University life can be a very exciting time for most students. Average college students will likely go through a lot of ups and downs. Emotional support animals are excellent companions for going through these phases.
However, when it comes to picking pets for college students, there are several elements that you have to take into consideration. So, while all dog breeds may be great, it’s vital that you find and specifically choose the best dogs for college students.
Here’s all you need to know to pick the perfect companion for students spending time in the university today!
How to Find the Best Dogs for College Students: A Complete Guide
You can’t go wrong with furry friends, however, what makes a dog breed ideal or not is whether it can accommodate and complement the college lifestyle. What this means is that the best dogs for college students have to show specific traits.
With this in mind, we’ve carried out an extensive pre-survey and post-survey of the best breeds for busy students. This has helped us identify the ideal canine companion for any type of college lifestyle!
Each dog breed for college students we’ll be pointing out will make a loyal friend and perfect companion because they don’t demand much in return for their affection.
Without further ado, here they are!
1. Dachshunds
This furry companion is cute, amazingly cuddly, and completely devoted to its owner. They also make an ideal companion where space and other housing situations are a factor due to their small size.
However, just because this lovely breed of dog is on the smaller side doesn’t mean that they lack personality or have low energy levels!
They make a truly excellent choice for college students because they have great social skills and can raise mood levels simply by just being in the room.
Top Reasons to Get a Dachshund for College Students
Apart from coming highly recommended by many animal therapy organizations, there are several reasons to get a sausage dog. Some of these include:
- They’re small and cute so you can carry them around with you.
- They don’t require as much outdoor physical activity.
- Their regular grooming needs are easy to meet.
- They offer very little distraction from studies when present.
- They are very smart and, with some patience, can be trained even by first-time owners.
2. English Bulldogs
This mastiff-type dog will have you falling in love with canines if you aren’t already! They stand out as one of the best breeds for college students because they simply ooze love, care, and positive emotions at every glance.
With their calm demeanor and constant attention, this gentle breed of dog is just perfect for raising the mood levels of college students.
Top Reasons to Get an English Bulldog for College Students
You can’t go wrong with this canine companion. But if you’re still wondering why getting an English bulldog is worth considering, here are some things to keep in mind:
- They shower their owners with love and attention but they don’t have an overly clingy nature.
- They don’t need excessive outdoor activity.
- They’re fine living indoors with housing restrictions.
- English bulldogs make excellent watchdogs.
- They’re very strong and hearty companion animals.
3. Golden Retrievers
Speeding time with our golden retriever can significantly improve your life satisfaction. More and more Americans are getting this medium-sized dog breed every year.
Their cheerful and energetic disposition brings joy and warmth to their human companions. Be it a male or female golden retriever, the presence of these furry beauties in your life will make your daily routine less stressful and help drop those cortisol levels and control blood pressure levels.
Top Reasons to Get a Golden Retriever for College Students
Aside from the fact that you don’t need to go overboard when getting regular grooming supplies for a male or female golden retriever, other features that make this dog the right companion for college students are:
- They’re affectionate and friendly.
- They don’t require much effort to care for.
- They’re highly intelligent.
- They don’t bark as often as other dog breeds so they offer no distraction from studies.
- They can adapt more readily to university life and student lifestyle.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Anyone who knows a little about dogs will likely be wondering why a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is on this list. True, these guys have very high energy levels and enjoy physical activity a lot – two things that a busy college student normally wouldn’t be able to cope with.
However, these potential downsides are offset by the fact that these dogs tire out very quickly. So, even busy students will be able to manage well just by getting the dog a little outdoor activity time.
And, trust us, they’re worth the effort too.
As a quite fluffy dog breed, you can curl up with these adorable creatures at night and just forget about the worries of university life for a little while.
Top Reasons to Get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for College Students
These canine friends can make your college life satisfaction even better because:
- They’re usually very well-behaved.
- They’re a constant bundle of joy and fun.
- You don’t have to change your college lifestyle to meet their needs.
- They’re one of the most loving breeds of dogs out there.
- They’re easy to care for.
5. French Bulldogs
College life can be stressful – between managing classes, trying to ensure that your grades don’t drop, and shuffling various extracurricular activities and friends, you want to have a warm and welcoming place to go back to after completing your daily routine.
French bulldogs can give you this and more in abundance.
What makes French bulldogs so amazing is the perfect balance they offer you on all fronts.
