Yorkies and College Students?
 

Anyone here a college student and also the full-time caregiver/parents to their yorkie babies? I will be a junior in HS this year (so I will graduate class of 2012) so college is coming soon! I've considered most of my options (seeing as I will be 16 when I graduate).

I'm thinking I might be going to a college instate which would mean my Cody would be near by, although I am considering going to Tom Rose (dog training academy) to take those classes and become a dog trainer and get a side job in that :)

To become what I would like to do it would take 8 years of schooling and another 3 working residency.

But my consern is only the first 4, what did you do when you were in college with your furbabies (non-yorkies too)? was it easier or harder on you? did you enjoy it? where did you live? how did you support yourself and your furbabies?

If this is in the wrong section please forgive, i'll have an admin move it.

Thank-you so much and look to hearing back from you!
- Cj x Danielle! :love:

Honestly, I took the non-traditional route. I was accepted to 3 great universities right out of hs, and I turned every one of them down due to fear. If I were to do it again, I would do it differently. I would accept the school that I would have loved the most (UCI, I did end up graduating from there :)) and I would have gotten a furbaby earlier. Not freshman year though, your barely getting the lay of the land freshman year. I would in sophomore year, or junior year when the course load gets heavier. That is if my parents would help out financially a bit. I would have wanted a furbaby during the harder years because Kaji is a fantastic distraction, but in a good way. There are days were you need to focus and spend hours upon hours doing homework, or research. A furbaby makes a fantastic distraction when you've just had enough. My senior year, my roommate had a pom that I would walk whenever my mind needed a breather. I would come back refreshed and ready to work again.
Instead, I went to community college, met an awesome guy, we both transfered together to the same school, and after all the schooling was done for my BA, I got my furbaby. I'm not complaining because I'm happy with the way things turned out. Except for the fact that the economy sucks and a lot of my fellow recent grads and I are having a really hard time finding a stable job.

I am a fulltime college student and have three yorkies, although my husband and I both work. I got my first yorkie when I graduated high school and was lucky enough to live at home when I first got her and had my parents. Good luck to you in your endeavors and I would be hesitant to add a dog while you are still unsure of your living arrangements. It can be rather difficult to have a dog in cetain living arrangements.

Its funny that you say not in your freshman year because through a research paper I just did for class on pet therapy, it has been shown that pets relieve stress and anxiety during your freshman year and help to act a support system for new students. :) But I do agree, your freshman year has enough adjustments and adding a dog during that time may be difficult.

Oh Im not adding a dog this is a pup I already have ;)

Thank-you for the advice so far guys!

I added that part because of what I've seen my brother and cousins go through. They all moved out, so that was an adjustment. They all lived in dorms with strangers, so that was another adjustment, not to mention no pets in dorms. They had to keep themselves on a schedule for the first time ever, and most were unsuccessful sometimes. Plus, from what they say a lot of things change freshman year. There is so much exploring (aka partying ;)) and adjusting to do, I'd fear a furbaby would be pushed aside. The last two or three years seem more stable since most college kids know what they're doing by then. Plus, I did read a similar article about pups or pets in general being a good stress reliever. There's more stress when you're doing a research paper then when you're doing general ed classes. At least that's how I felt.

My aunt was telling me this (almost exactly). She said it would probably be best to have Cody stay with my mother or a friend that lives in Flordia for Freshman Year (and maybe Sophmore too), depending on where I decide to go (aka what offers I get) and how close that might be I would see him most days.

I've pretty much made up my mind with Tom Rose though. So once/if I go there I would be taking on another pup for the program (before I go to college that is) and would be doing that so I can have something stable to do as a job. So that would be my doggy interactment between classes.

I am almost 20 years old and full time caretaker of Jackson. I didn't go straight to university though, and am attending community college still. I do still live at home with my mom, step-dad and sister but I have my own section of the house w/ bathroom, bedroom, living space, etc. I also don't really party, I have a few close knit friends and like to do movies, dinners, shopping, etc so I'm available often for Jackson. He is the center of my world, for sure :) I got him when I was 18, and wouldn't have changed a thing. I got him during my winter break so I had a good month to be with him, train him, bond with him. I think it's great and a perfect time to have a dog if you are responsible about it because you're not tied down to anything yet. Jackson will ALWAYS be a part of my family; when I get married, have kids (although not planning on any of this for a long time) and nothing will ever change that. We have a bond that can't be broken. I know a lot of people in college get a dog and then forget about it once their lives get too busy or have kids, etc. I have a few friends who could NEVER own a dog, LOL. They are totally not responsible enough. It's like having a kid... if I'm out with friends, I've gotta be sure to get home in time to let Jackson out, and I feel bad if I've been gone all day and then have to leave again, so I'd prefer to stay home with him, things like that!

