Just recently, my house became a tad more crowded when this new girl, Peyton, moved in. She’s welcoming, she’s friendly and she doesn’t even pick fights about my five- day-old stack of dishes. But hold on, excuse me…I didn’t mention um, she happens to be a dog. I knew living with Peyton would be fun but I didn’t expect to struggle balancing college papers and a college pup. So before you go on to get a furry friend, consider these five things:
1. Pets are expensive
Puppies almost always cost over $300. That’s just for the animal itself. It doesn’t include the toys, bed, crate, leash, collar, food or the VET BILLS. These all start to add up, very quickly. If you are not prepared to fork up lots of money for a little friend, think twice about getting him/her. You don’t want stories you hear about people coming home from college and dumping a dog on their parents to become a reality.
2. Puppies are babies
Straight up, puppies are babies. They cry and need constant attention. If you take your eyes off of them for more than five minutes they are probably getting into something they shouldn’t be. Puppies will be full of energy and then two minutes later be asleep where they fell. Like babies, puppies rarely sleep through the night and when they do, it’s a miracle. Puppies need tons of room to play and run around, and will likely need walks many times a day. Baby-proofing, or rather puppy- proofing, needs to be done before adopting a puppy into a college home, which includes gates in almost every room and by the stairs.
3. Training
Where to begin with this one? Training a puppy is like potty training a child, minus the diapers. You will feel like the cute little five-pound fluff ball running around is terrorizing your house, going to the bathroom wherever they please until fully trained. Walks after every meal and about every half hour during the day are a necessity when potty training. Say bye to relaxation! Potty training is one thing, but obedience training is another story. Obedience training happens all day, every day. The constant “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” will sound like a broken record playing in your house. For the first few months, say goodbye to the little freedoms like leaving your shoes, or homework (I swear our dog has actually eaten homework before) wherever you want, the pup will eat everything.4. Cuddles and smiles
Stressed out? Upset? Nothing a cute puppy can’t fix. There is nothing like coming home after a hard test or long hours at the library to a puppy who will climb into your lap and fall right asleep. Constant pet therapy is always nice. Cuddles and snuggles with a puppy never fails, especially on the cold winter Scranton nights ahead of us.
5. Unconditional Love
Last but not least, you can rely on your pup to lather you in unconditional love. Your dog will always be the first one to greet you at your door. If you do decide to welcome a dog into your house, be prepared to consider him/ her part of your college family.
Dogs are LOTS of work however, nothing compares to their love and loyalty.