Puppy in Med School

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Hi y'all!
So I am currently on a gap year and will hopefully 🙂xf🙂 start med school next fall. In the meanwhile, I decided now would be the perfect time for me to become a "mommy" as I would have the puppy trained before school starts. I've grown up with lots of big, high energy dogs and really want one of my own but am not sure how great that would work out with med school. Ideally I would get some sort of a standard poodle mix (smart, easy to train, friendly, doesn't shed and I can exercise with it). Anyways, I was just wondering if there were med students on here with bigger breeds that have any advice. I am looking at some of those tiny teacup dogs too that would fit in my purse and be easier to travel with; they are cute and all but don't seem like "real" dogs to me! Big fun breed or small easier to take care of breed? I guess I am leaning towards the small ones just because I feel like it would be easier to find people to doggie sit during rotations and stuff but I feel torn as I love big fluffy dogs!
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L1BS said:
Hi y'all!
So I am currently on a gap year and will hopefully 🙂xf🙂 start med school next fall. In the meanwhile, I decided now would be the perfect time for me to become a "mommy" as I would have the puppy trained before school starts. I've grown up with lots of big, high energy dogs and really want one of my own but am not sure how great that would work out with med school. Ideally I would get some sort of a standard poodle mix (smart, easy to train, friendly, doesn't shed and I can exercise with it). Anyways, I was just wondering if there were med students on here with bigger breeds that have any advice. I am looking at some of those tiny teacup dogs too that would fit in my purse and be easier to travel with; they are cute and all but don't seem like "real" dogs to me! Big fun breed or small easier to take care of breed? I guess I am leaning towards the small ones just because I feel like it would be easier to find people to doggie sit during rotations and stuff but I feel torn as I love big fluffy dogs!
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If you're going to get a dog, don't support breeders. Go to the pound and save one of the hundreds of thousands that is in danger of being euthanized. Also, I don't know if it is the best idea to get a dog. Will it be fair to him/her when you're away for multiple hours at a time? What about when you're an intern? I think a cat would be better, even though I don't particularly care for cats. I want a dog, too, but this is something that I've come to terms with.
 
I've just been thinking about getting a dog myself. 🙂 I still have a month before starting school so I'd have time to get a dog adjusted. I actually just found this thread in the Allopathic section that discusses dogs in medical school, it's a helpful read: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=597819

If you won't start med school for a year, a puppy is okay now. But I wouldn't get a puppy during med school. My roommate had a yellow lab puppy and he was SO MUCH WORK! I'm probably going to get a rescue dog that's at least a year.
 
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I think the overwhelming consensus is that you should not get a dog or even a cat while you're in med school. The time commitment involved with caring for a pet is a whole lot more than people think, and you're going to find yourself inevitably neglecting your pet because of having to keep up with school.

Get a fish.
 
AiyaTuc said:
I think the overwhelming consensus is that you should not get a dog or even a cat while you're in med school. The time commitment involved with caring for a pet is a whole lot more than people think, and you're going to find yourself inevitably neglecting your pet because of having to keep up with school.

Get a fish.
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cat: feed it in the morning, feed it in the evening, play with it for 20-30min, clean litterbox, go to bed. rinse n repeat

you have to walk the dog and do other stuff so its a lot more time consuming than a cat, not to mention dogs dont like being left alone in the house all day. puppies are a lot worse
 
Pets including dogs are definitely manageable during the 1st 2 years of medical school. It does help to have another person who participates in managing the pet(spouse, SO, family, etc.) for the times when you'll have to be away for a long time or otherwise. But not necessary.

3rd year and 4th year will definitely be trickier especially depending on how your medical school does its rotations. I.e. will you have to be in various cities throughout the year while staying in school-provided housing, which most likely won't allow pets? etc. What will you do with your pet in that kind of situation? Plus, you'll be at the hospital a lot and on-call etc. This is when it's useful to have a contigency plan on who can watch your pet (SO, parents, dog sitting(($$$)).

I'm having my g/f keep our dog during 3rd year and I have a friend who's parent will mostly be taking care of his for most of third year. It's doable(esp. cats), but just laying out some of things to think about.
 
