Pets in law school Forum

[WVUCelticFan]

Haven't seen a tread on this, so what are people's thoughts on having a pet during law school?

Anyone have one?

Anyone have a problem with one?

Anyone think it is an exceptionally good or bad idea?

I've thought about getting a dog if I wind up at a non-urban campus and was wondering about other people's experiences or recommendations on a breed. I like to jog, but wouldn't want a breed that would suffer if I missed a couple days of high activity levels.

[gov]

I think it will depend how busy you are and how often you will be home. If you get a puppy, it will be hell house-breaking it during classes. And you if you aren't sure how long you'll be in the lib. for, I would recommend seeing how your schedule works... and if it would be fair for the dog.

[ran12]

Yea is terms of dogs it's prob not the best idea. Even older dogs will be tough to have. They're prob gonna wanna play with you a lot and since you're out of the house a lot, it would really be bad for the dog too. The only way that's plausible to have a dog is if you're living with someone else who's not in school and has time to look after it.

[dextermorgan]

I have reptiles, they take care of themselves and are relaxing. The best law school pet honestly.

[gdane]

Youre not going to be busy 24 hours a day. Geez.

Also:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=64391

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&start=50

My advice is to be sure that you will be able to take care of it. You need to set aside time to play with it and walk it every day.

[lawandi]

Youre not going to be busy 24 hours a day. Geez.

Also:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=64391

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&start=50

My advice is to be sure that you will be able to take care of it. You need to set aside time to play with it and walk it every day.

Yes, but are you going to be able to drive home at lunch to take it outside to use the restroom? Dogs can't be left alone for more than a few hours. You'd have to have a roomie that has no life/a flexible life OR hire someone to stop by and take care of it during the day.

I recommend foster-caring a dog for a local shelter. That way, you can give it a try, but when you're ready to give it back you can.

[omg]

My husband and I adopted a 2-year old rescue who was already housebroken, trained, and is extremely calm, and we couldn't be happier. If you can find an adult dog who fits that description, I personally would recommend it. Ours is a Tibetan Spaniel, and he keeps me sane and forces me to get out of the house and out of my own mind during long study stretches.

Plus he's adorable!! (IMO, at least )

Edit: Boo, I don't know how to put in an image, haha.

[NoleinNY]

Doesn't seem like a terrible idea if a) you have someone who can care for it (roommate with different schedule, spouse, etc.) or b) you live next to the school and can come home during breaks in class. I love dogs... which is why I don't have one in LS.

[amorfati]

fwiw, i'm 0L, but I have a 2-1/2 year old japanese chin who's super chill - she only goes out about 2-3 times a day. she's a blast to play with when i'm around (totally crazy - spins in circles and runs figure eights!), but otherwise most of the time she's perfectly content to be alone/sleep. also, they never bark, which is nice.

having a puppy, though, would be much trickier - but only for the first few months or so, after that it gets a lot easier (assuming you get a breed that's fairly easy to train).

in any case, I don't know what kind of dog you're looking for, but if you're looking for a reasonably priced, small-ish, quiet, good apartment dog, I highly recommend japanese chins! but whatever you get, if you're going to do it, then I would do it now (if you're starting 1L in the fall) - that way you can get most of the joys of potty training out of the way before school starts.

edit: just remembered my avatar is a pic of my dog. well, that's what they look like!

[Icculus]

If I can take care of a Golden Retriever while working a full time job that is 45 minutes from my house, I am sure it is possible to take care of a pet while in school. There have been days when I have left her alone for 9-10 hours, and she has been fine. This does not mean a dog isn't work and responsibility, but it is possible to have a pet and work a full day of work or school so long as the dog is trained well. I would not recommend trying to train a puppy during 1L as that is a ton of work and younger dogs need way more attention and activity.

Edit: Just saw omg's post and couldn't agree more, if possible it would be best to adopt an adult rescue as they tend to be housebroken and often have great personalities. Most of my friends have shelter pets, and if anything happens to my golden I would probably only consider a rescue.

