Jump to content

Will I be too busy for my dog?


Recommended Posts

Excellent Boiled Potatoes
  • Law School Admit
Posted (edited)

I'm going to be moving for law school this upcoming September and I'm trying to decide whether or not to take my dog with me or to leave him back at home with my parents. He's a five year old husky and I've basically been his main caregiver since he was a puppy so I see him as my dog even though he's technically the family dog. He's pretty low maintenance for a husky and can easily get by with about 45 minutes to an hour of exercise a day. He doesn't have separation anxiety or any destructive habits, but I worry about not being able to find the time to give him adequate exercise and attention. I don't want him to be alone all the time while I'm in classes, even though he mostly just sleeps throughout the day, but I honestly think it might break my heart to leave him behind.

If you brought your dog with you to law school, can you share your experience with me? Was it difficult to find time to juggle both? I'm really struggling with this.

edit: the law school I'm going to is about a 4 hour drive from the city I live in now, so going back to visit him except during holidays would be difficult

Edited by Excellent Boiled Potatoes
Diplock
  • Lawyer
Posted

This is a pretty dumb question, because it doesn't address your query at all. But if you're a four hour drive away, I get that makes frequent visits difficult but it doesn't make a singular trip too difficult. Wouldn't the best answer be to try it and see how it goes? If it turns out not to work well, it's not like you need to ship your dog back across the country or anything.

  • Like 3
Excellent Boiled Potatoes
  • Law School Admit
Posted
20 minutes ago, Diplock said:

This is a pretty dumb question, because it doesn't address your query at all. But if you're a four hour drive away, I get that makes frequent visits difficult but it doesn't make a singular trip too difficult. Wouldn't the best answer be to try it and see how it goes? If it turns out not to work well, it's not like you need to ship your dog back across the country or anything.

Not a dumb question at all - it's actually makes a lot of sense and is something I might consider doing! Just hoping to get an idea from others of what it might be like though before I uproot his whole life; especially if he's just gonna end up back home with my parents. Might be better to just spare him from any potential anxiety, etc, if it's not realistic to have him with me.

LMP
  • Articling Student
Posted

Classes take up less time than you think. And there are often gaps between them. I don't think you'll have any issues.

Plenty of people had pets at law school and no one seemed to have any issues. 

  • Like 4
multilingualcat
  • Law Student
Posted

I had peers who got a puppy in first or second year of law school and they did fine. I think you should try and see how it goes. If you see that the dog's presence is more of a stressor, it might be a good idea to send him back to your parents. 

  • Like 1
Turtles
  • Law Student
Posted

Anyone who tells you that you won't have time for pets, family, hobbies, etc, are the same students who likely performed poorly due to specific personal difficulties and whose advice should not be blindly taken at face value. Though, admittedly, advice from most law students should not be taken at face value regardless.

  • Like 5
ccounsel2024
  • Law Student
Posted (edited)

No, you won’t be too busy for your dog. I have 2 dogs that I cared for throughout law school by myself and without family. Admittedly you will have to sacrifice some things i.e. instead of going out to bars, you’ll have to come home to walk and spend time with your dog. Personally I’ve gotten used to that because I worked prior to law school and I know when work is done, I’ve got to head back home to them instead of hanging out with friends.  

Edited by ccounsel2024
  • Like 3
Diplock
  • Lawyer
Posted
22 minutes ago, ccounsel2024 said:

No, you won’t be too busy for your dog. I have 2 dogs that I cared for throughout law school by myself and without family. Admittedly you will have to sacrifice some things i.e. instead of going out to bars, you’ll have to come home to walk and spend time with your dog. Personally I’ve gotten used to that because I worked prior to law school and I know when work is done, I’ve got to head back home to them instead of hanging out with friends.  

This was kinda the subtext of my comment above. I don't doubt that a person can care for a normal dog while attending law school. Whether you will care to arrange your life in a way that makes that work for you (and your dog) while meeting other commitments and, admittedly, trying to build the relationships that may form part of the foundation of your career...that's anyone's bet. Which is why I endorse the "try it and see but leave yourself an out while doing so" approach.

ccounsel2024
  • Law Student
Posted
15 minutes ago, Diplock said:

This was kinda the subtext of my comment above. I don't doubt that a person can care for a normal dog while attending law school. Whether you will care to arrange your life in a way that makes that work for you (and your dog) while meeting other commitments and, admittedly, trying to build the relationships that may form part of the foundation of your career...that's anyone's bet. Which is why I endorse the "try it and see but leave yourself an out while doing so" approach.

