Is college the right time to get a dog?

Students commonly experience a significant amount of stress, which can lead to sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, and many other stress symptoms. Many have to hold part-time or full-time jobs while going to school full-time to receive scholarships or grants and for many different reasons. Becoming a dog owner brings many benefits such as increasing mood levels, reducing depression, however, these benefits are accompanied by reasons owning a dog while going to school can be too much to handle for some people.

Leaving your parent's home can be daunting. Many students find themselves attending universities in unfamiliar places with people they have yet to meet. This can cause a young adult to feel anxiety, depression, and homesickness. This is why having a dog to keep you company, a puppy can help keep you healthy. Being active is important because it increases energy levels, reduces anxiety, keeps you in shape, improves mood, and overall enhances a person's health. A Canadian study shows that, on average, people with dogs walk 300 minutes a week. In contrast, non-dog owners only walk 168 minutes a week. Having a dog helps reduce stress, that is if it is appropriately trained. A dog also helps break the ice when meeting new people, and if they have a dog too, you can have doggie play dates!

A dog takes a lot of patience and time. Raising a puppy will often bring unexpected costs with trips to the vet or repairs to puppies' destructive nature. Due to the inability to make time for a dog, many students may soon realize a puppy is not right for them. Puppies require special attention and frequent potty trips, making it a time commitment.

A dog also makes it challenging to travel if you planned to study abroad. Before getting a dog, you would also have to ensure that your living area will allow dogs. Also, whether your current and future roommates approve of a dog. All animals take up space, so if you are to get a dog, you should make sure that you are well prepared for the dedication it takes to raise a dog. Doing research on different dog breeds is necessary. A husky may sound like a great dog to get, but if you are in a studio, you may want to reconsider. Perhaps a hamster or cat would better suit you, an animal that you take care of increases your mood in some way. No matter what, you have to plan your life while in college, but having a dog makes it even more essential to plan ahead of time. Despite the drawbacks, make sure that you choose the right decision for you and do what will help you succeed in college, but who doesn't love dogs?