There’s nothing like coming home at the end of each day to someone who is genuinely excited to see you. When
you open the door, he comes running over, a smile plastered across his face. Sometimes, he can’t even contain his excitement and starts telling the whole world how happy he is to see you.
Those of you who have or have had a dog know what I’m talking about. The relationship you develop with your dog is truly a special and amazing thing. That being said, if you’re considering getting a dog while in school, you should probably think about the following before taking the leap and adding someone to the family.
Time
You thought being involved in five clubs this semester was a big time commitment? Think again. You now need
to make time to feed, walk, and play with your dog every day. On top of that, dog’s, like us, get sick and have health issues—you’ll need to have time to take him to the doctors. While at first this might sound like no problem, remember a dog doesn’t only need you once a week, or end when the semester ends. Having a dog is a huge time commitment that will last for years, and is not a commitment you can decide to ignore every once in a while. And, unlike the rest your stuff you have in Atlanta, a dog can’t stay in storage while you’re home for the summer…
Space
Dogs need a place to run around and get exercise. Do you have a park or yard nearby that you could frequently go to? At E
mory, this shouldn’t be too big of a problem because we have Lullwater right on campus, but will you be willing to make the trip there when it gets to be 40 degrees out?
Cost
Dogs are expensive!!! The price of dog food over the course of however many years adds up, and on top of that there are vet bills, which ar
e comparable to the price of your own medical exams—but not covered by insurance. Also, you don’t want your dog to smell, so you’ll definitely need to shell out for an occasional grooming. Don’t get a dog if you’re not sure how you can afford it. That’s not fair to you or your pet.
Social Life
Want to go for froyo after class tomorrow? No, sorry, I have to go back and take my dog out. Want to go out tonight? No, my dog hasn’t been
feeling well lately so I don’t want to leave him alone. These types of situations are going to become frequent. If you really want a dog, missing out on hanging out every once in a while isn’t too huge of a deal, but it’s definitely something to consider.
Mess
Unless you get a dog that doesn’t shed, dogs are messy! You might not notice it at first, but slowly you’ll start to
see fur collecting on the ground. Better be ready to break out the vacuum! A lot! Also, if you get a puppy that’s not housebroken…be prepared to clean up.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emory chapter.