The four..or sometimes five..years we spend in college are supposed to be the best years of our lives. No one wants anything to hold them back from enjoying the college experience. 

After being forced to live on campus freshman year in those cramped dorms, everyone cannot wait to move out into their own place off campus. Whether it be an apartment, a house on "the grid", or even your fraternity or sorority house, anything is better than a dorm room.   

Once settled into your new place, some are likely to have an urge to go out and adopt a dog because we miss having a pet running around our home. If you haven't had this urge, you are not American. 

What most students don't realize is being a dog owner is a lot of responsibility:

Your daily routine will change immediately and indefinitely.   You will now be waking up 30 minutes earlier than you did before to take your dog out and feed them before you're off to class.   Instead of having lunch in between classes with your friends you'll be going home to let your dog out and show them a little attention before going back to campus.   

Also, going out every night suddenly becomes a struggle. Having to choose to leave your dog at home from 8 PM until 2 AM makes any normal person feel guilty. 

Your dog is now an additional financial investment (or burden) that you didn’t have before. Dogs like to eat a lot and Iams isn’t cheap. Neither are dog toys. So before you hit up Pantana Bobs, you will need to check your bank account to see if that bag of dog food you bought on Tuesday is going to put a damper on your drinks for the night. Additionally, don't forget about the flea and tick medicine you'll have to give your dog every month, occasional visits to the vet, and finding someone to dog sit when you decide to visit another school for the weekend.  

Also, remember dogs have a lifespan longer than that of your 4 year college experience. If you plan on going on a 3 month euro-trip after graduation make sure your family is willing to take on the responsibility.

If you think you can manage the responsibilities of taking on a dog then let's focus on the benefits:

The first positive is that ladies love dogs. Girls will come over and pet your dog when you take it on your daily walk around the neighborhood or to a tailgate. But do you know what ladies love more than dogs? Puppies.   

The second is that dogs are a "man's best friend". If a dog cannot brighten your day then I'm sorry for you.  

The bond you will build with your dog will become one that is impossible to describe to someone who doesn't have one. You'll want to have him or her with you everywhere and suddenly the responsibilities that come along with taking care of them won't be forced. You'll want to take care of your little buddy.