I just finished undergrad in May, and I start grad school in August, so I am pretty familiar with what you are asking about. I think it's fine to have pets while in college, as most people have pretty flexible class schedules and can be home to take care of and play with the pet most of the day. However, a pet freshman year probably isn't the best idea for a couple of reasons as others have already mentioned - freshman year of a 4-year college is pretty overwhelming anyway and almost every dorm has a no pet policy. However, having your yorkie later on (when you move off campus to an apartment maybe) would be fine, and he will be a good little companion :)

I sure would like to see the statistic's of how many college students still have their dogs after college...I doubt very few from my experience with rescue and a University town. While it can happen I am guessing many of the dogs are given to the parents or turned into shelters or worse..left to run loose. It happens. Many of the dogs also end up pregnant. The other piece is after college and starting a new job...and finding apartments who will take the dog.

I hope the ones responsible don't encourage ones who are not...call any shelter in a college town and they will tell you what is really going on.

This IS very true; it's a good point to make. I've seen a few old friends on Facebook who get dogs with their boyfriends, etc and I just cringe. Because I know they are the kind of people who, if the dogs were tying them down or they break up with their spouse, would just drop them off at a shelter. It's definitely a big problem. I see so many dogs given up because people have kids, etc. It's totally unfair to a dog.

As a college student, you've really got to write out the pros/cons of owning a dog. For me, the pros FAR outweigh the cons, and I will never ever give Jackson up in a million years EVER. I would not move into a place that did not allow him, and neither would my family. My entire family (parents, stepparents, uncles, aunts) all look at Jackson as a part of the family so even IF I wanted to (which I never would) they wouldn't even allow it to happen. In our family, dogs are family and would never be given up to a shelter. That's just not what we do. We've had some bad behaved dog (all because our lack of training knowledge) and not once has any dog in this fam been brought to a shelter, we just dealt with it. My aunt has a Pit bull, Max who she has had for 8 years now and just had a baby with her husband. Max is JUST as much her baby as her real child is, nothing changed. When she takes the baby for stroller walks, Max comes along too, she takes both baby and dog to the beach and pays MORE attention to Max (baby is too young to even know-6 months old) because that was his beach first and that's his fun time... that's how it always should be, IMO! A baby is a huge change in your life obviously and needs to be catered too but the dog should never be pushed aside and should be included in everything.

There is too many college students who think a dog will be a cute accessory and it's SO wrong. On the flip side, college students dogs often times have a better 'DOG' life than a dog that just lives inside all the time with a family with young children who are busy with school, after school sports and activites, work, etc because college students often have more free time (some only work part time or only go to school etc) and get taken to beaches, roadtrips, dog parks alot more than an average dog would be. I often see a family who loves their dog dearly but they spend all the time in their house and let out in a backyard to potty and that's it. And it's mostly because people have busy schedules these days and there's just not enough time in a day for extra activities for the dogs.

I would definitely say that 90% of college students probably shouldn't own a dog but it all depends on the person. I just wish people would think the decision through a little better before owning a breathing, living thing that needs exercise, attention, food, love, disipline, etc.

Great you're giving this some in depth thought. While a pet would be a great stress reliever, my concern would be how much stress the pup would be under.

What really caught my eye from your post was taking classes in dog training. I recently placed a pup with a trainer, one that works for Boone's Animals for Hollywood. Yep! my pup is filming a Disney Movie. But, that aside what a fantastic life this trainer leads. Hard work, but she is doing something she loves, working with animals.

Just a thought, but you may want to google the website, maybe establish contact with Ursula. From visiting her home and seeing her degrees on the wall. Her training was extensive. But, oh what she can do with these animals. In 2 days my pup was so trained, I couldn't believe it. He now knows dance routines, how to unzip his carrier and jump into it. He can be running full board and all she has to do is call his name once....and he stops what he's doing and comes immediately to her.