Okay. Didn’t read your comment. Just giving my 2 cents. 

  • Like 1
noname12
  • Law Student
Posted (edited)

I have friends caring for children and dogs while in law school. I have two old chihuahuas that I have also cared for while in 1L; I am moving into 2L.

Edited by flertalgerdal1
  • Like 1
SNAILS
  • Articling Student
Posted

You actually require something else in your life other than studying while in law school. For example, reading for 4-6 hours per day and attending all your classes will allow you to comfortably keep up with your work.

You don't want too much else going on, but walking a dog you really love is a good break and allows you to reflect on law materials. (By "too much" I mean if you wanted to have a  hyperactive dog and a part time job and play video games and go out with friends all the time).

  • Like 2
chaboywb
  • Lawyer
Posted

Law school seems like such an intense time sink when you're in the middle of it, but most of that is the swirling anxiety of grades and trying to find a job. In retrospect, my dog got tons of attention during those three years because of all the study breaks and gaps between classes. I also cooked more, spent more time with friends, worked out more... doesn't seem so bad, looking back.

  • Like 2
Diplock
  • Lawyer
Posted
1 hour ago, ccounsel2024 said:

Okay. Didn’t read your comment. Just giving my 2 cents. 

Oh, not arguing with you at all at all. You made a much better comment from knowledge. I was more just agreeing with you and expanding on what I wrote earlier.

sarcasticlemon
  • Law Student
Posted

I have a dog who I adopted first year law school and it was an absolute joy! I actually met other people from the law school at the dog park, the walks were a great break from studying, and my second year placement even allowed me to bring him into the office (although I know this is unusual). 

some schools even have walking and running clubs and people bring their dogs. 

  • Like 2
Diplock
  • Lawyer
Posted
19 minutes ago, sarcasticlemon said:

I have a dog who I adopted first year law school and it was an absolute joy! I actually met other people from the law school at the dog park, the walks were a great break from studying, and my second year placement even allowed me to bring him into the office (although I know this is unusual). 

some schools even have walking and running clubs and people bring their dogs. 

Now there's a great way to address both my stated (and semi-unstated) concern and still accommodate your dog. Law school is a time when the connections you make, and the activities you are involved with, can be as important to your future career as the classes, papers, and tests. Anything that draws you away from that excessively (including part-time work, family, etc.) can be a problem. That's not to say you shouldn't have other things, but not participating fully in law school does come at a cost. But if there are dog-related activities with your fellow students, and perhaps other figures at the law school...that's a hell of a good suggestion. Follow that up.

  • Like 2
Excellent Boiled Potatoes
  • Law School Admit
Posted (edited)

Really appreciate everyone's insight on this. Thank you so much!!

Edited by Excellent Boiled Potatoes
GreyDude
  • Law Student
Posted (edited)

I have only skimmed this thread. But as a husky owner and law student I can say that I’m glad I’m not looking after him on my own. Huskies are high energy dogs who can tend to be anxious. Mine is 8 years old and needs at least two hours of walking or running  daily to be happy.  I’m very glad my family is there to share the burden, especially around exam time. Also, huskies are more pack animals than individuals—meaning they bond more to the group than to one person (unlike German shepherds or Labrador retrievers, for example)—so I’m thinking that my dog, at least, is happier with my wife, daughters, me and for that matter our cats, than he would be with just me. 

So my 2 cents : I would not take my dog with me to school if I were in your position.  But I’m not you and your dog is not my dog. Obviously , your mileage may vary. 

Edited by GreyDude
  • Like 1
PzabbytheLawyer
  • Lawyer
Posted

I got a dog after law school when I started working.

It's easier to have a dog during law school than in the early years of your practice.

  • Like 1
happydude
  • Lawyer
Posted

I cannot see it being a problem in law school.

But the dog will still be around after you graduate. Then, it could become a huge challenge and it could end up being a very unfair situation for the dog, depending on your work circumstances.

