Getting a puppy in college

where are you living if you're able to get a dog? are you getting a house?

Get a dog if you have the time to take care of it

think most about what the best life for the dog would be. if you have lots of free time and will only be gone for a few hours a day and you're living in your own house off campus then it'd be fine, but it's not fair to the dog to leave it inside most of the day or invite your friends over and get it high while you laugh at it

as you know, puppies are a lot of work, especially if you want the dog to have a good life

It's not a home, college its pretty much like a 4 year version of camp.

dont. been there

yea i'll have a house, and my schedule shouldn't be too heavy. the thing I would be most concerned with is leaving him/her while skiing and going to school in the winter. Other than that the dog can pall around with me most places.

Don't get a dog until you're settled in after college.  Pets take a lot of time.  More than you realize until you live on your own.


If you really need a dog around, look into fostering a dog from a shelter.

I got a dog my sophomore year, I am now about to graduate. She is like 2 and a half now and I have to say, although I love her very much, it was absolutely the wrong choice.  You may want to study abroad, be able to move about, go out with your friends and not come home for days at a time. none of these these things are easily done if you have a dog.   Also if you are in a labor intensive major which requires you to be on campus for endless hours, that will be difficult with a dog.  Since you are not 21, and don't realize what a draw bars/drinking will be I would hold off. 

Now if you have thought about it and truly are sure you want a dog for the next 15 or so years, then yes get one because they bring absolute joy to your life.  Make damn sure that you want that and that you are willing to sacrifice some of the stereotypical "college" experiences.  But if you have pretty cool roommates then a dog will absolutely be a wonderful time for all of you.

don't do it. wait until you're more settled down, sophomore year is pretty hectic figuring out how to live on your own out of the dorms. normally housing situations don't last for too long. I'd wait until junior or senior year when you have a better idea of where you're at and have had some time to adjust to life in the adult world. dogs are a huge commitment and even though you've had them in the past, being totally responsible for one is way different than growing up with one. I worked at a shelter for 4 years and I've seen what happens when college kids get dogs they aren't ready for.

^ last two posts probably the best advice

last three since gloryhole snuck in there

damn thanks for the advice, i think i'll hold off on getting a dog for a couple more years now. shit though i want one soo bad

i know that feel. i'm getting a dog asap after i graduate

that sounds legit. How does this work? Do I actually get to take care of the dog?

is there a local shelter you could volunteer at? or for a few bucks on the side you could put an ad on craigslist for being a dog walker or pet sitter

Glad you came to this conclsuion. Dogs are a terrible idea fro college kids.

Absolutely, you are expected to take care of it. Google fostering dogs in your area and you should get some decent places that will help out with this.  Basically, you have a dog for a bit until it gets adopted or they move it or you can't take care of it anymore.  They always need more dog fosterers too.

You look after it for a stretch of time..pretty much anywhere from a few days to a few months while it's either transitioning to a new home or the rescue place is making room

This is the absolute best advice in this thread. Think about it really hard, puppies are a ton of work. Its not about what you want, its about what the dog needs.

Adopt a dog dude. Don't get a puppy in college.

Don't do it. Sounds like a terrible idea for you, but especially the dog, as said

No, not if he rescues a grown dog from a shelter.

wrong, think about how badly a dog would make your college life suck.

This is coming from someone who got a dog while in college:

Honestly I don't think most college kids should have dogs. They're a lot more work than most people expect and they're expensive and they really tie you down. Puppies are especially tough, they're so goddamn cute but they're SO much work. I remember feeling like I had a toddler when my dog was a young puppy. It's really different than when you're living at home and your mom does most of the work to take care of it. Plus so many college kids think it's hilarious to get the dog high/drunk...personally I think that's cruel and I hate seeing people do that. I'd freak the fuck out if I saw someone doing that to my dog.

That said, if you're honestly responsible and have thought this through then fine, go for it. There are some college kids who are great pet owners, and I don't mean to say that you won't be one of them. Obviously I know nothing about you. But just from what I've seen, most of the kids I know who got dogs at this point in their lives end up keeping the dog for 6 months or so and then they're over it and find the dog another home.

Just think about it long and hard and do your research on whatever kind of dog you decide you want and be honest with yourself on whether or not you'll be able to care of it properly. I hate seeing people blindly going out and getting some big hyperactive breed that requires a ton of exercise/maintenance when they realistically won't ever have time to do anything with it and then they wonder why the dog is crazy and destructive. Just...know what you're getting yourself into, bottom line. And really, really consider getting something older than a puppy.

Sorry, that got longer and more ranty than I wanted.

if you travel at all think about where the dog would stay. My bro got a dog right after colege and he has dumped it on my parents because he doesnt want to be that tied down

which, in turn, is exactly what i was saying. if you are reluctant to deal with the dog then the dog has a shitty life because you do the bare minimum of taking care of it