[omg]

fwiw, i'm 0L, but I have a 2-1/2 year old japanese chin who's super chill - she only goes out about 2-3 times a day. she's a blast to play with when i'm around (totally crazy - spins in circles and runs figure eights!), but otherwise most of the time she's perfectly content to be alone/sleep. also, they never bark, which is nice.

having a puppy, though, would be much trickier - but only for the first few months or so, after that it gets a lot easier (assuming you get a breed that's fairly easy to train).

in any case, I don't know what kind of dog you're looking for, but if you're looking for a reasonably priced, small-ish, quiet, good apartment dog, I highly recommend japanese chins! but whatever you get, if you're going to do it, then I would do it now (if you're starting 1L in the fall) - that way you can get most of the joys of potty training out of the way before school starts.

edit: just remembered my avatar is a pic of my dog. well, that's what they look like!

amorfati is definitely right--Japanese chins are great apartment dogs. So are Tibetan Spaniels and Pekingese, though Tibbies get separation anxiety. The 3 breeds are related. They probably won't jog very far with you, haha, and they do shed some, but they're super chill!

[amorfati]

Actually, I used to take mine on "hikes" with me when I was living in Cali! We never did anything very steep, but we did do 5 mile once!

(edit: for the record, she loved it!)

[omg]

Actually, I used to take mine on "hikes" with me when I was living in Cali! We never did anything very steep, but we did do 5 mile once!

(edit: for the record, she loved it!)

Aww, I want a Japanese chin to take on a hike!!

[akili]

I'll be bring my 1.5 year old goldendoodle with me to law school. No lie, I'm nervous about it. But I love him more than just about anything and he is such a good/fun/calming influence for me so I think it's worth it.

If you can afford it, doggie daycare is a lifesaver. I'm planning on sending him to daycare 2-3 times a week. I definitely would not get a puppy though. Puppies ARE exhausting. I got Indy when he was 4 months old and I was tired all the time. I didn't have a job and it still took up almost all of my time.

[dan e g baby]

Haven't seen a tread on this, so what are people's thoughts on having a pet during law school?

Anyone have one?

Anyone have a problem with one?

Anyone think it is an exceptionally good or bad idea?

I've thought about getting a dog if I wind up at a non-urban campus and was wondering about other people's experiences or recommendations on a breed. I like to jog, but wouldn't want a breed that would suffer if I missed a couple days of high activity levels.

Hmmm... well I think its a great idea. Id go with a poodle, they are exceptionally smart. Although, maybe a border collie would be a better choice, its proven that they are more analytical thinkers and would probably fair better in adherence to the socratic method.

[oscodasa]

FWIW, W&L let's you take your dog into the law building. HUGE plus IMO. Also, Havana Silk Dogs are a wonderful apartment breed; a bit more expensive but well worth it, especially if you have allergies or just hate shedding.

If you have someone to help out with the dog, I would highly recommend going for it. My quality of life has skyrocketed since I got my dog.

[Smitten]

I'll be taking my black lab too. I couldn't go anywhere without her! She's still young and has energy, but my husband and I do ok taking care of her with a full-time jobs. I just make sure to exercise her a lot. And I spend as much time as possible at home in the evenings and on the weekends.

I would caution that getting a dog is a LOT of commitment though. It can easily take up a ton of your time. It also makes you less mobile depending on your situation. What if you want to do a semester abroad? Summer internship in NY? From the sounds of this thread a lot of people are managing just fine, but these are things I think about sometimes.

[vamedic03]

I have several dogs... In short, I like having dogs and my wife and I haven't had any issues with our dogs. FWIW, I highly recommend getting a retired greyhound - they come crate trained, their bread for health, speed, and personality (easy going, friendly dogs are easier for the handlers to work with at race tracks). Most importantly, greyhounds love to sleep - my greyhound sleeps about 22-23.5 hours per day (makes for a perfect apartment/small house dog).

[Patriot1208]

Youre not going to be busy 24 hours a day. Geez.