Good luck to you. Your plans sound exciting and rewarding. I am the mom of a college student, and I have had her dog ever since she left home. I knew when she got Moka that she was going away to college the following year and Moka would be staying with me, so it is not like she dumped her dog on me or anything like that. In fact, I love that she has Moka to come home to for short breaks away from school and Moka has been a blessing in helping to cope with her leaving home, like a pice of her is still there. She always includes Moka in her plans after college too, she just assumes responsibility of her, but little does she know, Moka is not going anywhere but right here with me! :D

You bring up a big point I never thought about until reading your post. My post was based on Kaji, and my roomies dog Danger. Both were definitely out of the puppy stage, Kaji was one and Danger was 4 or 5 (shelter dog), so neither needed the constant attention a little puppy did. They both needed training, and the odd hours of college life allowed for training, but it wouldn't allow for a puppy. I could be wrong as I haven't experienced raising a pup. And for that person that said class schedule was flexible, I WISH! After all my core curriculum was finished, and all I had were major requirements the flexibility part went out the window. My schedule was basically take what I can get when I can get it. It works for low maintenance dogs like Kaji and Danger, who were content with lots of short walks, and long hours of sitting by my side as I researched whatever or studied; but a puppy who is hyper, active, and needing constant attention, college life is probably not a good idea.

I'd like to see those statistics, too. Getting a puppy while you are in college is a (hopefully) 15 year commitment to the dog. Those 15 years will probably be the most unsettled of your life. When you graduate, jobs may require long hours or long commutes. Most likely you will rent for awhile and it can be difficult to find pet friendly rentals in many areas. Even when you do, they have a limit on the # of pets allowed, usually one or two.

Flash forward a few years and you may want to get married and have children. DH may not like dogs or come with a dog who may not be good around smaller dogs. Many pets are given up when babies are on the way or later on due to children's allergies.

Also remember that as your dog ages, the vets bills will increase. If you are paying off college loans, perhaps a mortgage on a house, trying to pay for a wedding or daycare, a $1000 vet bill for tests and treatment may be difficult to handle.

Unless you have a crystal ball, it is not possible to make a 15 year commitment to a pet when you are a college student.

I guess by "flexible schedule" I meant that that college classes don't usually involve being away from home a rigid 8-5 schedule every day, like a full-time job or even going to high school from 8-3. Maybe I just got lucky, but I usually had class only a couple of hours per day and could be home the rest of the day. Especially my last semester, when I had classes only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-2 or so. For me, it was a pretty flexible schedule for taking care of a dog.

I also think it's great that you are already planning for this, and that you already own your pup so you won't be trying to deal with the stress of housebreaking and training a new puppy along with the stress of school.

Can do!
 

I'm a 5th year senior in college. I never lived in a dorm, I've always had my own place (with the exception of my sophmore year where I lived with my parents) so I could have had a dog at any time. I did work full time so I always felt it was unfair for me to have a dog until closer to graduation time. Some semesters are crazy ( like when I've taken 18-22 credits & worked full time) some semesters are a breeze. I don't think that, with the exception of Freshman year they are any harder or easier as a rule of thumb. It's all up to you when you structure your classes. Taking summer classes helps so you have more time during the rest of the year. I'm pretty sure that if you're committed to bringing your furbaby along, you can make it work. It's a huge responsibility but it can be done. Just make sure your parents are ok with you living off campus! I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss 3 years of fun with your baby. Great looking ahead tho! Good luck! :animal-pa

Again already have my pup ;) (a year old in September)
Just planning ahead. . .


Thank-you!
And yes Cody will be well into adulthood by the time I decide whether or not he stays in FL or comes with me to college.

I made a 15 year commitment without a crystal ball and will fulfill that commitment. It IS possible. But I think it takes a certain person to do it. Jackson & I have a tremendous bond that could never be broken. That can even be shown through my posts here at YT, my YouTube videos alone. While I agree that most (probably over 90%) of college students shouldn't get a dog, I don't think it's fair to say 'it's not possible' because that's simply NOT true.

