Advice?

[CrystalGSD]

Not sure if any of y'all know this, but I'm going to college in about two and a half years. Yes, I know I'm way younger than all of you, don't judge me And I basically have a few options of what to do dogwise:

1. I could get a dog in 2015 and raise it until I go for college, leave it with my family for freshman and sophomore year of college (I will come home during breaks), and then bring it with me and find a dog friendly apartment after that.

OR

2. Wait to get a dog during/after college, but have to deal with the puppy years and the costs of initial vet visits/worry about training while I'm probably already lacking money and resources

OR

3. Don't get a puppy until I'm all the way done with schooling or until I'm in graduate school.

So which do y'all think is better?

 

[*blackrose]

I waited.

If it were me, I wouldn't like having to leave MY dog with family. But, my family also wouldn't be capable of caring for the type if dog I like, and all of the hard work I put in to tue dog would essentially go to waste under their care. If I had a different family (or liked a different type of dog), that would change my opinion. I also worry about the dog not bonding with me/being happier at home once I would be able to have him back.

I purchased Abrams a month after I graduated with my BS degree, and had I still been single I likely would have gotten a pup my Junior year. Yes, I was tight on money and knew Big Changes were in the works...but when are you never tight on money, and when is life ever certain? I knew I'd make it work, and it did, and I don't regret it one bit.

So I vote for option 1 or 2, with the whole, "if it were me" thing being option 2, because that's what I did.

I adopted a puppy my senior year of high school. She is now my parents' dog. (Due to her temperament and the fact she'd be miserable living with me.) But because of her temperament issues, she wasn't suitable for apartment life or the lifestyle we have now. So she stayed behind.

 

[amberdyan]

Hmm... I'd wait until during/after. I had a dog when I left for college (it was a dog my parents had gotten me when I was a child) and I cried regularly leaving her with my parents. They started buying whatever food was convenient since I wasn't there to order food online so she got wal-mart food. They didn't keep up with her training. I wasn't there when she got stressed out because they thought it was a genius idea to get another dog. It was just all so irritating. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, and definitely average pet owners (not neglectful or below average, just kind of naive/undereducated) but she still wasn't getting what I wanted her to.

I honestly could have had a dog my junior year in college. I remember thinking "I have the time. I have the money. Let's do this!" but UNFORTUNATELY, there were very few dog-friendly apartments near campus so my fiance and I chose to wait a little longer. I'm in my last semester in college (student teaching) and my fiance has graduated and is in her first year of teaching. We got our dog in early July : )

 

[CrystalGSD]

I waited.

If it were me, I wouldn't like having to leave MY dog with family. But, my family also wouldn't be capable of caring for the type if dog I like, and all of the hard work I put in to tue dog would essentially go to waste under their care. If I had a different family (or liked a different type of dog), that would change my opinion. I also worry about the dog not bonding with me/being happier at home once I would be able to have him back.

I purchased Abrams a month after I graduated with my BS degree, and had I still been single I likely would have gotten a pup my Junior year. Yes, I was tight on money and knew Big Changes were in the works...but when are you never tight on money, and when is life ever certain? I knew I'd make it work, and it did, and I don't regret it one bit.

So I vote for option 1 or 2, with the whole, "if it were me" thing being option 2, because that's what I did.

I adopted a puppy my senior year of high school. She is now my parents' dog. (Due to her temperament and the fact she'd be miserable living with me.) But because of her temperament issues, she wasn't suitable for apartment life or the lifestyle we have now. So she stayed behind.

Hmm... I'd wait until during/after. I had a dog when I left for college (it was a dog my parents had gotten me when I was a child) and I cried regularly leaving her with my parents. They started buying whatever food was convenient since I wasn't there to order food online so she got wal-mart food. They didn't keep up with her training. I wasn't there when she got stressed out because they thought it was a genius idea to get another dog. It was just all so irritating. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, and definitely average pet owners (not neglectful or below average, just kind of naive/undereducated) but she still wasn't getting what I wanted her to.

I honestly could have had a dog my junior year in college. I remember thinking "I have the time. I have the money. Let's do this!" but UNFORTUNATELY, there were very few dog-friendly apartments near campus so my fiance and I chose to wait a little longer. I'm in my last semester in college (student teaching) and my fiance has graduated and is in her first year of teaching. We got our dog in early July : )

So one vote for each
I'm trying to think of all the pros and cons, and I'm thinking, is it really worth it to wait? Maybe my wants are clouding my needs, but I really want a puppy haha.

