When many people think of college, the first things that come to mind are probably along the lines of frats, booze, and football games. But, as an incoming third year and double-major, the first thing I think of is stress. Between studying, projects, club meetings, campus events, and sports, I am constantly overwhelmed with the amount of social and academic obligations that come with being college.
In fact, a 2008 mental health study by the Associated Press and mtvU found that 80% of students say they have sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives over the past three months -- an increase of 20% from a 2003 survey.
My resident assistant from freshman year was facing some of the same problems and decided to get a therapy dog for her stress related mental health issues, which was surprising because who knew that they let animals live in the dorms, right? Growing up I was raised around dogs and had always loved them as if they were part of the family, so when I found this out, I thought I should do that too. There was a lot of push back from my family with the typical questions: who’s going to take care of it? Do you have enough time to take care of it? Are you willing to pick up its poop? And of course, who’s going to pay for it?
After whining about wanting to get a dog for probably a year straight, on the first day of summer I said screw it and went to the shelter with my boyfriend. We walked away that day with a 7 month old German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix named Blue and never looked back. So, if you’re in college and considering taking the leap into the wonderful world of pet ownerships, here are some reasons to get you started.
1. Dogs help you stay active.
Many college students get depressed from stress which makes them stay inside and get fat. Having a dog forces you to get outside and exercise. In a study led by Glenn Levine, cardiologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, it was determined that “dog owners were 54% more likely than other adults to get recommended levels of exercise.”
2. They can help strengthen your immune system.
The exposure of certain allergies from cats or dogs can strengthen the human immune system, as it becomes more adapted to these dangers. More so, mere contact with dogs has been proven to release serotonin and dopamine in humans, which are neurotransmitters related to positive behavior.
3. Dogs are great conversation starters!
No matter what size or breed, you are bound to get people who want to everything about your dog. It’s part of being a dog owner, and from personal experience, I can say that it definitely forces you to step out of your comfort zone and talk to people you might not have encountered otherwise.
4. You’ll feel safer.
Whenever someone knocks on the door, Blue’s ears immediately perk up and she growls ever so slightly. Sometimes I feel bad because I don’t want my guests to think I have a bad dog, but then I remember how cool it is that I have an animal who is clearly looking out for my best interest! This helps me sleep better too because I know if there’s any shenanigans going on, Blue will be the first one up to check it out (so I don’t have to).
5. If you take care of them, they will give you unconditional love in return.
Your dog is your biggest fan and will be there for you until the end. They will be ecstatic when you come home from work and are always looking to please the human who feeds them.
With all that being said, dogs are a lot of work. However, no matter how long you prepare for it, you can never truly be ready for every situation. Rest assured though that as long as you are committed to giving your pup a good life, you’ve already taken the first step. So what are you waiting for?!
