How much is that puppy in the window? Turns out, much more than college students anticipate when they turn their aspirations of dog ownership into a reality.

College students are enchanted by the idea of having a dog to call their own, but often realize their dreams of companionship with man's best friend is not always man’s best investment.

“For me, when you get a dog it’s the same as if you have a kid,” says Willow Reed, a volunteer coordinator at The Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue. The training and support required for any dog to flourish she finds many college students do not have a lot of time to properly do. Some college students will adopt on a whim with very little consideration of the animal's future, and create stressful situations for themselves and the dog.

Before jumping ahead first into dog ownership, students need to evaluate their current plans and determine if they are truly ready for a complete life change. To get a better look at the day-to-day reality of owning a dog, I spoke with Toria Roth, a Junior at CU Boulder and owner of a French Bulldog named Abu.

“I still think about after college — what am I going to do with him if I have to move or relocate” says Roth. “It’s definitely something I have to pay attention to.” Roth plans on studying abroad in the Spring and has made arrangements for Abu to stay with her family, who lives 30 minutes outside of Boulder, but not all college students have those kinds of resources.

“We kept getting dogs returned to us when it was the younger ages,” explained Reed. Often the student's landlords found they were hiding the dog, and forced the students to either evacuate or get rid of the dog. Certain rental properties may require a pet deposit (usually a charge between $200-$500) that cover cleaning costs or damages that come with owning pets. Some students register their dogs as emotional support service dogs to avoid conflicts with their landlords; however, these certificates are never a guarantee that the housing is suitable for the animal.

The general consensus among students is that once you’re in college, you're an adult. The reality is that many students are still under the financial support of their parents and aren’t in a position to be making long-term commitments such as owning a dog. Sure, there is novelty with having a brand new puppy to play with, but soon enough that puppy will be a full-grown dog that is dependent on you for 15-plus years. That being said, there are alternatives that offer the perks of ownership without the extensive commitment.

“Fostering is a great way to have a dog and not necessarily have all the responsibility,” says Reed. Her organization The Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue offer fostering programs catered to college students testing the waters of dog ownership. Students can foster a dog and take on all the responsibility of pet ownership until the dog is adopted out.

“If I did not have my family, my boyfriend, and my friends all so willing to help, there is no way I would have gotten a dog” says Roth. Abu has brought unimaginable joy to her everyday life, but she understands that the novelty of owning a puppy is a fleeting feeling.

Whether it’s reliving a childhood memory, proving their independence, or seeking stress relief — college students are turning to dogs for companionship. It can seem conducive to adopt a natural mood-enhancer like a dog, but before you adopt on a whim, make sure the dog won’t add to the stress of college.

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