treat them as such.

To sum this all up, just do it if you’re considering it. Nobody would have expected me to have these motherly instincts, and to be honest I didn’t, and I probably still don't. All I know is to love my dog unconditionally. 

See you next post!!
Sofia Martinez