Being a college freshman is a lot of things. It’s a point in life that many refer to as a “milestone.” It’s a tidal wave of new experiences, and an earthquake of change. We leave the homes that raised us, and the parents that nurtured us. We leave our friends and our siblings, and we leave our dogs.

My dog is named Doris and she’s a spunky mutt of a dog that my family adopted when I was thirteen. For six years Doris has been so many things. She’s been a friend, a brat, an uncanny noise maker, but most importantly, she's been my dog. A dog isn't just a man’s best friend. She’s a girl’s best friend and a young woman’s too.

Here are four things I’ve realized since I moved away from Doris.

1. I lost the shoulder to cry on that was always there

An unknown author once said, “one reason a dog can be such a comfort when you’re feeling blue is that he/she doesn’t try to find out why.”

Dogs are great listeners, and Doris is no exception. I know that whatever I am feeling will be valid with Doris. She won’t reject me or treat me differently because I am crying, or even laughing.

Her physical presence next to me and her soft body under my fingers makes me feel like I am not alone in my emotions. Living without a dog has left me without a connection to a creature that’s not human.

2. I don’t have an automatic smile inducer anymore.

Maybe I’m biased, but you can’t look at Doris and not smile. From the moment I saw her to every other moment that I look at her, my whole body smiles. It’s not just her perfect features that warm my soul but also the personality that exudes from her tiny body.

Doris is sassy, spunky, and unique. At home when I need a smile or a laugh I can find Doris roaming the yard or lounging in the sunny spot. Since moving out I’ve missed the one thing that can make me happy no matter what

3. What does she think?

I often wonder what Doris is thinking, but especially what she things about me leaving her. Does she grasp that I will always come back? Does she miss me? I don’t know how much dogs really think about things other than food, but in a romanticizing fashion, I like to believe that they are capable of more complex thoughts and emotions.

4. She won’t forget me.

After fall break, winter break and a thousand Skype calls where Doris can hear my voice, I am confident that she won’t forget me. When I came home for the first time since I had moved to college it seemed that Doris and I picked up right where we left off. Leaving my dog has proven to me the loyalty they possess and their ability to love unconditionally.