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When to get a dog
- Thread starter Chapelle
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Since I think everyone's situation will be a little different, I'll just let you know what I'll be doing since I'm in a similar situation (though I have owned dogs in the past). I plan on getting my dog when I feel it's the right time, but I'm confident that it will happen sometime in my first or second semester. I just want to have my schedule, study habits, etc down before I invite a big furry companion into my life for good. I especially want to be sure I have the whole "vet school" lifestyle experience, so I'm not dealing with new stresses of vet school and a new dog at the same time - it'd be a bit too much, I think. I don't think my adjustment period will be too long, and I am eager to have a dog as a part of my lifestyle.
Of course other people do it different ways - I have a friend who adopted her pup the Spring before she moved, and got her schedule with the dog figured out first then went to school and got into that schedule, so it can work out either way.
Of course other people do it different ways - I have a friend who adopted her pup the Spring before she moved, and got her schedule with the dog figured out first then went to school and got into that schedule, so it can work out either way.
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Congratulations!! Where were you accepted ?!
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I got a puppy this past July and I am very glad that she will be over a year old when I start Vet School this fall. Although, I have grown up with dogs, this is the first puppy I was completely responsible for. Luckily, I've been able to bring her to work with me when needed and I've had a lot of fun but Personally, I don't think I could deal with raising a puppy and going to Vet school. IMO I recommend (if getting a puppy) to do so before moving.
I definitely think, if adopting an adult, that it couldn't hurt to wait until you figure out your schedule and study habits but I guess that can go either way too.
In short, I vote for the spring/summer before
I definitely think, if adopting an adult, that it couldn't hurt to wait until you figure out your schedule and study habits but I guess that can go either way too.
In short, I vote for the spring/summer before
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Agreed. I got my first pup my senior year of undergrad, and all I can say is, thank god for winter break that gave me time to housebreak and get some basic training into her. There were days I just wanted to cry, she was such a hellion. We had a lot of fun, but oh man, some of the things that puppy would chew on...And the howling during crate training...my neighbor must have hated me 🙂
If I decide to get another dog, it will be an adult, that's for sure. No way do I have time now for housebreaking, let alone once I start vet school!
I definitely vote for getting the dog as early as you can too. Or wait until a break comes along or something.
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I would recommend getting an adult dog, 1+ years. I adopted a puppy over a year ago and though completely worth it, I had a really tough time training her. Granted, she had severe separation anxiety (tore down my bathroom door) from being a cage at the shelter but, a year later and I finally feel a bit of ease leaving her at home, etc. I don't know if I could have handled her with a full course load.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you never know what hand you're going to be dealt when you get a dog. It's might be a safer bet to get a dog that has the basics down such as house training so you can focus on the larger training points and have a well rounded pet before you go to school.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you never know what hand you're going to be dealt when you get a dog. It's might be a safer bet to get a dog that has the basics down such as house training so you can focus on the larger training points and have a well rounded pet before you go to school.
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If you get a puppy just remember you're going to have to house break it (maybe even an adult dog as well) and pay vet expenses related to pups (first set of shots, spay/neuter, etc.)
Also might want to get a crate. They're terrific training tools and help tremendously with house breaking during the night. Also gives the dog a place of his 'own'. My lab loves his crate. Safe from cats, safer than laying in a thoroughfare, and softer than the floor. Plus he gets just as much attention laying in there as anywhere else lol, though sometimes I think he wishes we'd just leave him alone.
Also might want to get a crate. They're terrific training tools and help tremendously with house breaking during the night. Also gives the dog a place of his 'own'. My lab loves his crate. Safe from cats, safer than laying in a thoroughfare, and softer than the floor. Plus he gets just as much attention laying in there as anywhere else lol, though sometimes I think he wishes we'd just leave him alone.
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my neighbors DID hate me during that time...i invested in mosh-pit earplugs and slept through it for the most part. it was a rough 2 weeks though, but now my dog loves her crate. crate training is sooo worth it!
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I'm wrestling with this question right now! I've never actually had a dog before, and I want one but I am a little worried because it is a responsibility I've never had. Everyone keeps saying "but you're so busy" - but I'm not sure when I will ever be any less busy. I don't think I'll have more time once I've graduated and started working, so unless I'm going to wait until retirement to get a dog...
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This would be my only reservation about getting the dog during the summer I don't think there is any dog (even a small one or usually placid) that wouldn't pose a threat to a fully flighted bird. I know that you would be responsible and they would be supervised carefully but things can go bad quickly. Bird skin/bones are very delicate and even if the dog just caught it like a ball or picked it up in his mouth it could be disastrous. It seems like summer is an opportune time for you to get the dog so I would recommend doing some impulse control training with "leave it" commands. After that command is entrained I would then practice with you working with the dog on a leash in the room and have someone get the bird to fly to them so you can practice leave it on the bird.