One of the students at a school I interviewed at had a farm and horses. Just get what you want and make it work. Jut like everything, where there is a will, there's a way
 
Do a search this has been asked about at least four times in the past two months.

Getting a dog wouldn't be too hard the first two years, especially if you can podcast. Third year would be nearly impossible without a roommate. If you have a spouse/significant other it will be doable if they do almost all the work.

Residency will be a whole 'nother issue. Might be not doable if you don't have someone to help.
 
I have 3 dogs in med school. Its not a problem....but you are going to need someone to watch him/her 3rd/4th year while you are on aways!
 
The only reason I'll likely be getting a dog during med school is that I have a boyfriend who will be able to take care of it during my clinical years. Also, he wants one. 🙂
 
I just started my gap year and got a beagle puppy. He is A LOT of work! Me and my boyfriend live together and even with two of us we're still tired at the end of the day. We've never had dogs though so with your background with dogs maybe it will be better. I think it'll be manageable as long as you have someone to let the dog every once in awhile. I anticipate my dog making sure I take study breaks next year so pets can be useful and they're a lot of fun! 🙂
 
Had a cat in med school. Absolutely no problem, add significantly to your quality of life.

Wife just got a giant dog during intern year. This has been a huge time drain, and required some help from friends and family members to care for it when we are both working.

Still worth it!
 
I was going to get a dog, but then I realized it would be a terrible mistake. Taking care of it would obviously take a lot of extra effort. However, that wasn't the main reason why I decided against it. I felt it would be neglected with me gone most of the day. That would be okay for a cat, but not a dog.
 
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Aw man I was hoping for some more positive responses! I love dogs and am pretty set on getting one, just unsure of the breed or mix at this point. I guess I am leaning towards the smaller dogs (trying to avoid ones known for annoying barking) mostly because I don't know if I will be in a big city or not for school. I can paper train it so it will go potty on a Wee-Wee pad in the house instead of having to take it outside plus it will probably be easier to have a family member or friend agree to doggie sit a 5lb dog than a 50lb one. I know just because it is small doesn't mean it will not need attention or won't destroy my place as badly, just that it might be a little easier to handle in medical school and is one step up from a cat (I'm allergic to cats). I do have a lot of experience with dogs but only big ones! After going through the puppy stage with my family's labradoodle, I highly doubt there is a puppy out there with a more expensive taste in chew toys...
 
Disinence2 said:
Had a cat in med school. Absolutely no problem, add significantly to your quality of life.

Wife just got a giant dog during intern year. This has been a huge time drain, and required some help from friends and family members to care for it when we are both working.

Still worth it!
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I will second cats as being awesome medical student pets. I love mine.
 
My dad had a pet squirrel which he often carried around in his shirt pocket. It was tragically killed in a door closing incident. They make wonderful pets.

On another note, if you're looking for reliable big dog breeds and have time for the commitment, you can never go wrong with golden retrievers!
 
L1BS said:
Hi y'all!
So I am currently on a gap year and will hopefully 🙂xf🙂 start med school next fall. In the meanwhile, I decided now would be the perfect time for me to become a "mommy" as I would have the puppy trained before school starts. I've grown up with lots of big, high energy dogs and really want one of my own but am not sure how great that would work out with med school. Ideally I would get some sort of a standard poodle mix (smart, easy to train, friendly, doesn't shed and I can exercise with it). Anyways, I was just wondering if there were med students on here with bigger breeds that have any advice. I am looking at some of those tiny teacup dogs too that would fit in my purse and be easier to travel with; they are cute and all but don't seem like "real" dogs to me! Big fun breed or small easier to take care of breed? I guess I am leaning towards the small ones just because I feel like it would be easier to find people to doggie sit during rotations and stuff but I feel torn as I love big fluffy dogs!
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The issue is clinicals. In preclinicals you should have more than enough time to take care of a pet, and if you're not paying enough attention to it you pay extra for puppy daycare. Once you hit clinicals, though, you're often gone 12 hours/day, and you are often required to be in the hospital before any kind of pet day care opens. Do you have someone in your life who will be willing to take care of your pet during the day in year 3? If not, think long and hard about getting a pet in year 1.
 