What will you do if you have a very busy period and are doing a week, or 2, or three, of consecutive 12-14 hour days? Plus commute (but hopefully you live close to work if you are at a big firm where those sort of stretches are possible). Will the dog be on its own from 7AM to 9PM? Anyone to let it out to the bathroom or feed it dinner? And once you get home, how much energy will you have to look after it / give it some stimulation?

I recommend against single lawyers having pets that require active care and attention. I often get criticism for it. But I speak from experience. I am in house now. My hours are generally good. But busy periods do happen. If it was not for my partner, I don't even know what I'd do with the dog in those busy periods. I'd feel guilty and awful. You could pay for a dog sitter I suppose. Is that an expense you want? Lots of think about.

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
Blahblah
  • Articling Student
Posted (edited)

Yes you will be supremely busy but anyone who has been to law school will tell you therapeutic activities are necessary. I myself didn’t have any, which likely explains why I was burnt out for years after. Anyway, many of my classmates had or got pets during law school. That being said for quality of life I would leave him at home, at least for 1L. Once you have a better idea of what to expect bring him over.  I wouldn’t want to put any poor dog through the experiment unless you don’t have anyone at home to care for him. 
 

Just went back and read some of the posts and I’m sorry I didn’t think carefully about the breed. It’s true husky’s are anxious and require lots of activity. I would think very carefully after 1L about bringing him/her with you. Maybe you will be one of those highly organized folks who take their pooches for long and frequent walks, but most of the people I knew who walked thier dogs all the time were highly anxious people. The one in particular’s dog spontaneously died in third year. I felt so sorry for that poor dog having to put up with them. And I suspect the mind-frame they were perpetually in contributed to the dog’s quality of life.  I would reinforce the - first see how 1L goes. 

Edited by Blahblah
  • Like 1
FlyingFish
  • Lawyer
Posted (edited)

Would it be possible to have him with you during less busy seasons and drop him off at home during busy seasons?

My goal in law school was Bs. Sometimes I exceeded that goal and sometimes I fell short. In any event I don’t think I ever spent more than 40 hours a week (outside of exams) doing law school related things. Maybe you have different goals than I did. Maybe you will need to spend more or less time to reach those goals.

I guess what I am saying is, could you take the dog with you with the possibility of taking him back to your parents’ house if things get too hectic or if law school is taking up most of your time? Just a thought. 

Also, if I recall correctly, all of the medalists in my year had one or more dog.

Edited by FlyingFish
  • Like 1
theycancallyouhoju
  • Lawyer
Posted

Working lawyers have children. Human children. 

  • Like 3
  • LOL 1
  • 2 weeks later...
happydude
  • Lawyer
Posted
On 6/29/2024 at 4:40 AM, theycancallyouhoju said:

Working lawyers have children. Human children. 

None that I know do it alone. There is always a partner in the picture, or a nanny. Which gets back to my point earlier. Is a dog sitter an expense OP is okay with? 

BlockedQuebecois
  • Lawyer
Posted
1 minute ago, happydude said:

None that I know do it alone. There is always a partner in the picture, or a nanny. Which gets back to my point earlier. Is a dog sitter an expense OP is okay with? 

I’m sorry, but the suggestion that no lawyers are single parents without a nanny is just incredibly out of touch 

  • Like 3
happydude
  • Lawyer
Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, BlockedQuebecois said:

I’m sorry, but the suggestion that no lawyers are single parents without a nanny is just incredibly out of touch 

No it isn't. I worked in Big Law for several years. I did not know even a single lawyer that was a single parent, that did not have a nanny, family all pitching in tremendously, etc. Something to allow them to not always be present. I am sure they exist. But they would be extreme outliers in my estimation, and the reason should be obvious. If you have a role with less demanding hours, perhaps you could do it. I am sure some in-house gigs, government gigs, small to medium size firms, etc... it could be feasible. Not in big law. What happens when you work 12-14 hour days for weeks on end during a busy period? How good of a parent can you realistically be? OP is not yet at the working stage. OP queried law school. My point was to not just think about law school. Think about after. And who knows if OP even has interest in big law. But many do and big law firms employer a very notable % of young lawyers.

Edited by happydude
  • Angry 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By accessing this website, you agree to abide by our Terms of Use. YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU WILL NOT CONSTRUE ANY POST ON THIS WEBSITE AS PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE EVEN IF SUCH POST IS MADE BY A PERSON CLAIMING TO BE A LAWYER. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.