Dogs are the greatest gift to mankind. It isn't easy being a college student and a dog lover. Here are what I find to be the biggest struggles of being a dog lover while being a college student.

1. You miss your dog(s) at home more than words can describe.

Every time one of your family members sends you a picture of your dog back home you die a little on the inside. Everyone else gets to enjoy your wonderful pupper while you get to sit alone in your room.

2. Your day isn't complete until you see a dog but that doesn't happen often.

There is a scarcity of dogs on college campuses. Having to go days on end without catching a glimpse of a dog is a tragedy.

3. When you do see a dog you want to instantly run over and give it all your love.

This is great until you remember you're probably going to scare the owners and it isn't socially acceptable to do this. Instead, you sadly watch the dog from afar and wish it was yours.

4. There is a strong chance you will cry when you see a picture of any dog ever.

Any time you open social media you will mind an endless amount of pictures of dogs. You end up crying because none of these dogs are yours and you miss your own dog more than ever now.

5. Your friends have gotten sick of you showing pictures of your dog like the dog is your newborn baby.

You may even refer to your dog as your baby (I do.) Every time you pull out your phone your friends silently groan because they know you will be showing them the latest picture of your dog that your mom just texted you.

6. Your only Instagram posts are "throwback Thursday" photos of you and your dog.

You have nothing else to post about your life so all you post are pictures of you and your pup and you're pretty sure all of your followers are sick of it.

7. You spent more time trying to figure out how to sneak a dog into your dorm than you have actually doing your work.

No matter what you plan, you know it will never work. That doesn't stop you from spending an inordinate amount of time trying to figure it out anyway.

8. When you return to school after breaks, the hardest goodbye is to your dog.

Your poor puppy doesn't understand why you leave for months at a time. You can't tell them that you're not leaving them for good. They just stare at you with those sad eyes as your heart shatters into a million pieces.