The only way I'm having a pet in med school is if my (12 year old) cat lives that long. With things like away rotations and, later on, 30 hour call, I get the feeling that the logistics would be a nightmare.
 
I would probably stay away from squirrels...i've heard some very bad stories about trying to keep squirrels as pets. i on the other hand intend on getting a cat when i go away for med school (assuming I get in somewhere). i've never had a (mammalian) pet before because of my parents, so i figured med school would be my big chance 😛
 
PanRoasted said:
I would probably stay away from squirrels...i've heard some very bad stories about trying to keep squirrels as pets. i on the other hand intend on getting a cat when i go away for med school (assuming I get in somewhere). i've never had a (mammalian) pet before because of my parents, so i figured med school would be my big chance 😛
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Well, obviously you can't just go outside, catch an adult squirrel, and raise it as your own

People actually breed them and make money off it. My father had no issues whatsoever with his squirrel. The only minor issue is that the squirrel would occasionally harass the cat by dive bombing (with claws extended) the poor feline with while it slept. Apparently they have a good personality.
 
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👍 to dogs!!
Life is "easier" by yourself. . . life is also easier without medical school. Taking on challenges is part of our chosen profession.

If you are adaptable and determined, go for it. Get creative: find local kids to be dog sitters and make room in your budget for the costs by living without Starbucks. 😉

People have kids and families during medical school, you can get a dog. **** will happen (pun) and he/she will give you the guilt stare every time you leave the house . . . but I believe that as a "dog person" the benefits will outweigh the work. Your dog will remind you that there is life outside of medical school, will encourage you to exercise (even if you listen to podcast lectures during your walks) and will warm your soul every time he/she cuddles at your feet in the evenings.

(no thanks to cats, said the dog-person) :laugh:
 
L1BS said:
Hi y'all!
So I am currently on a gap year and will hopefully 🙂xf🙂 start med school next fall. In the meanwhile, I decided now would be the perfect time for me to become a "mommy" as I would have the puppy trained before school starts. I've grown up with lots of big, high energy dogs and really want one of my own but am not sure how great that would work out with med school. Ideally I would get some sort of a standard poodle mix (smart, easy to train, friendly, doesn't shed and I can exercise with it). Anyways, I was just wondering if there were med students on here with bigger breeds that have any advice. I am looking at some of those tiny teacup dogs too that would fit in my purse and be easier to travel with; they are cute and all but don't seem like "real" dogs to me! Big fun breed or small easier to take care of breed? I guess I am leaning towards the small ones just because I feel like it would be easier to find people to doggie sit during rotations and stuff but I feel torn as I love big fluffy dogs!
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Whatever you do, DON'T GET A TEACUP PUPPY!! These puppies are basically born prematurely and are so fragile that they need constant care. Also, people who breed them are toying with unethical issues..not to mention that they are typically MUCH more expensive than a normal puppy. Teacup puppies are known to have a short lifespan and have a lot of health problems. One of my friends recently got one and the puppy died a week later. If you look these up on google, you will see why it's a bad idea. Here is a site: http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the_poodle_and_dog_blog/2006/10/teacup_poodlesb.html

Poodle mix is a good idea. I have a poodle mix myself. Just buy a puppy pad and they will be trained within a month, if you use treats. 😉 My puppy was trained in two weeks. You can also enroll them in classes (sometimes PetSmart offers them for $80 or less). I wouldn't recommend buying a puppy or a dog during your 3rd / 4th year though - get someone else to take care of them then. It's unfair to the dog because it won't be able to exercise, if you're gone for long periods of time.

How can you say no to this adorable faceeee:
lhasapoo_graeme.jpg
 
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AiyaTuc said:
I think the overwhelming consensus is that you should not get a dog or even a cat while you're in med school. The time commitment involved with caring for a pet is a whole lot more than people think, and you're going to find yourself inevitably neglecting your pet because of having to keep up with school.

Get a fish.
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Fish needs love too. >:[ You need to change the water almost every week, especially when you get a new tank to prevent the "New Tank Syndrome". This is because ammonia and nitrites are very toxic to fish. After your tank has cycled, then you can slow down water changes to every 2 - 3 weeks, depending on your filtration system / how big your tank is.

