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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

DD really missing our dog

17 replies

themistokles · 05/05/2019 23:11

This is a bit of an odd one I guess. DD is 19 and at uni, and loving it. She loves living in a big city rather than in the boring country at home. She is definitely NOT home sick.

However she misses our dog SO badly. She says she sometimes cries because she misses the dog so much. Obviously she can come home and see the doggy which lives with us.

For the back story, she is definitely our dog’s favorite, and they adore each other

Is this normal?

OP posts:

Still18atheart · 05/05/2019 23:17

She’s not alone! I missed my dog more than anything when I was at uni. My mum used to put the phone up to ddogs hear when we were having a phone call and I used to love the sniffing sounds he gave at the mouthpiece.

Could she perhaps walk rescue dogs at a local shelter.

I know some unis have dogs which are there to be cuddled as a great stress reliever especially at exam times. Came across a dog owner who volunteered to go into a uni. He couldn’t believe how popular it was.
I know not the same as the family dog. But might fill that hole in her heart a little bit

Floopily · 05/05/2019 23:20

I don't think it's abnormal as such. I've been known to cry because I miss Ddog and that's after only a couple of nights away and I'm a fully grown adult! I can't imagine having to move away from her so I can see why your DD is hurting over it. I think some people just bond more strongly with animals than others and it's not like they can what's app or talk on the phone like you can with a human you miss.

Willowkoko · 05/05/2019 23:28

Definitely normal.

Wolfiefan · 05/05/2019 23:30

Oh bless her. Can she volunteer for a shelter or cinnamon trust? And I’m guessing she has photos? My mum used to send me the odd card from the animals. Weird I know but they made me laugh and smile.

Wolfiefan · 05/05/2019 23:30

Angry?! I meant

Needmoresleep · 06/05/2019 06:28

There are various "borrow my dog" websites which match dog owners with people who want to walk a dog regularly.

Not quite the same, obviously, but a nice break from University life. Or Vets, animal charities or organisations for the elderly might know of people who would welcome help.

slipperywhensparticus · 06/05/2019 06:32

My dd is at uni she misses the cats more than us sobs when she has to leave them I send her almost daily pictures and tell her all about the stupid stuff they do

Needmoresleep · 06/05/2019 07:17

A Bristol you know you are not the only one:

www.facebook.com/brizpet/

bevelino · 06/05/2019 08:59

OP, are you able to take your dog for a visit? I take our dog to visit my 2 dds at Bristol university and they love it. The dog goes absolutely bonkers with excitement when she sees them.

GCAcademic · 06/05/2019 10:08

Sometimes I take my dog to work. He has students literally throwing themselves at him and wailing about how much they miss their dogs! I'll probably take him in a few times over the exam season to de-stress the students.

GCAcademic · 06/05/2019 10:09

Oh, just to add, these students all seem to miss their dog only, not the rest of their families or their home!

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 06/05/2019 10:32

I can understand how she feels! I was in hospital recently and mainly wanted to get home to see my dog (I hate hospital stays, but I wouldn't have minded so much if he was allowed to sleep on my hospital bed!) Similarly as a student I remember paying a local homeless man a quid so I could give his staffy some fuss and attention, and it was a quid well spent... I was seriously dog starved...

Local shelter volunteering, borrow my doggy, cinnamon trust etc are all good ideas for taking the edge off things for her, as are taking the dog if you go to visit her. Brewdog are in many university towns and are all very dog friendly, if you want somewhere for a spot of lunch.

HoozTurnIsIT · 06/05/2019 13:51

I've often thought DS misses his cat more than me.
I send him photos and chats about the cat most days - and he's a 3rd year

Biscuitburglar · 06/05/2019 22:15

My DD started at uni this year too and misses the dog dreadfully. She says it’s like being separated from her baby, she just worries often if he’s ok. I think to be honest he misses her too. I send her a lot of photos of him and that seems to help a bit. I think it’s very normal.

IHateUncleJamie · 07/05/2019 09:54

Ddog sulked dreadfully when dd first came home from uni at Christmas. He literally wouldn’t look at her for almost a week. She was so upset.

Last term we took him to visit her and he was so happy to see her. Once he’d seen her in situ he was completely different so when she came home for Easter he was all over her, no sulking at all. No idea what he thought or why taking him to dd made such a difference.

Is your dd’s uni within travelling distance, OP? Dd loves being able to take ddog for a walk when we visit on a nice day and it breaks the term up for both of them.

TonTonMacoute · 07/05/2019 14:18

I think it's pretty normal. Interaction with a much loved pet is a real comfort, and a good stress buster, apart from anything else.

My DS keeps telling me how much he really misses our two cats (I have to send lots of pictures) - and my cooking .

GetOffTheRoof · 07/05/2019 14:21

Normal. I missed our dog like crazy too.

I used to walk dogs at the dog warden office in my university city. Maybe she could look into things like that?

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