Dogs at College: How Furry Friends are Changing the College Scene

The average college student leads a very busy life. There are deadlines, homework assignments, and during finals week, a lot of flash cards and study notes to memorize. What if there was a healthy way for college students to unwind and let go of some of the stress that comes along with post high school graduated life? Luckily, there is. It’s called puppy therapy and it’s sweeping through college campuses all over the country.

When you think of dogs at college, you may not think that our canine companions could be utilized for student therapy, but they can. The concept of “pet therapy” is nothing new. For years, dogs have been used at places like rehabilitation centers, prisons, and nursing homes to help patients and prisoners feel better, learn about responsibility, and clear their minds. The same thinking is applied when students encounter dogs at college.

In universities spanning from the west coast to the east coast, dogs are being enlisted during finals week to allow students a fun release from their collegiate lives. When it comes down to it, dogs provide a safe place for stressed out students to vent about their concerns and worries about any upcoming exams. When it comes to dogs at college, therapy pups are everywhere, from Harvard to Yale. In fact, at Harvard’s Medical School, Cooper the shih tzu has daily office hours where he provides therapy to both students and faculty. The popular pooch is the talk of the campus, as lots of undergraduates take the shuttle across the river one or two times a week just to pay him a visit in the library.

Dog therapy is most often free, especially to students. Science taught us that forming relationships with animals can greatly decrease cortisol levels, which is the hormone linked to stress. On top of that, it can release endorphins, which causes a person to feel happiness. Certified therapy dogs are turning up on college campuses all over the country and they’re making a big difference in the lives of overwhelmed students.

Some colleges even allow students to bring their pets as live-in roommates in their dorms during the school year. This way, students not only get a little comfort from home but they also have a stress reliever living right alongside them in their dorm rooms. If you’re interested in having dogs at college, some universities even allow them to be rented. Campuses like Indiana University have begun a program called “Rent-a-Puppy,” which lets students book a slot of time with a dog from a local animal shelter for an entire day. This way, they can relieve stress and take a load off, and if they fall in love, they can even adopt their new furry friends.

Companies like ProLabs Pets want pet owners to be as involved as they’d like in the healthcare and overall wellbeing of their pets, and that includes pets that are enlisted on college campuses to help overworked, stressed out students. These pets deserve a high level of care and a well-balanced meal plan and lifestyle.