Trust me, I've been raising fish for nearly 2 years and it's A LOT of work. It's a lot of money too, if you take into account the filtration system, fish food, and fish tank. You need AT LEAST 10 gallons per fish with 10x the filtration system. Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are common if you don't keep your water clean. It's a hassle. Don't get a fish. You're chained for life if you do!!
 
Quite simply, no. Don't get a dog.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
I've just been thinking about getting a dog myself. 🙂 I still have a month before starting school so I'd have time to get a dog adjusted. I actually just found this thread in the Allopathic section that discusses dogs in medical school, it's a helpful read: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=597819

If you won't start med school for a year, a puppy is okay now. But I wouldn't get a puppy during med school. My roommate had a yellow lab puppy and he was SO MUCH WORK! I'm probably going to get a rescue dog that's at least a year.
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Me too! Although, I would want a puppy. My parents will live less than an hour away, so my thinking is that they can keep it for about a year, and then I can take it when I start M2.


....Now it's just a matter of convincing them to take care of it next year.
 
I just got a puppy at the end of my third year. I got her as a foster dog at first to see if she could handle my lifestyle (being alone without destroying my house etc) and it worked out great! If my username is any indication, I am quite fond of her. It's doable, just need the right owner/environment and the right dog.

-Roo's mom
 

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wasabee said:
Fish needs love too. >:[ You need to change the water almost every week, especially when you get a new tank to prevent the "New Tank Syndrome". This is because ammonia and nitrites are very toxic to fish. After your tank has cycled, then you can slow down water changes to every 2 - 3 weeks, depending on your filtration system / how big your tank is.

Trust me, I've been raising fish for nearly 2 years and it's A LOT of work. It's a lot of money too, if you take into account the filtration system, fish food, and fish tank. You need AT LEAST 10 gallons per fish with 10x the filtration system. Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections are common if you don't keep your water clean. It's a hassle. Don't get a fish. You're chained for life if you do!!
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I was just thinking a goldfish is a bowl...
 
I personally think you're doing yourself and the dog disservice by getting it in medical school...

You wont have time to take care of it/ walk it/ etc.
 
AiyaTuc said:
I was just thinking a goldfish is a bowl...
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LOL Sorry for freaking out on you.

I saw the God of Goldfishies and never came back down to earth, I guess. But, no fish in a bowl, please! They will die within two weeks, tops. There is not enough oxygenation in a bowl and it's animal abuse. Your fish will die in its own toilet! 🙁
 
I just got a puppy while working and commuting to graduate school. I'd advise against it if you don't have someone reliable to help you.

You can do what I do and take the dog to doggy daycare, but that's going to add up. Also, you talk about the cost of food and toys, but vet bills can get really expensive and aren't always predictable. My dog was healthy when I got him, but got giardia that we had trouble getting rid of, so that racked up the vet bills, then he needed surgery on his eye a deformity that developed as he got a bit older that kept getting irritated and infected. Then he started getting sores on his skin and had to get allergy shots. He was a healthy puppy but I still wound up spending over 2000 dollars in the first year on vet bills alone. He's been fine for the last year but that hit hard. Then there's trying to fit in vet trips around work or school. How likely is it an attending is going to ok you running off mid day to take a sick dog to the vet or something?

Yes people get married and have kids but that's usually a team effort.

Also, just because a dog can pee on special pads and not destroy the house doesn't mean its good for the dog to be left alone that long. Dogs are very social animals, some even more than others. My dog is a very social dog, he'd be best suited to a family with kids instead of just me. Even with taking him to daycare I still feel guilty because he's not getting the interaction he needs when I've got my nose buried in textbooks for hours and its pretty obvious sometimes even though I do my best.

Another thing to consider is that a dog is a long-term commitment so it's not just the first two years of medical school you need to think about, there's also clinicals with unpredictable hours, then residency after that.

Having a dog, especially if you get one over 50 lbs, will limit your housing options as well. You'll be moving to go to medical school, and probably again for residency, and maybe for fellowship. While you might find a pet friendly apartment it might mean you wind up having to listen to your neighbors noisy dogs while you're already sleep deprived. Some cities are very dog friendly, others not so much. I'm a nontrad with a house and huge fenced yard, so that works to my advantage.

