My college housing situation is unique. Out of my 3 roommates, only one of them is a full-time college student. The other two are not currently enrolled in school and both have puppies. One is a six-month-old Australian shepherd named Floyd, the other, an eight-week old Neapolitan Mastiff named Diesel. I’ve always been a dog lover to my core, but it wasn’t until I actually lived with the pups and experienced the hardships they bring to people our age. Now, I sit here writing to tell you why it’s an awful idea to try and raise a puppy a college student.
1) Puppies are expensive: Forget all that money you could be spending on makeup, shoes, clothes, new bathing suits for summer, the girly essentials we indulge in. You will need to spend it on your adorable pooch. Puppies need shots, foods, vet check ups, bones, treats, a collar, a leash, a crate, etc. I could go on and on (Puppy Training School!).
2) Puppies are like human babies. Literally. They can’t do anything for themselves and you need time and energy to teach them so they can. If you’re a full-time college student, how are you going to find sufficient time to raise this baby? They need to be cared for and trained. Though we may not admit it, college students are only semi-responsible. While we want to believe we can do all these things, we really can’t fully commit. You need to have an eye on your puppy at all times or else they can cause some serious damage to your house. They simply don’t know any better.
3) Puppies do not know how to go to the bathroom outdoors. This is another concept that requires time and energy to teach your canine cutie. On Diesel’s “Petco’s Training Pads For Puppies”, the back reads, “Confine your puppy to a small area when you are unable to watch him and anticipate when he will need to urinate. As a general rule, your puppy will need to go when he wakes up, after he eats or drinks, after playing, and before going to sleep.” Make sure you have carpet cleaner in every room of your house because when a puppy’s gotta go, a puppy’s gotta go.
4) Puppies are annoying. Yes, they are adorable and cute, but I cannot tell you how many times I find myself screaming, “FLOYD SHUT UP!” Floyd doesn’t listen. On an evening when you’re just trying to relax with your friends or significant other, your puppy will join you, peeing on the floor, barking, and begging for attention.
5) Puppies don’t sleep in: Unless you’re trying to get up before the sun every day, don’t get a puppy. When they wake you up at 6 A.M., they need to go to the bathroom. You have to get up and take them outside to make sure that they don’t pee or poop all over your room. Otherwise, you’re going to have a not so great smelling room, reminiscent of a liter box. Have your incense, candles, and Febreze ready!
Staying healthy in college is important. After living with puppies for just three months, I have come to see that we are just simply not equipped to take care of these beautiful baby beasts. As I’ve said many times, time and energy are precious, and the little bit of energy you have left after school and work could better be spent taking care of yourself. This is a rare time in our lives and we need to live it up! Our four legged best friends are adorable, but unless you are 100% committed, think twice. Puppies seem like a great idea, but in reality the amount of responsibility attached to raising one, you will have to see to believe. So please, take my word for it, accept the fact that we’re just trying to have fun right now and wait until you are fully capable of providing a good, solid home for that puppy to grow up in.