Want a Dog? What Students Should Think About Beforehand
Known for being the perfect companions, dogs have that knack for helping good times feel great and bad times feel better. College students away from home can find a lot of comfort in having a pet to keep them company and ward off feelings of homesickness.
But the situation that involves making a decision about being a student and a pet owner isn’t much different from a kid asking his/her parents for a dog. It is a big responsibility and should only be made after all the factors, including pros and cons, have been taken into consideration.
Is There Room for a Dog In Your Life?
Seeking companionship by getting a dog is perfectly fine but if you’re hardly ever home to begin with, that will automatically cause more problems than it would solve. Dogs are living beings that need constant interaction, love and attention. If a student’s class schedule is packed on a daily basis, there may not be enough down time to adequately care for a pet.
Why Do You Want a Dog?
An obvious answer would be for companionship but sometimes students have other reasons, such as for protection. This is one of the reasons why breeds like German Shepards and Rottweilers continue to be so popular.
If the main reason is for in-home protection, students will want to find out what level of training they want their dog to have. Taking on such a task on their own is possible but it is a long and challenging process. However, there are companies like Canine, Inc. that offer specialized programs to develop dogs into effective guardians and protectors.
In addition to providing dogs with the highest level of training, this company also helps people pick the right kind of protection dog so for students who don’t already have a pet at home, this option could prove to be very effective. On the company’s site, http://www.canineinc.com/pages/protection/, students can learn more about what types of protection dogs are available and which will be the right fit.
What Kind of Dog Would Fit Your Lifestyle?
Some college students are homebodies, while others are social butterflies. Then there are students who love getting outdoors when not required to sit inside of a classroom all day. Students should evaluate their lifestyle and find out which breed of dog would be best suited.
Certain breeds are known for being more playful and require regular exercise that involves being outdoors. Large breeds need extra space to run around and may not do well with living in an off-campus apartment.
Also consider how much outdoors space there is and the type of community you live in. For example, Palo Alto, home to Stanford University, has plenty of trails and sidewalks but not many large, open areas for roaming (at least not within walking distance).
On the flip side, smaller breeds are perfect for snuggling indoors and only seeing the outside world long enough for a quick walk and potty break.