So keep all that stuff in mind as well.
 
I chose to get kittens instead of a dog because I wouldn't want to have to leave a dog alone all day everyday. Cats you don't have to worry about that so much. And I have taught one of them to fetch balls and little toys!
 
My girlfriend and I got a couple of cats. You could swing it with a dog, but you would almost certainly have to get to know someone not in medical school to help you take care of it. I don't think a dog will appreciate you being gone for more than a 9-to-5 setup. Even that's a stretch really.
 
Don't get a dog.

I had one for the first two years. This dog loves to play. Having a dog nudging you and giving you those big eyes to go outside and play while you're studying gets rather annoying. It's also very difficult when the unexpected happens and the poor thing's ACL tears. We recently had to send her home because mine and my fiance's rotation schedules are erratic. Save yourself the headache and money associated with paying for a dog walker or daycare (it's expensive, trust me).

It's really a pretty bad idea. It's not fair to the poor dog and it can be an added stress on you when you're already very stressed. It's also not fair to whoever you have to dump the dog on when you start rotations.
 
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I just got a puppy!! Not that I'm biased or anything but she is super cute and smart! I'm in love 😍. Hopefully I can find a roommate with a nice small dog so they can keep eachother company but if not, my parents and siblings thankfully love her and she can live with them when med school gets too busy. She is a mixed breed and should be between 10-15lbs.
 
Dr McSexy said:
Pets including dogs are definitely manageable during the 1st 2 years of medical school. It does help to have another person who participates in managing the pet(spouse, SO, family, etc.) for the times when you'll have to be away for a long time or otherwise. But not necessary.

3rd year and 4th year will definitely be trickier especially depending on how your medical school does its rotations. I.e. will you have to be in various cities throughout the year while staying in school-provided housing, which most likely won't allow pets? etc. What will you do with your pet in that kind of situation? Plus, you'll be at the hospital a lot and on-call etc. This is when it's useful to have a contigency plan on who can watch your pet (SO, parents, dog sitting(($$$)).

I'm having my g/f keep our dog during 3rd year and I have a friend who's parent will mostly be taking care of his for most of third year. It's doable(esp. cats), but just laying out some of things to think about.
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Consider that eventually you will be a resident and then you will have no time to take care of it properly. I am a second year resident in a surgical subspecialty. Basically, I work all of the time, often over night. I come home, collapse, sleep, and go back to work. It would not be fair or reasonable for me to have a dog, or a cat, for that matter....I will wait until I finish residency and am married.
 
I thnk getting a dog before med school would be a poor choice. They are very time consuming and they are pack animals. Poor thing would be left at home all day, then not get the attention it needs when you get home. Also, vet bills are VERY expensive even for routine maintenence, then add in the unexpected. I mean if you're willing to take out an extra loan or two to cover vet expenses great but you'll have to pay that back plus interest! Even if you walk it daily and have the dog trained before you start school, it will still not really get the full attention deserved. And even a 1 year old dog is still a PUPPY. If anything, I would suggest an older dog. You're still lookign at vet bills but they will be (hopefully) already trained, used to being at home while mom is at work, and when you are home and studying, won't be as prone to bouncing off the walls and eating your slippers because it's not getting enough attention. And sadly, most older dogs in shelters do not get adopted and end up beign euthed. You could save a life, earn a friend, and have the companion you want during school. Still be prepared for vet bills though! Esp in an older dog.

Personally I'd suggest a lower-maintenance pet until you're done with school. Cats are great for low-maintenance. Small animals could be a good choice as well such as a chinchilla, rabbit, hamster. Still even with those pets (esp cats) you have to keep vet bills in mind. Even small animals get sick and need care. Chinchillas are a great choice as far as small-animals go. Very intelligent and social, easily trained (I had mine doing small tricks, also can be potty trained for pee, poops are like tiny rocks and easy to vacuum), they are Very entertaining, and can be quite affectionate. Their upkeep is relatively inexpensive and as far as exotics go they tend to be pretty low on vet-needs. No vaccines needed like cats, and they tend to be pretty healthy and hardy creatures.
That being said, ANY animal needs a lot of care and attention. I'm not one to speak having 2 ferrets (VERY expensive and time consuming pets), a hamster, and a snake myself (plus SO's snake and a foster snake). It is certainly doable, but it will not be easy. My foster snake won't come to school, she'll have a home by then, and the hamster if he's still alive (he'll be old lol) will go live out his last days with my little little sister. But the 2 ferrets and 2 snakes (mine and So's) will be coming. It's going to be expensive and difficult to travel with them, but I'm going to make it work whatever it takes. Are you willing to put in that kind of commitment? That's another thing to consider..

