Having a dog in law school Forum

[Paste_Me]

I have had a dog for the last two years of my undergrad. There are many days I'm gone from 8-5 and I have a small (5 lb) chihuahua. While I hate leaving her for long periods of time she does use wee-wee pads while I'm away. I rescued her so it took me a summer to have her get used to the new home. I always try to run home around lunch time to take her out/play for an hour. Fortunately, her favorite thing to do is sleep on the couch. I always find her sleeping when I come home. She's never ruined anything in my apartment and she doesn't really bark. She's pretty independent, which makes taking care of hear really easy.

All in all, she's made me so much happier in UG and I couldn't imagine not having her. I have thought of taking her to class before but I never have. I don't know if I would want to see/hear the prof's reaction. I don't want to be the Elle Woods of my law school. Anyway, if you have good time management and the dog isn't hyper (no jack russel terriers or yorkies) I think you'll be fine.

You are lucky you got a well mannered lazy dog, but not all dogs are like that. A friend of mine has a dog (don't know what kind) that sleeps as soon as he leaves the house.

[her034]

What about a small (aka low maintence) dog? I'm a 0L who is adopting a little dog in a few weeks. I will be able to spend the summer training/adjusting him, and my fiance will be able to go home at lunch for a while...although he can't do this long term. Is this a bad idea? I've heard little dogs can use "wee wee pads" if they are home alone from 9-4ish...but is this a bad idea? Would he be unhappy? The way our schedules will overlap he'll only be alone 9-4. Also, I would totally get a cat, but my fiance is allergic

Dogs can be trained to use the pads, but it's really difficult to both do the pads and housetraining at the same time. I wouldn't recommend getting a puppy for this reason, and because puppies need to be taken out really often, don't sleep through the night, and have a lot of other annoying habits like chewing that older dogs often don't have.

[Tave]

My parents and I got a St Bernard puppy a few months ago. I almost want to take him for part of the school year, and give him back to my parents for the other part. Think anyone'll mind if I bring him to class?

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[Teddy Roosevelt]

Please don't get a dog in law school. You will not have enough time for it and it will most likely be in a cage all day and deprived of exercise. Once you get sick of being woken up at 3-6am during the first 4-6 months of potty training you will most likely give him/her up to the local humane society. Please don't get a dog in a law school.

[PubIntLawyer]

Please don't get a dog in law school. You will not have enough time for it and it will most likely be in a cage all day and deprived of exercise. Once you get sick of being woken up at 3-6am during the first 4-6 months of potty training you will most likely give him/her up to the local humane society. Please don't get a dog in a law school.

Hmmm...this is something I'm definitely worried about as I don't want to adopt a dog only for it to be miserable Do you stand by this statement even if there is a signficant other (also busy) helping in the care and keeping of the dog?

[nativedelta]

I have no problem spending enough time with my dog--except before big papers are due and at exam time. Fortunately my husband picks up the slack during those times. If you had family nearby or a roommate who could help you out, great. Otherwise, know that your dog is going to be very sad and very neglected for 3-4 weeks a semester if you're lucky.

I also have a very small, very low-maintenance toy poodle/cocker spaniel mix, so he's pretty self sufficient and really likes cuddling up against me while I read. So I don't think law school has upset him too much.

A high maintenance dog would be a problem.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

If you've never raised a dog completely by yourself, law school is NOT the time to try it. I knew 4 different people in undergrad who gave their dogs up to the humane society because they had no idea how much work it was. Everyone thinks getting a dog will be all fun and games, but unless you have done it before law school is not the time to learn to train an animal. For the dog's sake, don't get a dog in law school.

[iliketothinkiamcool]

A St.Bernard in law school? Right....

While I like dogs, I think a cat would be a persons better option if they MUST have a pet in law school. Cats require less work, you can leave them a good amount of food and they can pretty much fend for themselves. Cats do not have to be taken outside four or five times a day like a dog.

My g/f has a dog and she has to take him out at 6:30 am, comes home on her lunch at 12pm, has to take him out at 5pm when she gets off work then again at about 10-11 pm before bed. So yeah, that is a lot of work for a law student IMO...

[nativedelta]

I've had small dogs all my life. The smaller the dog, the harder housebreaking it will be. They just have a hard time understanding that every room is off limits for relieving themselves. They're just so tiny, so they think each new space has new different rules. It's like housebreaking as many dogs as you have rooms in the house. Puppy=bad idea as a 1L. Also, from what I hear, if you're on a law review/law journal as a 2L, puppy=bad idea then too.

