Having a dog as a college student is something I would never recommend.
Its tough, and it can feel unfair. However, like anything else, if you decide to make it happen, you can, as I am. Baron came to me in a way that told me that he was for me. Whatever the reason for the timing, I am supposed to have him right now, and I am committed to having a happy and balanced dog. I have a lot going on in my daily life and integrating him into that is not always easy, but it is doable.
Here is a glimpse into what does on day to day:
In the morning, rather than hanging out in the house, I will tie him outside to be near the neighbor's dogs and in the outside air while I get ready. Our morning walks are usually pretty short, which works well for both of us, and then I think about how he is going to get through the day. I know he was up late with me the night before, so he will probably sleep most of the day, but he still will have awake and bored times. My first tool is to make his feeding time challenging, I can do this by feeding him through a toy (I use the wobbler by kong), or by putting things into his bowl which slow down eating. Next, I make sure he has new toys to play with today, rotating toys is very important for things not to become commonplace and boring. Finally, he is left with something to chew on, usually a beef knuckle bone. Another technique is to take even 45 minute windows of time to run home and get him out for a quick walk or a few matches of tug of war in the basement. Not only am I meeting his potty needs, but I am also mixing up the routing and giving him some mental stimulation. Sometimes I can't make this happen so a friend, family member, or neighbor shows up to get him out, asking for help is challenging for me but essential in these times. Finally, I integrate him into my evening. If I need to spend some time thinking or reflecting I do so on a long walk. If I need to talk with a friend, I ask if they would be willing to go to a park with me and my dog. When I go out to the horse barn, he comes with to hang out in a stall or my car while I work. When friends come over I see if anyone wants to hang out with the dog, and, my personal favorite, when I need to study I go to the patio of a nearby coffee shop. The goal of all of this is the same, mental stimulation. At the coffee shop he gets attention from the baristas and other patrons, and has a new viewpoint from which to watch the world. He has to display self control when the birds flutter over some crumbs nearby, but for the most part he loves the change of pace and I still get what needs to be done, done. The same goes for the horse barn, I am getting work done and its no dog park, but he still gets socialization and a change of environment.
I think getting him exercise is often the most challenging piece and I have been far from perfect. I always know when the times are that he hasn't had enough attention and exercise because he doesn't want to go to bed, destroys things, or starts barking/crying. All he really wants out the day is to be with me, and some days there is not enough time to fulfill his needs... and he lets me know. I am not perfect yet, and therefor my pup isn't either, but we are both learning a lot from the challenge of being patient with each other... me hen I am exhausted and he wants a rousing game of tug, and him when I haven't spent enough time with him and just need for him to contain his excitement.
Its tough, and it can feel unfair. However, like anything else, if you decide to make it happen, you can, as I am. Baron came to me in a way that told me that he was for me. Whatever the reason for the timing, I am supposed to have him right now, and I am committed to having a happy and balanced dog. I have a lot going on in my daily life and integrating him into that is not always easy, but it is doable.
Here is a glimpse into what does on day to day:
In the morning, rather than hanging out in the house, I will tie him outside to be near the neighbor's dogs and in the outside air while I get ready. Our morning walks are usually pretty short, which works well for both of us, and then I think about how he is going to get through the day. I know he was up late with me the night before, so he will probably sleep most of the day, but he still will have awake and bored times. My first tool is to make his feeding time challenging, I can do this by feeding him through a toy (I use the wobbler by kong), or by putting things into his bowl which slow down eating. Next, I make sure he has new toys to play with today, rotating toys is very important for things not to become commonplace and boring. Finally, he is left with something to chew on, usually a beef knuckle bone. Another technique is to take even 45 minute windows of time to run home and get him out for a quick walk or a few matches of tug of war in the basement. Not only am I meeting his potty needs, but I am also mixing up the routing and giving him some mental stimulation. Sometimes I can't make this happen so a friend, family member, or neighbor shows up to get him out, asking for help is challenging for me but essential in these times. Finally, I integrate him into my evening. If I need to spend some time thinking or reflecting I do so on a long walk. If I need to talk with a friend, I ask if they would be willing to go to a park with me and my dog. When I go out to the horse barn, he comes with to hang out in a stall or my car while I work. When friends come over I see if anyone wants to hang out with the dog, and, my personal favorite, when I need to study I go to the patio of a nearby coffee shop. The goal of all of this is the same, mental stimulation. At the coffee shop he gets attention from the baristas and other patrons, and has a new viewpoint from which to watch the world. He has to display self control when the birds flutter over some crumbs nearby, but for the most part he loves the change of pace and I still get what needs to be done, done. The same goes for the horse barn, I am getting work done and its no dog park, but he still gets socialization and a change of environment.
I think getting him exercise is often the most challenging piece and I have been far from perfect. I always know when the times are that he hasn't had enough attention and exercise because he doesn't want to go to bed, destroys things, or starts barking/crying. All he really wants out the day is to be with me, and some days there is not enough time to fulfill his needs... and he lets me know. I am not perfect yet, and therefor my pup isn't either, but we are both learning a lot from the challenge of being patient with each other... me hen I am exhausted and he wants a rousing game of tug, and him when I haven't spent enough time with him and just need for him to contain his excitement.
 | Here Baron is, maximizing his time in the sun on a Monday afternoon, and below is an example of what happens when his exercise slips too low on my priority list.  |