Good luck whatever you choose!
Sorry if I rambled a bit... :/ haha
 
L1BS said:
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I just got a puppy!! Not that I'm biased or anything but she is super cute and smart! I'm in love 😍. Hopefully I can find a roommate with a nice small dog so they can keep eachother company but if not, my parents and siblings thankfully love her and she can live with them when med school gets too busy. She is a mixed breed and should be between 10-15lbs.
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step 1: make thread soliciting for advice on owning dog in medical school.

step 2: see advice from many actual medical students saying it is a horrible idea.

step 3: ignore advice in step 2.

step 4: get dog!

hurr-durr-derp-face-tigurrrrrs-blurrrrd.png
 
I think OP said once or twice they weren't asking if they should get a dog, but why kind of dog they should get and just general advice of having a dog. Maybe I'm wrong though?
 
Almost every vet student I know has dogs (and cats and...) so it's kind of funny to see people saying it's a terrible idea to do during med school. Pets can really help keep you sane during school 🙂

I think you just need to be honest with yourself about your schedule, the level of attention / exercise this dog needs (are we talking a border collie or a chihuahua), how much it will cost, and what kind of support system you have. It's better to realize ahead of time that it's not doable for you than to neglect the pet or turn it into a shelter halfway through school.

The two things I have learned from having dogs and rabbits during vet school:
1) Make sure you have a support system that can step in when you have really busy days or rotations.
2) Get pet insurance, because they WILL swallow something indigestible (and they WILL do it the night before your anatomy final!).

Oh, and please adopt if you are getting a new pet... there are tons of purebreds and puppies in rescues and shelters and tons of animals being killed in shelters.
 
Get an older dog if you want someone who doesn't have boundless energy. Hunting dogs are fairly low maintenance dogs (e.g. labs, German pointers, etc.), so you could look into those breeds.
 
I was kind of already set on getting one when I originally posted so no worries! I do have friends in med school now with dogs that are all managing just fine but wanted more opinions. I really do appreciate all the advice though! I actually adopted my puppy from a vet. Some loser left a carboard box of puppies on the side of a road with the nursing mother and a lady thankfully picked them up and brought them to a nearby vet. Well the vet decided to just take care of them on their own and adopt them out! The mom looks like a shih tzu so my puppy sort of has that face but with curly fur. She really is adorable! Trust me, if you saw the litter you would have ended up coming home with one too! I would have taken all of them if I could have.

Again, my parents love her and are willing to take her in for 3rd/4th yr if I need help. I'll worry about residency when the time comes. Compared to my family's dogs she is really chill, hasn't had any accidents and hasn't destroyed anything yet. She is a total lapdog that I am turning into a girly girl! She loves her bows and her favorite color is pink 😀.
 
I have a pointer/ Doberman mix that is great. I run him 2-4 miles every morning which really takes out a lot of his energy. When I get home from work in the evening we do another 2-4 miles and throw the frisbee around. Dogs just need a lot of exercise (at least 45 mins a day). That is completely manageable in and out of medical school.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
Oh no, please do not be one of those pet owners...
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Agreed! lol

Be aware that little dogs are notrious for having lots of health problems. Esp dental problems. And pleeeease train him. So many people think because a dog is small it's okay to not train them! When I worked at a vet clinic one lady even openly said that she couldn't discipline him because it was so cute when he was naughty. *facepalm*

That being said - Congrats! 😀 He's super cute. 🙂 I hope everything goes smoothly for you and your new baby. 🙂
 
Having a dog during 1st and 2nd year (at least at schools that don't require attendance) is very doable. However, during 3rd year it's much harder unless you've got a someone that lives with you that can help you out. I'm held off on getting a dog until now (I'm in my 4th year) because it's not fair to leave a dog in an apartment for up to 32 hours. My husband works long hours so occasionally the dog would be locked up for up to 12 hours and that's just not fair. If you have a large yard (with plenty of water, food, shelter) it's easier but dogs still need some love. I'm getting a dog next month as I now have plenty of time to train him before residency and plan on moving to a place with a fenced in yard. If you really want to spend some time with dogs you can always go to the humane society and walk/play with them!
 