Since you will be getting the dog from a rescue group and you will have the opportunity to observe their personality/habits I would think hard about not only what dog I feel fits with my idea of dog ownership but also what dog would fit with my lifestyle as a vet student. I know some people who gravitate towards super active dogs. If that is what you would feel the most connected to then I say go for it...any of us who have the drive for vet school I think will have the drive to make time for an active dog even if it's stressful. If however you feel you could be connected with a more laid back dog then I would recommend getting one. A laid back dog may also be more receptive to the 'leave it' training.
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Did anyone wait until the summer between 1st and 2nd year before getting one? For me this seems the best idea since I wont be in a permanent place this summer and as people have above indicated im not sure that getting one through the first year of vet school is the best since this is also my first 'own' dog.. thoughts?
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I really want one for vet school, but for some reason I feel like i'm "cheating on" my dogs that are at home with my parents...is that weird?
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Definitely not - I feel the same! I'm actually super, super tempted to kidnap at least one of the family dogs for vet school since I'm the one who cares for them the most anyhow. They're both older (9 and 11) and pretty easygoing, but I'd feel as though I was neglecting them and not giving them the attention they deserve. Even though I'll miss them terribly, I have a feeling they'll be staying put...for at least the first semester. I'll personally be giving myself at least that first term to see what my schedule's like before taking on either a dog or a job. I don't want to make a mistake and stretch myself too thin.
My vote-wait until vet school. from what I've heard, animal softies cave and take home animals...you're doing this work at an animal shelter, and he's your first neuter or something, and you've just GOT to take him home!!! That's what happened to a vet I know. I guess you can't help it. And your dog could be the mascot, confidant, and buddy for school! Good Luck! I've never had a dog, either
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I adopted a well-known, adult/geriatric dog at the beginning of vet school. I did have to sort through some behavioral issues (mild separation anxiety, integrating with a roommate's dog, integrating with 3 cats when I had no idea how she did with cats...) and figuring out how long she could she could go between bathroom breaks but overall, I am so glad I adopted her. If you don't already know your potential adoptee can go 8-10 hours without much interaction, I would hesitate to step into it before starting vet school. My dog was walked 1-2x a week and fed 2x daily... and that was what she was used to before I adopted her. She did not get much interaction (and was a backyard dog for the majority of her life).
I would recommend starting vet school with a mind to how a dog would work out... and adopting after a quarter/semester. I thought I would be able to bring her with me to school daily (or close to it) but it has not worked out that way. I thought I could go home during lunch to walk her but it hasn't worked out that way either.
At any rate, you get a TON of e-mails about adoptable dogs that sound amazing during vet school. I am looking to add another dog to my menagerie so I'm debating this issue too. 🙂 My decision is to wait for summer/break and to find a living situation better suited for that many animals... Having 2 cats and a large dog with me in a single bedroom is cozy at best.
I would recommend starting vet school with a mind to how a dog would work out... and adopting after a quarter/semester. I thought I would be able to bring her with me to school daily (or close to it) but it has not worked out that way. I thought I could go home during lunch to walk her but it hasn't worked out that way either.
At any rate, you get a TON of e-mails about adoptable dogs that sound amazing during vet school. I am looking to add another dog to my menagerie so I'm debating this issue too. 🙂 My decision is to wait for summer/break and to find a living situation better suited for that many animals... Having 2 cats and a large dog with me in a single bedroom is cozy at best.
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Get one on a day that ends in "y."
Now I've been as helpful and informative as you have been on SDN.
Now I've been as helpful and informative as you have been on SDN.
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Maybe this won't add anything to the discussion, but even working full time I feel like I neglect my three terribly sometimes. And as of now, I have the time to go home at lunch to let them out as well as the certainty that I am DONE working at 5 pm.
I'm not sure how it will be once vet school starts, but I have a 7 month old CKC, an 8 month old Dorkie and an ~2 year old large mix breed. Thankfully, the latter two are housebroken and the CKC is about 90% there and is crate trained. Without the chance to run home at lunch right now it would have been much more frustrating to get them all housebroken and on a routine!
You may want to wait until you start vet school and see how much time you think you really have. I know my three are there to keep each other company during the day, but I still feel negligent to their social needs at times too!
I'm not sure how it will be once vet school starts, but I have a 7 month old CKC, an 8 month old Dorkie and an ~2 year old large mix breed. Thankfully, the latter two are housebroken and the CKC is about 90% there and is crate trained. Without the chance to run home at lunch right now it would have been much more frustrating to get them all housebroken and on a routine!
You may want to wait until you start vet school and see how much time you think you really have. I know my three are there to keep each other company during the day, but I still feel negligent to their social needs at times too!
