Going to the Dogs

A few weeks ago I had a request from someone for a post about taking a dog to university... I never had a dog at college. My Jack Russells visited, and Freddie even spent a few nights before being sent home in disgrace (see below) so most of this post comes from living with two springer spaniels in my MSc year, and the terrier that squatted in halls...

1. You will have a constant battle with dog hair.

2. If the spaniel wants to eat socks, it will eat socks.

3. Having a dog sleep in or on your bed is surprisingly nice.

4. Your housemate will learn not to leave sausages near the edge of the kitchen units...

5. Hanging a pheasant in the hall will cause excitement.

6. Your student house "garden" will basically be a giant dog loo because there are about three days of the academic year when its warm enough to sit outside, and you want to be on Bledisloe lawn.

7. If your terrier meets the Vice- Principal, he will take an instant dislike and growl.

8. Jack Russells love visiting the library foyer.

9. When Percy the terrier first visited The Tunnel the landlord picked him up, took him behind the bar and then gave him a guided tour of the pub.

10. The morning you have a job interview you will go downstairs and find that your housemates' dogs have got food poisoning (I won't go into any more details).

11. Your housemate will report that their dog weed on their bed.

12. There's always something to look forward to when you come back from lectures.

13. The dogs will steal yoghurt pots and plastic bottles from the bin.

14. You will have to take your terrier to your own bed at 3am because he decides to howl at being left on his own in the kitchen.

15. All visitors will love seeing the dogs.