The adorable, shining, loving eyes of a dog. That’s what students may be thinking of when they consider buying a pet — a loyal companion to wag its tail ferociously at them when they return from a long, hard day. But despite the heartwarming, fulfilling benefits of having a furry partner, students should take a harsh look at their availability before they make the leap to bring home a pet. It may not only spell discomfort for the animal but could be a commitment that stifles your academic and social opportunities.
Before buying or adopting, students should consider the environment they can provide for their four-footed friend. This is the basic warning issued by most parents prior to getting a dog or cat for their children: It will be a lot of responsibility. You’ll have to feed it twice a day. Give it water. Walk it. Dogs require anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours of physical activity every day, depending on the breed. You won’t have to throw a tennis ball until your arm is tired or run for miles on end with Fido at your side because that isn’t recommended either, but you should think about the quality of the time you’ll reliably be able to spend with your pet. If you plan to come home and take the dog for a five-minute stroll around the apartment complex, we ask you to reconsider. The time you spend outside with your pet should be more than a quick chore to let it do its business.
The animal’s mental wellbeing is demanding for students planning to adopt a dog. Even if students don’t have the time for lengthy walks or trips to the dog park, they should be providing mental stimulation by playing tug-of-war, hide and seek, or teaching and learning new commands with their pets. Any game that builds a dog’s self-control by helping it turn away from temptations will provide lots of cerebral exercise, which can in turn lay the foundation for better behavior, according to Forbes.
Students should keep their schedule in mind when bringing an animal under their roof. If you will be stuck in class and meetings from morning to evening, your dog will spend the day doing an uncomfortable dance, caught between needing to relieve itself and knowing that doing so on your floor will earn it a scolding. To students with busier schedules we recommend getting a pet a few steps below dog on the ladder of commitment — meaning a cat or lower — that can spend the day content on its own.
But no matter what pet you end up with, consider the impact it will have on your opportunities to socialize or go on academic trips. You may be thinking about going on a camping expedition with your friends. There is no guarantee that you’ll be able to find someone to care for your pet while you’re away for the weekend. You may end up having to sacrifice studying abroad, too, if you have a living, breathing, adorable commitment living in your apartment.
You’ll also need to think about the bigger picture, beyond flexible college schedules and warm Gainesville summers. Having a cat or a dog may force you to make a hard choice once you graduate: leave them behind to take your dream job in Chicago, where you’ll live in a tiny apartment and be at pains to stay inside in the winter, or take the job that allows you to properly care for your pet.
We implore you, if you do get a dog, to use Gainesville’s parks to your advantage. There is a large dog park in Squirrel Ridge Park near the intersection of Southwest Williston Road and Southwest 13th Street. Please use it. If you can’t do your pet justice, settle for getting some hardy fish. You won’t have to walk them, and they’ll glub lovingly at you from the bowl all the same.