Also:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=64391

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&start=50

My advice is to be sure that you will be able to take care of it. You need to set aside time to play with it and walk it every day.

Yes, but are you going to be able to drive home at lunch to take it outside to use the restroom? Dogs can't be left alone for more than a few hours. You'd have to have a roomie that has no life/a flexible life OR hire someone to stop by and take care of it during the day.

I recommend foster-caring a dog for a local shelter. That way, you can give it a try, but when you're ready to give it back you can.

This is wrong, my dog regularly stays home while i'm gone for a full day of work. 8-9 hours and he has no problem. He gets ample water, toys, and bones and he amuses himself. I try to make it home at lunch but if I don't it's no big deal. And, if i'm gone for 8-10 hours I just make sure to allow him a good run and play when I get home. It's not a problem. I just wouldn't get a puppy while in law school, but if you already have a dog it isn't going to be a problem.

[Marionberry]

I think everyone is spot on, but I would add this. Unless you have someone else who can help take care of the dog when youre busy, why not wait a year? While it's certainly possible, as time consuming and important as your 1L year is why not just wait? It will be considerably easier for you, and probably much more conducive to you establishing a relationship with your new dog, rather than getting one and 2 months later leaving it by itself most of the time.

Also, if you choose to go ahead and get one now, don't get a puppy. Puppies are very time consuming, and require more attention than you will probably be able to give for that first year.

[czelede]

Youre not going to be busy 24 hours a day. Geez.

Also:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =5&t=64391

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&start=50

My advice is to be sure that you will be able to take care of it. You need to set aside time to play with it and walk it every day.

Yes, but are you going to be able to drive home at lunch to take it outside to use the restroom? Dogs can't be left alone for more than a few hours. You'd have to have a roomie that has no life/a flexible life OR hire someone to stop by and take care of it during the day.

I recommend foster-caring a dog for a local shelter. That way, you can give it a try, but when you're ready to give it back you can.

This is wrong, my dog regularly stays home while i'm gone for a full day of work. 8-9 hours and he has no problem. He gets ample water, toys, and bones and he amuses himself. I try to make it home at lunch but if I don't it's no big deal. And, if i'm gone for 8-10 hours I just make sure to allow him a good run and play when I get home. It's not a problem. I just wouldn't get a puppy while in law school, but if you already have a dog it isn't going to be a problem.

This makes me feel immensely better.

OP, someone on TLS made a post once about recognizing the things you have to sacrifice to care for a dog before you get one (I think it was Marionberry).

I definitely second everything that has been said about making sure you have the necessary time to dedicate to a dog. I work full time now, and I took two months off before I started work to raise my puppy - I could not have possibly done this in law school. Now that my dog is grown and can be by herself happily for 8-10 hours during the workday, I set aside at least 45 minutes/3 miles a day in the evening to walk her in order keep her from going stir crazy during the day. These 3 miles have to happen regardless of the weather, how I feel, if I'm tired, or whether or not I have friends that are hanging out or going out or whatever. Some breeds need more exercise than others, which is definitely something to look into, but most breeds (of non senior dogs) are going to need at least a moderate walk every day.

Also, note that finding an apartment will be so much more difficult with a dog.

[Marionberry]

OP, someone on TLS made a post once about recognizing the things you have to sacrifice to care for a dog before you get one (I think it was Marionberry).

here it is, I chose not to edit out the pic It's rare that I post something that is at all worth reading, but dog ownership is something I take pretty seriously, at times probably too much so.

Is owning a dog more important to you than going out? More important than getting laid (I know you're in a relationship right now, but if you werent)? More important than whatever else you like to do with your disposable income? Worth going home in the middle of the day to feed/takeout/whatever?

You will still be able to do all of these things, but when any of them conflict with your dog's needs, you need to be willing to choose the dog every time. As much fun and happiness as dogs provide, they shouldn't be meant solely to satisfy us. We have to be willing to give as much to the dog (possibly more) than they give to us, in terms of sacrifice, attention and commitment.

