Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you or your dcs whilst at uni have successfully owned a dog or puppy?

26 replies

youcantpolishaturd · 21/04/2012 19:44

And if so, what were influencing factors and dealbreakers? Also, did they live at uni or home, have a job, prepare, if so how much and how old are they or were you?

OP posts:
letsgoflyakite · 21/04/2012 19:56

I assume you have a DC who is at uni and wants a dog?

If they are living away from home, most property rentals don't allow animals, and even if there was a rental property that did allow pets, would other people want to share a house with a dog?

Also, if living away from home, term times are pretty varied. Some courses start in September, then finish for 3 weeks at Christmas and Easter and then finish for the summer about May or June time. What would happen to the dog then?

If she/he is living at home, it's a bit different, however I still think other people will end up taking responsibility for it.

I am at university and there is no way that I have the time or energy to have a dog. I live in a city centre with no near-by parks to walk it, and my part time job requires 7am starts and 11pm finishes sometimes, so I literally have no time to walk it. I also don't have a garden and wouldn't want to keep the poor thing cooped up in the house all day.

I'd say it was a bad idea either way.

NorbertDentressangle · 21/04/2012 19:59

In my 4 years at uni (many moons ago) I don't think I ever came across a student with a dog.

TBH I don't think any student rental laces would allow pets anyway.

SoundOfHerWings · 21/04/2012 20:10

I am a student, live with my husband, and have had a dog since second year. My course requires a lot of work, but lots is just studying I can do at home- we actually got the dog to keep me company during weeks of study leave and summer holidays home on my own. My friend is doing a masters and also has a puppy- she's only in 3 days per week and pays a dog walker for those days from her student loan. It would be different in a student let though.

HarrietSchulenberg · 21/04/2012 20:14

I knew lots of people who attempted to keep dogs, but only 2 who were able to keep them long term. Most people found they couldn't cope (early morning dog walks are not compatible with lie-ins of student proportions). Confused dogs generally got lots of afternoon and very late night walks, and played with by stoned students at all hours apart from before noon. Dogs all ended up going home to live with parents, or being rehomed. Neither of which is fair on parents or dogs.

I did know 2 people who did it very successfully, with one dog (the lovely Bob) going everywhere, including lectures, with his devoted owner. Bob was NOT supposed to be in lectures but lecturers were luckily won over by his owner's winning personality and Bob's amazingly sweet nature.

The other dog was owned by my lovely housemate and we all pitched in to look after her. Housemate had grown up with dogs and dragged herself out of bed every morning, even after some very late nights, and we took over when she had to be out. The landlord didn't know about the dog and we had to hide her when he came round for visits. It is not easy hiding a labrador/greyhound cross in a terrace, but we did it mainly by one of us spiriting the dog out of the back door upon Landlord's (usually unannounced) arrivals while someone else shoved food bowls under the settee and sat on the dog's bed.

As pets are not usually allowed in student accommodation, and as a "normal" student lifestyle really isn't conducive to responsibly owning a dog, I really wouldn't advise it.

Pastabee · 21/04/2012 20:15

My housemate's parent's went on a 3 week cruise when we were in second year and we had Ben the Labrador to stay.

There was no opportunity for the novelty to wear off so he was fed and walked etc but I think he was happy to go home.

We missed him when he left and bought a cardboard cut out of a Labrador to keep in our front window.

Seriously..... All a very bad idea based on my experiences. We weren't responsible enough to look after him properly. Obviously different if student in question is more mature than we were / not living in typical shared house set up.

eggyblackett · 21/04/2012 20:18

We didn't have a dog, but we did have a cat. Obviously not the same as our cat didn't require walking, however he was responsibly cared for by us e.g. groomed, vaccinated, fed and watered properly, frontlined, taken to the vets if ill etc.

Noqontrol · 21/04/2012 20:20

I had a cat when I was a student sharing with others, but not a dog. Having said that one of my flat mates had a dog, she did struggle a bit with the walking, paying for food, and the need to be there a lot of the time. It is possible, but big responsibility. Also you have to fit round what landlords will take you, we moved every year, although in fairness most of the places we lived in weren't even good enough for the dog.

Cats are easier as a student as they do their own thing and just come back for food and sleep.

NorbertDentressangle · 21/04/2012 20:23

In fact the more I think back to student life the more I realise that most students had problems making sure that they themselves were fed properly and exercised adequately let alone ensure a dog was cared for!

Original poster
youcantpolishaturd · 21/04/2012 22:19

What about if said student, asking on behalf of a friend who's daughter isgoing into her final year:

  • had had a dog before uni, and took responsibility for pretty much 90% of her care, all pretty much apart from paying for food and pet insurance and is under no illusions about what is involved, including early walks, cleaning up shit and vomit and has gone to every vet appointment, including when she was pts. She even stayed at home when the rest of her family went on holiday to look after her.