 

[release the hounds]

Wait.

If you were living at home or had some other circumstances quite different than I know most people had in college when I was there I might think differently, assuming a lot of other things were in place.

But college is a very dynamic and fluid time. Dogs are a big commitment. college kids with dogs aren't high on landlords lists of people to rent to, and even if you do find a place, roommates leave, things happen, and the perfect situation isn't so perfect. I"d concentrate on college.

Leaving dogs at home? Sure, if your parents want a dog, let them get a dog. I couldn't call a dog I got for 2 years then left for 4-5 in the prime of their lives, "my" dog.

 

[CrystalGSD]

Wait.

If you were living at home or had some other circumstances quite different than I know most people had in college when I was there I might think differently, assuming a lot of other things were in place.

But college is a very dynamic and fluid time. Dogs are a big commitment. college kids with dogs aren't high on landlords lists of people to rent to, and even if you do find a place, roommates leave, things happen, and the perfect situation isn't so perfect. I"d concentrate on college.

Leaving dogs at home? Sure, if your parents want a dog, let them get a dog. I couldn't call a dog I got for 2 years then left for 4-5 in the prime of their lives, "my" dog.

That makes sense.

 

[Slick]

I planned on getting a dog straight when I got into college. But then, I never did, and ended up getting a dog in my first year of graduate school.

Honestly, I would probably wait, unless you are positive of where you are going to work/live and have a great support system (would you parents take your dog if its too much for you?)

I have a good friend support system, but my family is NOT into dogs. As such, it was not a good idea for me to get a dog before I knew what I was doing with my life and where I was living. Once I was secure in my decisions and pursuing grad school, I was ready to get a dog, and it was very easy.

It was tough waiting so long (I decided on a border collie when I was 16, and got him when I was 23) but it was definitely the best decision for me.

 

[CrystalGSD]

That all makes sense. Now that y'all mention it, I'm not 100% sure my family could meet a dog's needs, especially a high energy dog. I'm starting to lean towards waiting... but how will I survive the tedious years of doglessness???

 

[Snark]

Volunteer at a shelter or rescue to walk/play/give some one-on-one time with their dogs? That's what my younger sister did while she was at school.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Unless you can find something pet friendly, wait. If you are going full time, wait.

Different life situation, but I go two classes a semester, plus work dog jobs for 35 hours a week and by the 3rd week of school I'm drowning and my dogs don't get the exercise they should.

It can be done, but my vote is wait. Volunteer, maybe do petsitting and dog walking. Make friends who have dogs.

 

[amberdyan]

Volunteer at a shelter or rescue to walk/play/give some one-on-one time with their dogs? That's what my younger sister did while she was at school.

Agreed. I volunteered at a shelter for 5 years and it definitely helped with the sad sad inability to really have my own dog. Not to mention that I got to know a lot of breeds and find what I wanted in my own dog, as well as figure out how to manage dogs that are in a stressful situations.

 

[Laurelin]

Well what I did was got a dog my 2nd year of college and then got another my senior year. It worked well for me.

I would not get a dog knowing I'd have to leave it in 2 years. But I also knew I didn't want to wait till after college to get a dog (or two) either.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

Wait.

I'm in a similar situation as yours, but, I'm in my senior year,& owning a dog isn't a choice right now.

It will just be easier for both you,& the dog if you wait. College can be really stressful, many times you won't have all that much money,& it's just time-consuming.

I am planning on waiting until after college. Where I'll have more time to spend time with my dog, I'll be more financially stable,& a few other times. This also gives me time to research,& reflect on what breeds I want.


Waiting sucks, but it will so be worth it in the ending.

Good luck!

 

[CrystalGSD]

Thanks so much for the advice guys! I've decided I'm going to wait until I'm either finished with college or financially stable and definitely ready to get a dog.

 

[Maxy24]

I think waiting is a good idea. You don't really want your parents raising your dog, trust me. I was way too poor in college to afford a dog and once you get out of college things can be up in the air for a little while. So waiting sounds good. I definitely think you should find a place to volunteer though, it really does help.