Also, as other people have mentioned, please try to find a dog from a shelter or rescue group. There are thousands of dogs out there that are going to be euthanized because someone didn't know what they were getting into when they got a dog, found it to be too much work, and then just got rid of them. I understand the desire to get a cool, unique breed like the one you're looking at. Unfortunately, you may have a hard time finding one to rescue, and you could probably find a dog who you will love just as much, and save their life by adopting them. The breeder's dogs are going to find homes, and for no small fee either, I imagine. Also, keep in mind that purebred dogs are much more likely to have health problems.

Regarding what someone else said about a shelter not informing them of a dog's aggression problem or something like that, this can be avoided by adopting from a reputable rescue org, who will have had the dog in a foster home for a while and can tell you what the dog is like.

I love my dog more than anything, and he's a great companion. Recently, he blew out his knee playing in the yard. So now, I have , to take him on several physical therapy walks a day (slow, controlled walks which can be difficult for a big, high energy dog) give him glucosamine and chondroitin and fish oil capsules three times a day, and he may end up needing several thousand dollars in surgery. Would you be willing to do stuff like this?

I'm in no way discouraging you from getting a dog, just makes sure that it's the right thing for you AND the dog. And please try and find a rescue dog.

Here is my guy, Rudy. aka Rude Boy, aka Rudith. I got him from the local boxer rescue when he was about a year old (this is a great age to adopt at, because they're past the worst of the destructive puppy phase, but they're still very young). This photo was taken as I typed this, he's sleeping next to the couch.

--ImageRemoved-- (LinkRemoved)

[OGR3]

I own a condo, and it was an incredible pain in the ass to find a building that allowed pets. That said, after looking at around 30 units, my fiancee and I found a perfect building that allowed all sorts of animals. We moved in with just a cat and got a dog about halfway through the semester. It's great and certainly doable to have pets, but you have to know how much attention you'll have to devote to them. When your dog gets into something he's not supposed to and then has diarrhea for two days, he doesn't particularly care that you've got a paper due on Monday, he'll shit on the floor regardless...

[dudders]

I've got a cat, that's no problem. She warms my little heart, actually, and keeps me from turning to stone like everyone else in law school.

Dogs, it depends on the dog, your living situation, school location etc. It's mostly common sense.
- if your dog is well-behaved, housebroken and accustomed to being left 8-10 hrs for a work/school day and/or has yard access during the day, and isn't so high energy that your neglect during finals will throw them off their rocker, things will probably work out
- if you're getting a new dog, your dog NEEDS to be let out during the day (and you don't have spouse/kids/roommates/doggie day care to rely on), is completely spastic, or you're living in urban apartmentdom, things probably won't work out

in re: can you get home during the day to let your dog out?
probably fine for 1L, when all you do is school, but keep in mind that internships and extracurriculars will pile up later and make this less feasible, and summer jobs and post-law school jobs probably won't give you this kind of flexibility either.

[akili]

I own a condo, and it was an incredible pain in the ass to find a building that allowed pets. That said, after looking at around 30 units, my fiancee and I found a perfect building that allowed all sorts of animals. We moved in with just a cat and got a dog about halfway through the semester. It's great and certainly doable to have pets, but you have to know how much attention you'll have to devote to them. When your dog gets into something he's not supposed to and then has diarrhea for two days, he doesn't particularly care that you've got a paper due on Monday, he'll shit on the floor regardless...

This is totally true, and Marionberry's post is exactly right. Dogs are wonderful and I love mine to bits but he has a sensitive stomach. I don't like diarrhea, but I clean it up, clean him up, and take him to the vet if necessary. You have to take them out when it's cold and rainy and they don't understand your urgency. He likes to roll in rancid water and play in mud. I have to brush him every couple days so he doesn't get matted. My dog is pretty high energy but we get by with 2 x 20 minute walks most days and a trip to the dog park 3-4 times a week so he can really run.

He can be expensive, annoying, and time-consuming. He's also a great cuddler, always happy to see me, wicked smart, I love him, and when I adopted him I signed up for the long haul.