A dog would be therapeutic. Got a puppy my first year and it was the best. Now as a surgical resident, she's still the best. She sits at my feet when I study. We take walks in between studies. I take her out on days off. She has a doggy door for when I can't let her out myself.
You can do it, but just have to train the dog right. Which is why I don't recommend the broken animals from the shelters. If you can find a puppy fine, but otherwise start with a puppy, so you can train out bad habits, and teach it good habits, easier to do with a puppy.
 
GOMERE said:
A dog would be therapeutic. Got a puppy my first year and it was the best. Now as a surgical resident, she's still the best. She sits at my feet when I study. We take walks in between studies. I take her out on days off. She has a doggy door for when I can't let her out myself.
You can do it, but just have to train the dog right. Which is why I don't recommend the broken animals from the shelters. If you can find a puppy fine, but otherwise start with a puppy, so you can train out bad habits, and teach it good habits, easier to do with a puppy.
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a) There are puppies in shelters, or in rescue groups.
b) The vast majority of dogs in shelters are not broken. Most here are given up because people couldn't afford to feed them (Philly, bad economy) or because of housing/landlord problems. My most recent foster was 2 years old, housetrained, cratetrained, walked perfectly on leash, good with kids, good with dogs, and knew how to sit. I didn't have to teach him any of that.
c) Adult dogs are not hard to train at all.
 
GOMERE said:
A dog would be therapeutic. Got a puppy my first year and it was the best. Now as a surgical resident, she's still the best. She sits at my feet when I study. We take walks in between studies. I take her out on days off. She has a doggy door for when I can't let her out myself.
You can do it, but just have to train the dog right. Which is why I don't recommend the broken animals from the shelters. If you can find a puppy fine, but otherwise start with a puppy, so you can train out bad habits, and teach it good habits, easier to do with a puppy.
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Buying a dog from a breeder is one of the most inhumane things you can do. You are promoting over population of dogs and cats by keeping breeders in business. Everyone should rescue dogs from shelters. That is the only way the over population will be helped. Every time someone buys a dog from a breeder rather than rescuing a dog, you are condemning a sheltered dog to die. The only reason there are so many dogs in shelters is because people like you are ignorant and think sheltered dogs are "broken". That couldn't be further from the truth.
 
If you get a dog, don't get a puppy or a young adult. Get a dog who's about five years old, and which has been housebroken and crate trained. You can teach all the other manners yourself obviously during the gap year.

I recommend an older dog because older dogs need less exercise, and can survive if the only dog walker you can afford during your rotations will be taking fido out for a fifteen minute pee, and not an hour-long jog. Getting a year-old or puppy Standard Poodle - which will still be a young and vigorous 3 yo dog when you start clinicals - is just batty.

Hell, get a 10yo chihuahua mix. Chis live until their late teens, have limited exercise needs, and can be trained to toilet on a patch of sod within an apartment, obviating the need for a pet sitter (although frankly I think that smells even fouler than a litterbox).

By the time I get to med school, knock wood, my dog will either be dead or ancient, and when he passes, if I get another pet? It'll be a cat. A fat, lazy indoor cat that will be happy to sleep when I'm out of the house and which, in a pinch, can be left with a big bowl of food and a big bowl of water for 36 hours.

ETA: Many shelters adopt out puppies, if that's what you want; many RESCUES will provide you with wonderful, well loved housepets which no longer have homes. One rescue local to me specializes in the pets of deceased elderly people -- there have been purebred, beautifully trained German Shepherds, Aussies etc on their website. And dogs from the SPCA - like my own beagle - make wonderful pets, though the first year is a challenge and no mistake (it took nine months to housebreak my dog. ugghghghghg).
 
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