One January, I came back from Christmas break and got an absurd case of puppy fever. I didn't really ask permission because I was pretty sure that I was going to get shot down, so I just went for it. It turned out to be one of the best decisions that I ever made, and helped form who I am today. I actually put quite a bit of thought into it over a couple of years prior, so I was quite a bit more prepared for it than all of my brothers who were betting money that it would go horribly. I lived in the fraternity house, which made this even more challenging. I thought that I would share some advice/reflections, and of course I'll include plenty of pictures.

Stella Day 1

Have a very strict budget and plan:

A lot of people forget that dogs cost money. It's one of the biggest problems for college students. Before I picked up Stella, I had enough money saved to cover her cost from the breeder, every single puppy shot, getting spayed and food for a semester. I was a year from graduation so my plan was just to sustain myself until I got a grown up job. One thing that I did not prepare for was if anything else was needed from vet care, and it turned out to be necessary, but I was graduating at the time so everything turned out okay. I kept every Stella related dollar in a savings account before I picked her up, and I wouldn't have even used that cash to bail myself out of jail. If I could do it over again, I would have added an extra $500 to that account for surprise vet visits. Go visit your potential vet, and get a rough estimate on how much every exam, vaccine and getting spayed/neutered will cost prior to getting your dog. For large dogs, food costs roughly $50 a month as well. Be prepared, this isn't a car that you can leave in a garage broken if you don't have cash to fix it. This is a living creature that is 100% dependent on your bank account just as much as your love and effort.

Stella and Nala

Your dog will be too friendly:

Raising a dog in the fraternity house will make even the most aggressive breed turn into the friendliest dog on the planet. There are other dogs everywhere, and visitors coming in and out constantly all day. At this point in my life, I could be getting robbed at gunpoint in my house and Stella would just run up to the robber to say "Hi." Additionally, any loud noise that would scare a dog like fireworks, loud music, and gunshots do not phase Stella one bit. This past 4th of July when every dog in the neighborhood was going nuts over fireworks, my dog was sound asleep on the couch. If you want a savage guard dog, then don't raise one in a fraternity house.

Stella and her housemate Luke

A fenced in backyard is ideal:

I chose a husky and I had an idea of what I was getting myself into, but I really didn't until Stella got to about the 5 month mark. Huskies like to run A LOT. Behind the SAE house is some woods that go roughly 300 yards deep to a ceramics building. I spent more time back there than I would have liked, chasing her when the door was left open. I usually had help from brothers, and I'll never be able to thank them enough. Tracking her in those woods to get her home safely was a huge trial, it really made me earn the right to have this dog. After I got her home, pretty much every time it became bath time (See below). It even happened once in the middle of game day. This is the one thing I don't miss at all. If I could do it over again I would have had a fenced in backyard to avoid that problem.

"Screw you dad, I had fun in those woods"

You are going to get a lot of resistance:

Usually your family doesn't approve, half of your friends don't either, but then the other half of your friends will be egging you on. Those friends trying to get you to do it are the same kind of friends that will want you to buy a boat and a lake house later in life so they can come ride. Try to tune out the noise from every angle and decide what you want. Also something to consider is your lodging. If you are in an apartment, get a smaller dog. A massive husky probably isn't an ideal choice there. Dealing with all of this will make you earn and appreciate your dog even more.

Stella and Riley, my family's dog

Keep life after college in mind:

No one can predict the future, but keep it in mind. When I was younger before I got my dog, I always envisioned myself in a Buckhead apartment, or living with my parents after I moved back to Atlanta. I chose to get my dog and that changed everything. I wound up in a house in the suburbs instead so that both myself and my dog would be as happy as possible. Eighty percent of apartments will reject me because of my dog's breed being deemed aggressive. If apartment life is for you, then be mindful of what breed you get and try to stick to medium to small dogs. In hindsight, I couldn't be more happy in my house now, but this was one element that I really didn't put much thought into at the time. If you aren't willing to do what you have to do for you to be your dog's forever home, then maybe you should wait a little bit.

House Dog

You will force yourself to be responsible:

I learned how to care for someone other than myself. Before I got stella, the biggest thing on my mind was how I was going to cram all of the fun extra curricular activities I could do in the day. Once she was here, the ONLY thing that I thought about was how to care for her and do the best that I could. That prepared me for life after college far more than any class I had to take. I also did far better in class those last 2 semesters than I did before. I think it had something to do with the whole I was at home raising my dog instead of going out every night thing, especially when she was a baby. My GPA in those last two semesters was nearly a letter grade higher. Also as a side effect, I started to learn how to cook because I didn't want to leave Stella home alone to get food.

Stella and I leaving for our last semester in Statesboro

All in all, I can't believe I pulled it off. One day I just went for it, and now I'm on my own in the "real world" with the best sidekick I could have ever asked for. I could have the best day ever, or I could have had a terrible day, but either way I come home to the very same ultra excited dog that is dying for me to get home. It's a great thing to look forward to. I learned so much from it, and wouldn't trade what I did for anything. I raised her while in college so I could actually take the time to do it right. I could NEVER pull that off now with a grown up job unless I had help. What so many people thought at the time was one of the dumbest things I ever did ended up being the best decisions I ever made. If you are confident in yourself to handle the responsibility, then I say go for it as well.

Shameless plug: the only reason I made an Instagram was to post Dog pictures @budburruss