For some context, I’m an 18F starting college in the fall and living in the dorms. I’ll also be completely financially independent, so I’m trying to think through this decision as realistically as possible before committing to anything.I’m currently considering bringing my dog with me who is a service dog prospect, and both my psychiatrist and doctor support me having one. I do think having a working dog could benefit me significantly, but my hesitation is less about wanting one and more about balancing the responsibility, time commitment, finances, and adjustment to college life.
For background, I’m not completely new to this. Over the last several years, I’ve helped raise and train multiple service dogs while balancing full-time school and work, so I understand the level of structure, consistency, and responsibility involved. That said, I also recognize college is a very different environment, especially because I won’t have the same support system or flexibility I’ve had at home.
My current plan, if I move forward, would be to:
move into the dorms by myself first, settle into a routine, then bring him for a short trial period to realistically evaluate whether it’s sustainable for both of us.
If it negatively impacts my academics, finances, mental health, or his wellbeing/training, then I would bring him back home rather than forcing it to work.
I’m mainly looking for advice from people who attended college with a service dog (or chose not to). What were the biggest challenges, unexpected issues, benefits, or things you wish you had considered beforehand?
Edit:
I also wanted to add that I have previously handled/trained service dogs while balancing full-time school and work, including taking them to classes with me and doing public access/training work throughout the day. Ideally, I would also like to have the majority ,of not all, of his training finished before I leave for college.
Another thing I’m really curious about is the social aspect of having a service dog in college. I’ve never really been much of a partier or drinker, but I would still like to join clubs, attend games/events, make friends, etc. For those of you who attended college with a service dog, how did it impact your social life? Did you feel limited at all, or was it manageable once you got into a routine?
I’d also like to know more on the stress aspect. How stressful was balancing everything, especially in situations where you couldn’t bring your dog with you or had to work around housing/scheduling limitations?
Just overall I would appreciate an in depth idea of what the experience is like.