[Tave]

A St.Bernard in law school? Right....

I said, "I almost want to take him."

I'm not a (complete) moron.

[Pearalegal]

This.

[cantaboot]

what if the dog used to be very well behaved but jumps at a certain prof???

[Grad_Student]

If you are going to get a dog, get one now so you can break it. Mine is a little over a year and she is just now able to be left alone with pissing on things. I support the idea of having a buddy throughout law school.

[iliketothinkiamcool]

A St.Bernard in law school? Right....

I said, "I almost want to take him."

I'm not a (complete) moron.

A St.Bernard in law school would be sweet...I'd live in a house where there was one, the upkeep would just be too much...

[PubIntLawyer]

This.

Yes please.

[linquest]

Bad idea. The few people I've known to keep a dog through law school already had theirs before LS and lived with other people willing to help out. Keeping a dog in a studio might get icky (what if you get home late, and it has an accident near your fridge or on your bed? ) , and they may go nuts in so small a space. I always feel a little sorry for dogs kept in NYC, but then again, I think every dog deserves a backyard.

[Tave]

I always feel a little sorry for dogs kept in NYC,

That might be the most pertinent post to date, although maybe it doesn't apply to super small dogs.

[joebruin999]

How about getting a German Shepherd (like me) and getting a fake "dog in training" vest? That way you won't feel bad if it behaves badly, the vest is pretty much the only excuse you need. A little immoral, yes. Im just sayin...

[Paste_Me]

This.

OMG this would even melt the cold hearts of all evil doers

[youpiiz]

.

[scarletmuse]

I agree that you need to take the commitment very seriously and be sure you know what you're getting into, but I think some people are taking this a little far. I'm single and have had my 2 large, energetic dogs all through law school (and through a busy working life before that, and through grad school before that . . . ). There's no question: having a pet entails additional expense and sacrifice, but there are huge benefits as well. It just depends on your priorities and your level of maturity.

Also, I have been a dog owner in NYC and DC. To be honest, city dogs are often better cared for than suburban dogs with big backyards. They're pack animals – it's not enough to just leave them to their own devices in a yard for hours. You need to actively exercise them and make sure that they're adequately socialized.

[Bosque]

How about getting a German Shepherd (like me) and getting a fake "dog in training" vest? That way you won't feel bad if it behaves badly, the vest is pretty much the only excuse you need. A little immoral, yes. Im just sayin...

You might want to get a real dog training vest, and make sure it is from one of the programs that actually raises German Shepherds. Or else don't run into someone who has actually done it.

We can always tell.

[paratactical]

.

[pomona]

Hey I'm just about to start at Cardozo for May. I'm moving from LA to NYC and I will most likely live on my own in a studio. I've always wanted a dog, and I was thinking since I'll be by myself in NYC, why not get a dog. So I have a question for you dog owners, would it be a good idea to get a dog in my 1L, or law school in general? would it pose too much of a burden? and what about having a dog in the city?

Thanks in advance!

Because in NYC you generally have to pay significantly more for a shittier place to live somewhere that will let you have a dog.

If you manage to find a nice place for a reasonable price that will let you have one, they will often require extra deposits for pets.

Very good point.

I also think getting a puppy is somewhat akin to having a small child. They're an enormous responsibility, one you probably won't want to have during 1L. A grown dog might be okay if they're already house trained, but you'll still need to make arrangements for their care if you go out of town during winter and spring breaks, and will have to factor in time to take them on walks each day if you don't have a backyard (which in all likelihood you won't in NY).

My vote would be to get a cat (if your open to getting a cat); they can generally be left alone for several days, don't need to be walked, and don't need as much space to live/run around (important in NY where every square foot counts).

But at any rate, if you do get a pet in NYC, I've had great experience at the ASPCA on the UES and would recommend going there. The animals are well taken care of, it's a clean facility, and they're up front with you about any health or behavioral issues the animals may have.

[dante500]

It'll be quite a bit of a burden ...
There is a 3L at my school who goes everywhere with her dog, even attends classes with the dog ... I think otherwise she would not find enough time to walk the dog.

be prepared to bring your dog to school ...

I would be SOOOO pissed if I showed up to class and somebody sat next to me with a dog. I'm not the type to complain or cause a ruckus unnecessarily, but I'd blow a f@#king gasket. Anybody else think showing up to class with an animal is ridiculous?