Often people will ask me, “what was the hardest part about leaving for college?” My honest answer every time is, “saying goodbye to my dog, Tootsie”. Any dog lover knows how emotionally straining it is to part ways with your pup upon heading to college. For those who don’t understand, get a dog and you’ll find out.

My first few months of college were hectic as I created new relationships, explored a new city, and tried to balance a college sport and school work. Despite making friends to prevent homesickness, I felt a significant absence in my life without Tootsie. I missed having a furry friend wagging her tail by my side

One day, I came upon an app promoted through social media called Wag. It is popularly described as “Uber for dog walking”. I did some research and was hooked. I signed up and in a month I became a certified dog walker.

This ingenious app has processes that enable the safety of the dog, owner, and walker. To become a walker I had to fill out an application, complete legitimacy tests, get background checked, and attend a Wag orientation. Being a lover of all dogs, big or small, purebred or mixed breed, I had the ability to handle a variety of dogs and was well qualified to be a walker.

Once I mastered the app, I booked my first walk. The house was 2 miles away from my campus, and it was a perfect day for a run. Being a new resident of DC, I still wasn’t familiar with the area. By running to each location, I was given the opportunity to adventure into areas foreign to me. I discovered trendy coffee shops, cute boutiques, and memorized the locations of all the monuments.

On my first walk, my body was buzzing with nervous energy. I expected it to be tricky getting into the house, but it was quite simple. Once I unlocked the apartment door, and I was bombarded with puppy kisses and a beating tail wag. Just like the dog, I couldn’t contain my excitement. While it wasn’t my own dog, I still had finally got the opportunity to spend time with a furry friend.

I found dog walking to be a great way to escape from campus life. I get to hang out with adorable dogs and get paid at the same time. It is the dream for a college student! Whenever I have a second of free time, I check my Wag app to see if there’s a dog that needs to be walked. Not only is it a great way to spend my time off, but I also feel great knowing that I get to exercise a dog that’s most likely been kept inside in a confined space and alone all day.

Although the worst part of the walk is having to part ways with my new dog companion at the end of the walk, I feel uplifted for hours afterward. It has almost become like a version of therapy for me. By taking my mind off of the daily pressures as a student, I get to switch my focus to making sure the dog is enjoying its time.

People often ask me about my dog walking horror stories, and I can luckily say I have had none. Instead, I have had incredible experiences with furry goofballs. I walked an adorable pit bull who excessively tired to eat acorns, and would play dead (even in the middle of the street) if I tried to pull him away from them. I walked a black lab puppy who had a habit of carrying oversized sticks as we walked along the streets of DC.

I walked a chubby beagle- dachshund mix who was the size of a loaf of bread but managed to pull me with the force of a golden retriever to all his favorite sniffing spots. I have walked many more pups and will happily continue to in the future.

Having the ability to get to know so many different dogs has been such a rewarding experience. An average day can often bare loads of negativity, so spending time with a loving and affectionate dog companion is the perfect way to get a smile on your face and lift your spirits. I have learned that sometimes, being surrounded by dogs instead of people is the perfect way to spend an hour off.