Dog in 3rd year and Beyond

[volleydoc119]

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Hello all!

I'm currently in the latter half of my M1 year. I am seriously considering adopting a young medium-sized dog (prob 4mo - 2 years, black labs/norwegian elkhound/shiba inu are my type of preferences). I'd have the majority of the summer before M2 year to train the dog and I've had multiple dogs in the past. It usually takes me 2-3 months to fully train a dog and I am more than dedicated to continue its training throughout M2 year on top of my studies. The worry I have is during 3rd year rotations and beyond. I have a long-term girlfriend and we're planning on moving in together my 3rd year. She would have a 9-5 job by then and would be able to spend time with it in the mornings after I leave and when she gets home. I do not have family to help me during crazy last-minute times, but I do have a few friends that would do so.

For those who have had dogs during 3rd year, do you think this is a viable option? How much time do you and your SO spend with your dog? What types of breeds do you have/recommend? Do you have friends/family help take care of it when both your schedules are hectic? And if you do use a doggy-walking/day-care service could you recommend any to me? I definitely wanna make sure this is possible, because if not I'd feel awful for not being there enough for the dog.

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[Tenk]

Get an older dog and it would be fine. You’ll want a dog that just wants to occasionally play but mostly sleep and rest with you. Having a hyperactive puppy will drive you nuts during MS3.

 

[getdown]

I pity the dog. He's gonna die from neglect.

 

[afib123]

Never owned a dog so can't tell you if it's viable, but I can tell you the timings of 3rd year.
Probably about 2/3rds of the year, you have to be at the hospital between 6AM-7AM and will be done by 3-4pm most days other than on call days. For surgery, maybe about 5AM-5PM +/- 1-2 hours.
For family medicine, outpatient pediatric rotations 8-5AM timings.

How do most working people own dogs?

 

[volleydoc119]

Never owned a dog so can't tell you if it's viable, but I can tell you the timings of 3rd year.
Probably about 2/3rds of the year, you have to be at the hospital between 6AM-7AM and will be done by 3-4pm most days other than on call days. For surgery, maybe about 5AM-5PM +/- 1-2 hours.
For family medicine, outpatient pediatric rotations 8-5AM timings.

How do most working people own dogs?

I knew that outpatient rotations are 8-5, and that surgery is 4/5-6pm. I didn't know that inpatient rotations we'd be out by 3-4pm. That actually helps a lot better knowing that. Is that pretty consistent other than on-call days?

 

[volleydoc119]

I pity the dog. He's gonna die from neglect.

Rather unhelpful; don't assume i'm going to neglect my dog just because I'm becoming a physician. I'm more than prepared to hire a dog-walker if need be.

 

[afib123]

I knew that outpatient rotations are 8-5, and that surgery is 4/5-6pm. I didn't know that inpatient rotations we'd be out by 3-4pm. That actually helps a lot better knowing that. Is that pretty consistent other than on-call days?

Ours was. IM sign out for residents was at 5pm and most days they got us out before 5pm. Ob/Gyn surgery services usually let us out by 3-4 pm as well. Labor and delivery are 12 hour shifts, so that was at 5pm. Neurology and Psych usually let us out by 4pm.
Pediatric inpatient I heard are also good about letting students go between 3-4pm. Yet to have surgery

 

[getdown]

Rather unhelpful; don't assume i'm going to neglect my dog just because I'm becoming a physician. I'm more than prepared to hire a dog-walker if need be.

Point is that you don't have control of your schedule during clinicals. It does your dog a disservice if you can't give it the necessary attention. Sure you can pay for a walker. Unless you have money to spare that's money best used for something else. Plus the worrying about getting home in time and who's gonna feed Lassie. All distractions you don't need when you can't even handle doing a full H&P yet.

 

[Dave1980]

Would strongly advise against getting a dog. They really are social animals and being alone for 10+ hours everyday will be really stressful for it.

