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My First Dog

A College Student's Perspective

By Emily GalesPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Clementine, 5 months, October 21st 2018.

My first dog.

I was told that I wasn't ready, that being in college I wouldn't have time to take care of both her and myself.

In a way, they were right.

But, I don't regret my decision to get her, my Clementine. My dream dog-- a Corgi/Australian Shepherd mix.

Having a dog, or any pets for that matter can be very stressful in itself. Put college on top of everything and it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

However, I got lucky.

Working at a dog daycare in my area, I learned many things about dogs-- their triggers, different temperaments, and even their individual barks.

After working there for four months, I knew I wanted a dog of my own. I wanted a best friend, a companion for my life. Yes, I'm young and in college, but I knew it was time.

She is literally the light at the end of the tunnel. After a long, stressful day filled with many classes and work almost every day, I always look forward to seeing her. She makes me smile with her little puppy grunts and playful attitude.

She chases her tail because it's longer than she is, and I love watching her experience new things. Whenever I'm feeling down or unsure of myself, she comes running in from wherever she may be and quite literally collapses on my lap, making me laugh despite my emotional struggles.

I'm not telling you, reader, to go out a get a dog right after reading this. They're a lot of work. They require a lot of time and training. I can't tell you how many times I've almost lost my patience with her-- chewing through cords that weren't plugged in, chewing on my shoelaces, or even biting our wall wood trim until it was down to next to nothing!

She is beautiful. She's spoiled as can be and loved by everyone who meets her. But most importantly, to me personally, is that she's healthy. Her coat is naturally shiny and soft.

Working almost 30 hours a week along with college part-time doesn't leave much time to enjoy myself or hang out with friends. I'm constantly studying and working, but Clementine isn't left out. She is right there by my side at work.

I used to hate talking to people, it's always made me nervous. But Clementine loves meeting new people. Thus, I meet strangers outside of my apartment all of the time. She will run up to anyone looking to be pet and loves being told how cute she is.

She has made my life so much better, and I will always keep the lesson I learned from getting her close to my heart:

Sometimes, in life, you have to "go out on a whim" to get what you want. Keep what others have said in mind, but make the decision on your own. I don't regret getting Clementine, because she is the sweetest puppy and loves meeting new people.

So please, if you're on the fence about getting a dog at any point in your life, think about the joys that come with a small (or big) companion. I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and getting Clementine is by far one of the best decisions I've ever made in the 20 years of my life.

Some advice from a fellow animal lover:

1) Please adopt. The best dogs and cats can be adopted from a shelter with a little bit of work. They have so much love to give and all they want to is make you proud.

2) Start training early. Dogs develop most in the first year of their lives, and it's easy to get them excited to learn. I discovered using a favorite toy or treat really hyped Clementine to learn tricks.

3) Be patient. The best results take time, though I understand that it can be very frustrating over time. Just stick with it, and you'll be proud of the results!

My biggest piece of advice: do research. Too many dogs are given away, taken to the pound, or abandoned because people don't do research on particular breeds or on things that a dog requires to live a great life.

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About the Creator

Emily Gales

Hi! My name is Emily and I'm a creative writer with lots of stories to share!

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