Now, this might not apply for those living in dorm rooms, for obvious reasons. But if you're like me, a student who doesn't live on campus, things can get pretty dull when you don't have an entire campus of activities right outside your dorm door. Cue the all-day marathons of Bob's Burgers and sometimes cleaning the whole apartment just out of boredom. But one constant source of entertainment is having two small dogs running around the apartment and causing mischief. Some people may think that it's ruff (sorry, I saw the opportunity) having to takecare of dogs while taking classes and working, but I think it's a great thing to have a dog as a college companion, here's why.
1. Teaches you to be responsible for another life.
Someday, a partner and maybe kids will come along, so why not get prepared now? It teaches you that age old concept of responsibility, just like every parent who gets their kid a pet says it will. Welcome to the life as a doggie parent, friends. Be prepared to feed them, bathe them and pick up their poop, sounds glorious, right? Wrong. But I have found that since adopting my dog, I am more punctual and accountable in my own life.
2. Who wouldn't like to have a snuggle buddy when needed?
This doesn't really apply to my dog, because she can be on the opposite side of the couch from you and be perfectly okay with the distance you both share, but my roommate's dog loves to cuddle! This comes in really handy whenever you've had one of those days, where everything and everyone just seems to be against you. Walk through the door, sit down on the couch, and BAM! Suddenly there's a Chihuahua on your lap begging for your attention.
3. They will always be your number one fan.
We've all had those moments when you get out of an exam, and you just feel like you didn't live up to your potential. Even though they have no idea how grading systems work, your dog will always give you an A+ as their owner. And every time you get excited, it's like having your own personal cheer squad!
4. College can be lonely, but your dog's always there for you.
I don't think I'm the only one who has ever felt completely alone on campus, despite their constantly being people around me. It's one of the biggest clichéd ironies of all time, being surrounded by people but always feeling lonely. That's why having a dog with you can be so beneficial, especially to your mental health.
5. Speaking of mental health...
It's no secret that dogs can improve your mental health, there are many studies on it, which is why I find having a dog and being a college student at the same time works best for me. Like many of my peers, taking classes also means taking on lots of stress and anxiety. But when I get home, a few minutes spent playing catch or taking a walk seems to take a lot of those negative feelings away.
6. You learn how to manage your money better.
This aspect of owning a dog as a college student surprised me. I knew that there were expenses to be forked over when having a pet, but while I do spend more money making sure my dog is well taken care of, I've also learned to better manage my money. I've always been a person that spends what money she has. I was probably the worst at putting money back for savings. Now that I have to buy food, pay for grooming and vet visits, and other things though, I've learned how to save back my money. I don't just go around and buy whatever I want.
7. No need to fear, Super Dog is here!
Even though both my dog, Trixie, and my roommate's dog, FeFe, have never weighed over twenty pounds in their whole lives, they know how to protect their humans from potential intruders. It's nice to know that even though they are not huge dogs, capable of swallowing criminal’s whole in one gulp, they still try to protect us whatever way they can. For FeFe, that's barking like crazy till said potential intruder is either scared or annoyed, usually the latter.
These are the most beneficial things about having a dog as my college companion, I think. It's great to experience college, and it's even better to experience loving a pet, but both at the same time is a combination that I don't think most people consider because it can be costly. All in all, though, having two dogs to love me while I push through this difficult time called "getting my degree" is a blessing, not a curse.
