They are half your size, can't talk back and always love you no matter what you do. The first family member you want to see on breaks is the one that is bounding to you on all fours when you get home, and the hardest goodbye is looking into those big brown eyes and knowing they will wait by the door and watch you leave.             

We all love our dogs, but sometimes it takes the absence of them from our lives at college for us to realize just how important they are to us.  

1. You FaceTime your dog. You call your parents just so they can hold the phone up for your furry companion, who sadly lacks opposable thumbs, while you sit on the other side, aimlessly petting your screen and saying hello in various vocal octaves.  

2. Your dog is the background on your phone. They may not be with you physically, but every time you unlock your phone you are greeted by your favorite face. 

3. Your dog is the star of the majority of your pictures. Whether it may be on your camera roll, laptop, social media or simply plastered across your wall, you are always armed and ready to show your friends just how awesome your dog is.  

4. You visit home because your dog can’t visit you. You don’t care about the parties going on that weekend, because you already have extreme FOMO on all the cuddles, walks and Frisbee tosses with your pawed pal.     

5. You gravitate towards other dogs. No matter where you are, be it a fraternity house or street corner, you have to spend at least 30 minutes with the four legged creature that makes up for the loss of interaction with your own.  

6. Your dog is the only thing to make you feel better. Whether you get the college blues, are heartbroken, suffer from exam stress, or just simply just did not get enough sleep the night before, all you want is to get in bed and cry to your dog.    

7. You freak out when you see dogs on TV. You are sitting with your friends, and all of a sudden an Iams commercial pops up and you subconsciously stick out your bottom lip and miss your furry friend. The worst is when the Humane Society commercials come on and you start to lose it because you are miles away, neglecting your own puppy. 

 
8. You can’t see yourself dating anyone. Nobody is as good as your dog.