Training a Puppy While in College

Training a puppy in any stage of your life is not going to be easy. Puppies need someone to care for them throughout the day. It is difficult to train a puppy if you are away at school most of the time. It is easier to train a puppy when people commute to college from home because their families can help them. However, those who live in dorms should not get a puppy at all because there is usually not enough space for the people living there. Those who have their own apartments can probably have an easier time training their puppy. If you have roommates, see if they are able to assist you in training your puppy. Should you want to train your puppy yourself, you must be consistent about doing so. It is important to housebreak your dog by training her to stay in a crate. This way, she will not be able to wonder around and make a mess while you are not home. Put the crate in the living room so that you can keep an eye on the puppy while you are home. At night, put the crate in your room so your pup won't feel alone. The purpose of the crate is to teach your dog not to do her "business" where she eats and sleeps. Make sure the crate is big enough for your puppy to move around in. She should not feel like she is trapped in a cage or in jail. Also, try to come home during your breaks and let your puppy out of her crate for a while. She will begin to hate her crate if she has to be stuck there all day. This is especially important for potty training her as well. If you are going to be gone all day, your puppy will probably have lots of accidents. It's important that you or at least a roommate or friend take your dog out on little walks.