Should I bring my dog sophomore year?

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hey all,

So I just finished my first semester at UMN. Definitely had my ups and downs (rip 4.0 GPA) but luckily I’ve found a really nice place to stay next year that allows dogs. I want to take my 1 year old with me if possible (she’ll be two by the time I move), since my parents don’t like her much and don’t give her the attention she needs. The girl I’m sharing with is fine with me bringing her (one of her roommates who’s moving out has a dog) and to be honest I think having my pup around will help with mental health/stress.

The apartment is pretty spacious. There’s a little balcony she could hang out on (I’d be with her of course), there’s lots of tall windows, she would sleep in my room, I’d take her on plenty of walks and potty calls, and she’d get to hang out with my 3 three roommates. If she wasn’t coping well or needed a break, my parents could take her back for a bit (since they’re only an hour away). The pet fee isn’t terrible either, and my parents always cover vet bills (it’s super important to them for our dogs to be healthy). Also, I have a job at a research lab that pays pretty well so I’ll be able to cover her food costs.

However, she won’t be able to hang out with my older dog. This is what worries me most, since she’s very social and loves to play. Also, she occasionally has bowel control issues (from when she got frequently sick as a puppy). We haven’t had an accident in a while, but I definitely don’t want any messes.

What are your thoughts?

2

One way to compensate for her not being able to hang out with your older dog is taking her to a dog park regularly so she can socialize with other dogs, and/or maybe even paying for one day a week of doggy daycare. You, of course, have to be willing to clean up after her.

This is really a very individual decision, but you have to decide whether or not you want to be beholden to the schedule of a dog as a college student. Since it’s an apartment, you’ll need to take her out frequently for walks to relieve herself but also for exercise. You’ll have to get up early morning to walk her and walk her late at night. You can’t spontaneously go somewhere after class if it’s her relief time - you’ll need to go home first and let her out (or pay for a dog walker to do it). And since she’s so young and energetic, you’ll want to take her to the dog park a couple times a week or do that daycare thing.