-had her own place, rented, with her dp (been together for 3 years) which has an enclosed garden and pet friendly

  • can financially support dog without dp or parents reliance
  • can pay for initial expenses and cover any emergency due to saving up in her gap year
  • has a pretty light timetable, with aim of toilet training pup and getting it used to being left for short periods of time
  • already knows what pet insurance plan and food etc due to her budgeting in advance
  • even if she had to work full time next year after uni, would be more than willing to get up extra early to walk, give evening walk, training sessions and classes and has done before although whilst at school during gcses etc. She also has access to training equipment that she had bespokely made by a close relative.
  • is very knowledgeable about health testing and genetic tendencies
  • has access to lots of dog friendly walks
  • knows what vet surgery the dog would be registered with, and the same regarding puppy classes
  • has no interest in going out and would always look out for the dogs welfare
  • knows basic canine first aid

Thoughts?

OP posts:
Noqontrol · 21/04/2012 22:36

If she's prepared to look after it, not live too far from uni so she can nip back and sort the dog out, then why not. She's sounds responsible so there's not a problem. Just make sure whoever she moves in with are dog lovers. And the landlord ok with it. I lived in Sheffield and we never had a problem with the landlord and pets. It's probably different depending on what part of the country she's going to, in some places the people generally seem more chilled out.

NorbertDentressangle · 21/04/2012 22:40

It sounds as if you/they have made up your/their mind already.

2rebecca · 21/04/2012 22:46

A university student should be able to make her own mind up about this sort of thing. If you aren't the student then it isn't your problem. She is either old enough to sort out her pets herself or she isn't.
Sounds like an unnecessary extra hassle to me, but it's not my decision it's hers.

SkinnedAlive · 22/04/2012 01:08

I am at vet school and loads of people have dogs. Our hours are very intensive - often 8am - 6pm daily so the students with dogs tend to organise a rota for walking and help each other out. If there is a vet school nearby then you may find landlords in this area are happy to accept dogs for larger deposit.

startail · 22/04/2012 01:50

I had a postgrad friend who had digs on a farm and kept a horse, but undergrads generally stick to hamsters.

pingulingo · 22/04/2012 08:55

I had a dog at Uni but I was a mature student and rented the house from a friend so landlord wasnt an issue. I got him at the start of summer holidays to toilet train whilst off and trained him to use a dog flap so he always had access outside.

But what does your dd/friend plan to do after she has graduated? Full time work can lead to a dog being left a lot on its own, and it will still be very young. Also what are their long term plans? Just because their current place will allow a dog, it could become a complication in the future if they will be moving and renting. Lots of landlords just don't allow Pets. She needs to think longer term than the next 12 months

malinois · 22/04/2012 09:05

Yes, but only at agricultural colleges.

HelenBaaBaaBlackSheep · 22/04/2012 09:17

It sounds like very bad timing, they may be able to manage now but the first couple of years after graduating are generally pretty precarious - the gap year savings aren't going to last for ever, she may need to move to look for work and also have to work very long hours which would be unfair on the dog - even if she gets up early it would still need a walk and company during the day and dog-walkers aren't super-cheap.

missmartha · 22/04/2012 09:25

My dog once belonged to a student who fancied keeping a dog.

She had my girl three months, realised it was cruel as she didn't have time to care for her properly, so gave her to me.

Original poster
youcantpolishaturd · 22/04/2012 12:50

Bumpy

OP posts:
theodorakis · 22/04/2012 13:22

Yes I did. Moved to London to study, got a dog. It was very successful for me, after a couple of weeks I dumped him on my mum who then looked after him for the next 10 years.

maddening · 22/04/2012 13:40

I had gerbils while at uni - they had a lovely life

LRDtheFeministDragon · 22/04/2012 17:37

If she is renting somewhere with just her DP, it has a garden and she's allowed to keep a pet, she's not really in the same situation as most students, is she? I don't see why it's any different from someone not at university owning a dog?

Sure, she may have to move next year, but people do move house even if they own pets, so ...

Original poster
youcantpolishaturd · 22/04/2012 18:34

Interesting seeing the range of responses :-)

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 22/04/2012 18:43

Sure, I wasn't suggesting you shouldn't ask - just I honestly don't see that being a student has really any bearing on her situation.

FWIW my mate is thinking about getting a dog, and in a pretty similar situation - it wouldn't occur to me to think of it as being 'at uni' because she isn't living in university accommodation or with other students, if you see what I mean?

I guess the only thing would be she may have more flexibility to go for walks when it's nice weather, and that can only be good.

Gumby · 22/04/2012 18:44

when I was a student we all had hamsters in our rooms Grin