Essential tips for college students who take care of dogs

Balance your studies, balance your work, balance your budget, balance your social life, and balance your health?

Here are some essential tips if you are a college student looking for advice on caring for your dog while balancing the other demands that come with school.

Environment

When considering what environment to house a dog in the first place, make sure that where you live allows animals. Being asked to relocate your pet or to charge a fee for your pet can be an incredibly awkward situation. Wherever you decide to live, access to a lawn for your dog to use the bathroom is a key factor to consider. Depending on the size of the lawn and whether it is fenced or not, the type of leash to have will be determined. To avoid problems with neighbors and reduce lawn maintenance buildup later on, clean up your dog’s waste every day. To protect your values ​​and protect your pet, make your home dog-proof. Watch out for loose cables, open doors, and stable furniture.

Diet

There are a multitude of healthy snack options for you that are also healthy for your dog. Instead of immediately opting for a dog biscuit, swap it out for a nutritional alternative like apple slices, watermelon, blueberries, frozen bananas, melons, green beans, carrots, or sweet potatoes. Introducing these types of foods to your dog at an earlier age will allow him to develop a taste for food and perhaps even foster a love for fruits and vegetables.

Entertainment

Introducing your dog to tennis balls at a young age is a great way to save money on toys. Tennis balls are inexpensive and easy to clean. While they are little, show him different toys and watch your dog’s play tendencies. Classify the families of toys that your dog can play with alone for long periods of time and the toys that he should play with while someone is present. For example, some dogs chew and consume wind-up toys, which can cause health problems.

Cleaning / Grooming

Keep a tub of baby wipes near the door to clean up any little messes that you might not want your dog to carry inside. Also, one tip to prevent your dog from moving excessively during bath time is to smother some peanut butter on the shower wall to keep him pleasantly distracted while you bathe him. If your dog is shedding excessively, brush him regularly and consider investing in a robot vacuum cleaner.

Exercising

Lead a healthier lifestyle with your dog through healthy minds and bodies. Take your dog for regular walks and exercise outside with your pet. If your dog needs more exercise than you can provide, looking at local dog parks and walkers could make a difference.

Social / support system

Have emergency contacts for you and your pet available on your mobile device and displayed in your home. Establishing a relationship with your neighbors can be beneficial if you want another set of eyes to keep an eye on your pet. When you can, take your dog with you. If you are having trouble finding new friends, dogs are a great friend to help you meet new people. Being in a pet-friendly environment and community is good for both you and your dog.

Sure, there will be tough times when you introduce a dog into your life while you’re in college, but the lessons in responsibility, trust, and companionship are invaluable. College is full of excitement, stress, and all the emotions in between. If you want to have a dog while you’re in college, following some of these tips and tricks can ease the transition of settling into your new life with your pet.