Having a dog in college is one of the best and worst decisions someone can make, depending on the amount of effort they're willing to put into their dog.

There are the people who keep their dog in a cage at a noisy house party and there are people who keep their dog in a cage in a nice quiet space if people are over. Don't be the person who lets their dog get stressed at a party, be the good dog owner.

If you are going to have a dog in college, make sure you have the time, means, and energy to have one.

There are a lot of people in college who have dogs who help them de-stress and relax, which is one of the many amazing things a dog can do for you. These people spend a lot of time with their dog and make sure it is taken care of. These people are good dog owners!

Having a dog to help you handle your anxiety or stress is a great reason to have a dog. If your dog is comforting you and taking care of you, just make sure you are doing the same for your dog. People who have their dogs for the right reasons tend to treat them better.

Then there are the people who just want a dog because they love dogs or just want something to do. Please don't do this. I love dogs just as much (if not more) as the next person!

If you are going to get a dog, you need to be prepared financially and mentally to take care of a dog.

I can't tell you how mad it makes me to see someone just leave their dog alone for hours, see a dog with its ears back at a party, watch someone feed their dog random human-food, or see someone who has made no effort to train their dog whatsoever.

If you can't spend hours working with your dog and make time each day to take them on a 30 minute to 2-hour walk, don't get a dog. If you want to go somewhere super fun on spring break and don't know what you'd do with an animal and will just "figure it out later," don't get a dog. If you don't want to spend the money to get your dog quality dog food, flea medicine, and heart medicine, don't get a dog.

Believe me, I get it. Figuring it out as you go is apart of life in college; however, you should not have a dog if that's how you are going to treat it.

Before you get a dog in college make sure you can buy all of the supplies, get it vaccinated, have time to train it each day, be able to set a routine for it and have plenty of time to get your pup lots of exercise! Getting a dog was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made, but it definitely comes with its compromises.

You will want to give a dog the best life you possibly can, so make sure you are able to do that before getting a dog.