For students who value quiet, the generally calm demeanor of these dogs will be much to your liking. Active students who have a buzzing social life won’t have a problem with these dogs either as they can be very outgoing as well.
Top Reasons to Get a French Bulldog for College Students
This breed makes the ideal companion for male and female students because:
- They have a small size that’ll easily fit in most housing situations.
- There’s never a dull moment with French bulldogs.
- These dogs don’t demand much outdoor activity time.
- They are usually very quiet.
- They have a low shedding level.
6. Boston Terriers
Sometimes lovingly referred to as, “The American Gentleman”, the Boston terrier gives you a lot to love. It’s guaranteed to chase those negative emotions away and have positive effects on students due to their naturally warm and affectionate nature.
The cute size and appearance of the Boston terrier only further add to its charm and appeal.
One thing that makes Boston terriers one of the best dogs for college students is the fact that they’re generally well-behaved, even in the absence of their human companions. So, you can go to class and not worry that you’ll come back to chewed-up slippers or rugs.
Top Reasons to Get a Boston Terrier for College Students
At only 17 inches tall (max), a Boston terrier remains one of the best companion animals you can get because:
- You can spend long periods having fun and being entertained by them.
- They’re fiercely loyal.
- They generally have a good temperament and disposition.
- They can be quiet and very well-behaved.
- They make amazing therapy dogs.
7. Lhasa Apsos
Last on our list, but by no means least, are Lhasa Apsos. College students will enjoy having a Lhasa Apso in their world.
The confidence level of a Lhasa Apsos is off the charts yet they remain one of the most humorous canines you’re ever likely to find. They’re remarkably intelligent and independent creatures as well.
The combination of all these traits from these emotional support animals means that your mood over time will be more cheerful than not.
This canine companion will always want to be by your side but will typically shy from strangers till they’re more familiar with them.
Top Reasons to Get a Lhasa Apso for College Students
These dogs are a perfect choice for free and busy students because:
- They don’t demand too much exercise time.
- They have the right balance of playfulness and calmness.
- They’re highly intelligent and will show you a good time.
- They are very confident companion animals.
- They’re fairly easy for first-time owners to manage.
How to Choose the Best Dog for College Life
Picking the ideal dog breeds for college students is a serious endeavor. Previous studies show that it can help to better manage cortisol levels and support normal blood pressure levels. Still, you want to consider several important things before making a call here.
Some of these factors to consider include:
The Size of the Dog
The size of the dog is a highly significant variable to consider for several reasons, not least of which include housing restrictions, housing situations, and the funds for caring for the pet.
Remember that owning a dog of any size will cost you money. However, larger breeds will typically cost you considerably more to care for and maintain than smaller breeds.
However, beyond the financial implications, size also influences the level of physical activity that your dog will need. Larger dogs will require more exercise compared to smaller dogs.
You should take the time to consider this carefully before you become a student pet owner.
Ease of Training the Dog
The average college student can’t afford to keep their grades up, maintain their social life and still deal with an unruly pet at the same time – that’s not an ideal scenario in any event.
This is why you have to take the trainability of your dog into account when making a decision. Keep in mind that this is an even bigger factor for you, compared to others. This is because you mightn’t be able to spend as much time with your dog.
So, be sure to get a dog from a good, trainable breed that you’ll be able to easily manage.
The Sociability of the Dog
Another important variable to note is the sociability of the dog. There are several elements you have to put into consideration in line with this variable too.
For example, your student lifestyle. For very socially active students, it’s better to get dogs with high social skills as this will help your pet better cope with how you live.
However, if you don’t socialize as much, you could just easily get a breed that prefers to stay on its own.
As such, identifying your social tendencies is key here.
The Energy Levels of the Dog
As a pet parent and college student, you want your dog to be active. However, you should know that dogs that exhibit this trait too strongly will likely not be ideal for college life.
For example, if you were to get a dog with high physical activity needs and energy levels – like a dalmatian – to college, chances are that you’ll not be able to properly cater to all of its physical needs.
This can lead to destructive behavior and, in some cases, even a decline in health.
So, it’s always better to get a dog whose energy levels can be readily accommodated by your college schedule.
Conclusion
Picking the best dogs for college students isn’t hard – you just need to know what to look for and be adequately prepared for the responsibility of becoming a pet parent in a college environment.
Don’t forget to confirm whether you can have dogs in your housing as well. The last thing you want is to get a pet and not be able to keep it with you!
Click here to learn more about prepping for college life.