I am also not a naive young person who went into this foolishly, think he's my best friend now but once life gets in the way, I'll bring him off to a shelter. I would jump off a bridge or slit my wrists before bringing him to any type of shelter, or rescue. He truly IS my best friend and will be with me wherever my life takes me. I actually would love to be a dog trainer one day. While I may be in the minority of college students capable of taking care of a dog, it's simply not fair to make such a blanket statement because every person is different and is ready for different things in their life at different times.

I dogsit a 17 year old mutt who has been with his owner since college, his owner is now a successful business man with a wife and 2 young children, the dog is still very happy, content and loved. On the flip side, my uncle got a Siberian Husky in college and that was probably the dumbest thing he could have done. He was a huge partyer, traveled a lot, barely home, so the dog was often home alone, not fair at ALL to the dog. When she turned 10, she moved in with my aunt Diana who gave her the best last 4 years of life a dog could ask for, so she stayed in the family and ultimately was happy, but a guy like my uncle should not have owned a dog.

Ultimately, you must know what you are in for when getting a pet, no matter what age you are. My life completely changed when Jackson came into my life; I can no longer just sleep at my friends house if it gets too late, or go out of town on a whim, or be gone longer than 6-8 hours (he's usually only left 4 hours). In community college, I only go Tuesdays and Thursdays now and my weekends are spent at the dog park. I love every minute of it and wouldn't trade it for the world. Is my life going to change in the next 15 years? Absolutely. Will Jackson still be a part of it? No questions, yes.

With all due respect, you've only had Jackson a short time. You will not know if you are able to to fulfill the 15 year commitment for another 13 years.

That was my point. I doubt any college student gets a puppy with the intention of giving it up, but those post college years are a blank slate with lots of unknowns.

We can just agree to disagree on this one. :) Unless I die or become gravely ill, Jackson will be with me for the rest of his life. You don't know me enough as a person to state that. I'll talk to you in 13 years I guess. If anything were to happen to me, I've got about 10 relatives that would take him in a heartbeat (and we have discussed this). He is a member of this family and always will be.

I will agree that most ppl don't go into getting a dog with the intention of giving it up, but most college students also don't put as much time, effort, money, love and training into a dog as I do. I just didn't like you stating so factually claiming it's an impossible feat when it is indeed very possible to own a dog and be in school. I would advise anyone though to REALLY think about what they are doing before deciding on a dog. 99% of people I know, that are in school, could not handle it.

Many people have children, not purposely, while young and make it through school being a single mother raising a child. It happens. You do what you have to do and maybe the beginning was tough, but the outcome in the long run is worth it. You may have some rough times, a few years where you are finding your way, or working more, but is it worth it to give up a dog just because you are having one tough year, when there could be 10 or more great years with that dog? You get through it together.

I am in collage now going on 3 years i got Gatsby the end of my first semester when i moved out of my parents house. It was hard but we managed it fine I used to bring him to school with me because i could not leave him home and the staff on campus grew to love him. i have always had my own place except right now when im borrowing a home from a close family friend and my best friend in the world lives in the lower level i took a class as a STNA and got a part-time job in a nursing home
i lived off of that and some (very few) student loans.
then i got custody of my brother and sister and i still live off about the same amount (a few more hours at work ,a few more loans) it helps that i no longer have to pay rent

My first post was speaking about college students in general. Of course not everyone who gets a puppy in college has to give them up. I was just agreeing with Cindy who wondered about statistics.

Hopefully you will never have to give Jackson up. My point was that life after college is a big unknown so a college student would have to be able to look into the future to be certain that her after college life could include pets.

The only way to know if you have fulfilled a commitment is at the end, not the beginning. That is not a criticism of you or anyone else, just a fact.

Hopefully you can come back to YT in 13 years and tell me "I told you so!" :D

Oh, I agree, the statistics are probably staggering when it comes to dogs & college students. Statistics are pretty sad when it comes to dogs in general. :( Isn\'t it something like 50% of dogs don\'t live the rest of their lives with their original owner? I know only 15% of dogs that enter shelters are actually reunited with their owners. Cindy probably knows better than I do, since she\'s involved in rescue. I totally get and understand your point, but there\'s always someone out there to prove the statistics wrong! :p I just never like to say \'never\' ya know?