Everyone wants a puppy, but is everyone really up for the challenge? It is common for college students to get a dog. Unfortunately, it is also common for college students to give up on a dog very quickly. Owning a dog is a big responsibility, it's time consuming and it's a lot of hard work, so here are five things you should know about being a puppy owner if you're considering getting one.
Puppies will make you a morning person
Puppies will wake you up every single morning, and whether they wake you by barking or jumping on your bed, it is going to happen. There is no more sleeping in until 11 a.m. anymore; they have no snooze button. When they are up, so are you.
Puppies are expensive
The financial burden of having a pet dog can be pretty heavy on the wallet. If you are adopting a dog, there is typically a fee whether it is from a shelter or breeder. Sometimes you can catch deals with the local animal shelters on adoption fees, though this will vary from time to time. Then you have to take the pup to the vet every month to get shots. Add all of those fees with the price of collars, dog food, heartworm pills, toys, spaying/neutering and any unexpected visits to the vet and the bill adds up.
You will learn a lot of responsibility and discipline
New dog owners will benefit from forming a schedule around the care of their pet. You have to walk your puppy, feed them and give them medicine at certain times of the day. Your time management skills will definitely improve. You will also have to housebreak your pup. You will be up every few hours, having to repeat words like “outside” and “crate.” If you decide to crate train your dog, there will be a lot of nights filled with constant whimpering and barking.
You will be active every day
Puppies have an unreal amount of energy. If you do not exercise them daily, they will get very annoying because all they want to do is play. If ignored, they will most likely turn to destructive behavior and chew everything in their sight. You have to take them on walks, play fetch and run around with them in order to calm them down. All of this is just a part of puppy parenthood. You will have no time to be lazy anymore, but you will finally get all your steps in.
They will have you wrapped around their paw
You will quickly become attached to your pup. It is not like having a childhood dog because you will be entirely responsible for raising it. There will undoubtedly be some missing shoes and ruined rugs, but the loss of those things will all disappear when you look at their face. Your puppy will turn you into a better person, and they will love you more than anything.
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