 

[BluegrassBuckeye]

Just to offer a counterpoint to anyone saying not to get a dog at all, I will say that having a dog throughout my first three years of medical school have been amazing for me. Taking him on walks, taking him hiking, and going to dog parks are some of my favorite ways to just relax and disconnect for a while. And no matter how badly I failed an anatomy practical or how badly I was chewed out by an attending he is still there wagging his tail and jumping on me when I walk through the door. It's good for my mental health. That being said, there are days where your time is going to be limited and in those cases having a reliable doggy daycare that your dog enjoys is essential. We take our dog to daycare about 2x a week on average. Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on schedules. It's an added expense, but one that is more than worth it to have peace of mind knowing he's taken care of and having fun.

 

[Cardinals#1Fan]

Just to kind of echo BluegrassBuckeye, getting a dog was the best decision I ever made. I'm only a 2nd year so I can't answer the questions about once rotations start, but she has been amazing for my mental health. I grew up with dogs and then missed that throughout undergrad. When I started medical school I saw myself going down a bad path of constantly being stressed and way more sad then I'd been before so I decided to adopt a 2 year old lab/pit mix. She was completely house trained so it was actually a really easy transition. It has gotten me home earlier, outside multiple times a day, and out of the funk I was in originally. She has a doggy daycare she loves and right now I take her and pick her up 1-2x a week but the nice thing is they have a service that can pick the dog up and drop them off at home so when I'm on my surgery rotation for 12 hours, I can still have them go get her a couple of days a week. I think if you're a huge animal lover who gets joy from having a dog that it's a really great idea because now that I'm in step studying there is nothing better then coming home from a day of FirstAid, Uworld, and Pathoma wondering if I even learned anything to a dog who thinks I'm the best thing in the world who will love me whether I fail step or get a 250+ haha.

 

[cafedisco]

Get a cat or two littermates, so they can play when you're not home Cats are awesome

 

[deleted645092]

The older the dog the better if you’re going to get one during school. Having to train a puppy or constantly play with a young dog is going to be really difficult if you’re on your own, and when young dogs don’t get enough active time they tend to tear **** up. It’s obviously easier if you have a SO with a more consistent schedule.

Another thing that helps is family. Can your family help watch it or have it live with them if you’re traveling? That takes a lot of stress off of worrying about having to give it up for adoption when you realize your future schedule can’t accommodate.

If you have disposable money to hire dog walkers/ doggy day care then all of the above doesn’t matter.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I know people who do it. You just use rover or another service when you can’t be around to care for the dog.

It’s not ideal, requires a lot of effort, and can be exhausting. But dogs are also awesome

 

[GoCubsGo20]

I've seen these dog questions come up over and over and the answers are always overwhelmingly negative. I have a dog and am on my surgery rotation currently. My fiancé works approximately 3 days a week and spends all of her time outside of work with our dog. When I'm home, which is often, I spend all of my time with her as well. We walk her and we play with her a lot. She gets plenty of exercise and it really hasn't been an issue, for us or our dog.

So, yes, it can be done. It helps if you have someone at home working a normal schedule and living a normal life.

 

[moyamoya6]

Very doable. Got my pup after first year and my SO is also in medicine. Luckily, my rotation schedules have been light so I’m able to spend more time at home with my pup, who is medium-sized and really chill.

 

[Oh_Gee]

Very doable. Got my pup after first year and my SO is also in medicine. Luckily, my rotation schedules have been light so I’m able to spend more time at home with my pup, who is medium-sized and really chill.

is that him/her digging around your fridge in your profile pic?

 

[gasmasked]

I got a dog between 1st and 2nd year. Did end up going to class much second year anyway and I swear he kept me sane while board prepping with walks and breaks playing around. In third year now and I take him to doggy daycare once a week and he’s good—despite being an emotionally “needy” breed. It’s possible and I’d recommend doing it on your break if you’re going to do it at all.