having a dog while in nursing school?

BostonTsn · Dec 13, 2009

I am so sorry to hear about Sophie..I am in a part time program which is 2 nights a week and Saturdays and I work 4 days a week. I have 2 dogs..and a husband. So he is there to take them out after work if I am not. Is there someone else at the house who will be able to help? I would recommend rescuing an adult dog since potty training can be very challenging and time consuming. Hope this helps!

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

I have a 4yr old lab and while she doesn't enjoy being home alone, she doesn't get destructive like some dogs can. She still needs exercise to be happy. I would be cautious with getting another dog just yet as many dogs won't be naturally well behaved like your Sophie was. Some are unwilling/unable to go long periods without having an accident no matter how well you house train them. Maybe wait a year first and get a feel of how much extra time you'll have with school before picking out another best friend

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

I would wait until after school to get another dog. I am very sorry to hear about Sofie (my daughters name is Sophia or we call her Sophie also).

I have a 6 year old Beagle, as puppies they need tons of attention, for the past few years she has been very mellow and tame. But for the first time ever I gone more then I have been with her being alone. I was a stay at home mom, and then when I was doing Pre Reqs full time I was taking a lot of online classes also. Then when I was finishing my last pre reqs I was only gone for 4-5 hours at a time. So far first semester hasn't been to bad and I have a huge fenced in yard so she was able to go out. Now my husband is working out of state until may and CO winters are no place for an animal outside when I am gone again. Beagles you can't really let roam the house free. At least not any that I have met. She isn't destructive but she is a hound dog and her scent gets her in trouble. I am worried how she will adjust next semester here in 5 weeks. She does fine company wise being alone now, not like when she is a pup but I feel tremendous guilt. I have thought about getting another dog for her but I won't have the time to invest in training right now and I don't want the puppy to be raised by my Beagle with little people interaction, it can make them more feral and more "pack dogish" We have a solution for the winter time but I would think the best option would be to just get another dog when school is done, life is going to get busy enough when nursing school starts between studying and family time and a little you time.

tiffanyleigh0212 · Dec 13, 2009

I haven't started yet, (start in January.) But, at the beginning of orientation, one of the first things that was said was, don't get any new pets, use birth control, don't get into any new relationships, or end any, and don't plan any weddings, and no divorces. Of course this wasn't said to live by exactly (if that makes any sense.) They just explained how stressful and hard things will be and making any changes such as those listed above, could cause some harm. One of my friends recently dropped out of nursing school due to a break up with a boyfriend. She just couldn't handle it all together. I ended things with my boyfriend a few weeks ago, due to the fact we were having some serious relationship problems and he wasn't willing to change, so I made sure I ended that before it had a chance to mess me up in the middle of school. Oh well, turns out like I made the right decision after all!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

I haven't started yet, (start in January.) But, at the beginning of orientation, one of the first things that was said was, don't get any new pets, use birth control, don't get into any new relationships, or end any, and don't plan any weddings, and no divorces. Of course this wasn't said to live by exactly (if that makes any sense.) They just explained how stressful and hard things will be and making any changes such as those listed above, could cause some harm. One of my friends recently dropped out of nursing school due to a break up with a boyfriend. She just couldn't handle it all together. I ended things with my boyfriend a few weeks ago, due to the fact we were having some serious relationship problems and he wasn't willing to change, so I made sure I ended that before it had a chance to mess me up in the middle of school. Oh well, turns out like I made the right decision after all!

If you knew it was the right thing to get out then good for you to handle that before school. School is stressful enough, nursing school can add more pressure, relationship problems only intensify that.

itsmejuli · Dec 13, 2009

I got a puppy while I was in LPN school. I kept her in a confined area with a tiled floor and puppy pad. She had her bed and plenty of toys to keep her occupied. She is now a year old and just the sweetest dog ever.

kbm318 · Dec 13, 2009

I have a dog but he is a year and a half and I don't start in my nursing program until March. Although I did have him when he was just a puppy and I was still taking classes. It was tough but I managed, I think the toughest part was potty training them while you are in school because they need so much time and help for that. Also I have to keep my dog (he is a huskie pitbull mix) in a large crate while I'm gone. He has separation anxiety really bad and even if I leave for 5 min he will get so upset he uses the bathroom. He only does it though if he is left out, if I put him up he refuses to use the bathroom until I return. So you can always go that option if you get a new dog and it starts using the bathroom and is destructive.

STL2008, RN · Dec 13, 2009

I have 2 dogs. A 13 year old Beagle and a 4 year old Chihuahua. They are fine when I leave them home all day. All they do is sleep. You just gotta make sure you take them outside before u leave and right away when u come home.

jemaro67 · Dec 13, 2009

I'm sorry to hear about Sophie. It's hard losing a friend!

I actually gave my dog to another family... She's an italian greyhound that had higher energy than the norm for that type of dog. I took her to puppy classes and had her house trained. She was the companion dog I was looking for. It was a hard decision to give her away, but I did it anticipating that I'd get into my nursing program. School is hard enough as it is, and I know I wouldn't have been able to nurture her as she needed me to while in school. I'd say if you have someone to help out with a new dog, then get one. I'm sure the dog will bring you tons of joy and help relieve any stress you encounter during school. It would be a smarter decision to not get one if you know already that you won't be able to care and treat the dog appropriately. No dog should have to be alone more than 4 hours each day, regardless of how well they are potty trained. There's so much more attention that should be given to them. Now that I've been accepted into my nursing program, I know I made the right decision for me and for her. Just be sure to think of how it'll be for your possible new friend before making a committment.

K nurse-one-day · Dec 14, 2009

I think it all depends on what type of dog you plan to get. I have a 4.5 year old chihuahua. She is the laziest dog on the planet, and always has been. She doesn't like to play or go outside (except to relieve herself). All she wants to do is lay around and sleep, be pet,and eat. Studying or being gone for a few hours at a time is no problem because all she does is sleep anyways:) If you get a high energy dog like a lab or a terrier, they would probably not do so well being left alone for long. You also have to consider house breaking. It can take a ton of time and energy to housebreak a dog and if you are in nursing school you may not have enough time to do it (unless you have someone living with you who will be able to help) I would say wait until after nursing school, but if you do decide to get a dog, to get one that is already housebroken, and low maintenance. Sorry about Sophia! :crying2:

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2009

I think another important thing to consider is the cost. I'm sure you already have a pretty good idea, since you already had Sophie and paid for her surgery. But really, dogs deserve good, regular healthcare too and far too many people don't put aside extra money for the "just in case" incidents. That was one of the most frustrating things for me to deal with as a vet tech. Lots of owners (usually younger owners, college age or so) would bring in their beloved pet who was hit by a car, ingested some poison or sock/stick, came down with a serious illness, and couldn't afford the $500+ in treatments necessary, so had to opt for the $100 option instead: euthansia. How unfair to the animal If you do get a dog, please also consider having an emergency fund for Fido as well.