Thoughts about my future- life on my own. Without dogs?

[ToBeEvergreen]

I'm 19 years old, as some of you may know. I've been attempting to get a job- I have a lot of community service under my belt, as well as club leadership positions in college, so I'm hoping it's only a matter of time. Once I can get enough money for it, I want to be on my own, live away from home in an apartment or condo, learning to support myself.

Surprisingly, it's not being on my own that makes me nervous. It's being alone- without a dog.

I have a hunch that once I'm in graduate school with a job and my own place, I just won't be home enough for a dog, unless by some miracle I can work from home. I think it's mostly watching my mom and my brother work from 6am to 4pm every day that assures me of this, more and more by the day. It has me really down, as I have grown up with dogs and can't imagine being without one of my own. I'm going for counseling psychology, so I've got a chance of setting my own schedule once I get the next degree. Once I get through graduate school, I imagine it will get easier and more possible to devote time to a canine friend.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or any advice for me?

[Suki Wingy]

Well, I've been living away from my dog off and on for about three years now, and it's been difficult at times. Luckily for me most of my time away was spent working at horse barns and now my grooming salon so I had plenty of other animals to occupy my time. Could you maybe volunteer at an animal shelter or a place like that?

[Karen]

You could, once you are on your own, get a small pet that doesn't require as much time as a dog - a guinea pig, maybe, that would sleep much of the time you are away from home, but be awake and interact with you when you are. They are not dogs, but they are delightful little furry personalities on their own!

[happylabs]

I think you will adjust, especially if you have as busy of a life as you describe. I have been without a dog since Casey went to the RB two years ago. However, I have the cats.

How about getting a cat?

[Cataholic]

I hesitated about adding a new dog to my family since Binx went to the RB in 2004, for the reason you mentioned- time/commitment. I work a lot. I felt it not in a dog's best interest, as I am not home enough. Then, along came Jasper. (Well, Jonah came along first, in 2004). Jonah really, really, really wanted a dog. Something about kids and dogs, I guess. After fostering Jasper for 2 months, I realized he was the right dog for our house. And, I am still not home a lot. I leave at 830 am and return at 4. I walk Jasper to the bus stop each morning, and then leave for work, and he is let out the moment we get home at 4. It works for us. Jasper produces the least amount of excrement of any other dog I know. For instance, last night, I last walked him at 730. When I got up at 6, he stayed in bed until I called him to eat at about 620. I took him out after that. He just doesn't produce much, LOL. There ARE times where he will nudge me awake if he has to go out, so it isn't as if I ignore his calls, or that I refuse to let him out. That is just the way he is. And, that was a BIG plus for us keeping him.

But, having said that, if I am going to be late getting home, I stress. If we are tied up a lot on the weekends, I stress. I try to alter my schedule at any opportunity to provide more interaction with him. I stress when my son says he is too tired to walk to the bus stop, or it is raining, and we 'have' to drive. Having a pet like a dog is a huge responsibility. I think we hit the total dog jackpot with Jasper, as he totally works in our lifestyle (with the exception of his carsickness!!!).

So, that is our experience.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I think it really depends on your school/work schedule and your dog. I'm a grad student, and I have 3 dogs, 3 cats, and a daughter (but I also have a husband to help me out). If you are planning to work more than part time AND do grad school, I'd say don't get a dog, get a different kind of pet (like a cat) instead. School has always been very "easy" for me so I was surprised how much work a PhD program actually is.

However, despite all the work, most of it can be done at home (which is why we can have 3 dogs without any problems). I'm home most of the time, except for class time and when I work out of the home. For paid work, I don't have anything very time-consuming because I would not have time for school then. I work one night a week as a piano teacher, and do some work from home when I get projects, as well as some work as a researcher occasionally (out of the home). I feel like I have more flexibility as a student than if I worked full time, but in your field you may need to do internships, etc. If you're unsure, you should probably wait on a dog. Are you going to go for a PhD in counseling psych or a PsyD?