My friend Jack from EssayOnTime and I were having a chat the other day and he told me he had a dog in college. I told him I didn’t and he seemed shocked. How did I not have a dog? I told him I didn’t see any reason to keep a dog. In fact, I dared him to give me one good reason why anyone would need a dog while in college. He gave me 5. Can’t say I wasn’t convinced at the end of it all.

If you’re like me and in college, then you’re probably thinking that a dog is the last thing you need right now in your life. When are you going to find the time for it between your classes, extracurricular activities, your social life, which is stressful enough as it is, and those internships you have to do in your free time anyway? Well, here are some benefits of having a dog that will hopefully change your mind:

1. You learn about Responsibility

Taking care of a whole other living creature entails a lot of responsibility because you must be fully aware of the needs of your dog. That means you have to feed it every day and make sure you take it out on walks and just generally keep the little creature happy. As for when something’s wrong, you need to be able to pay attention to it to know when something’s not right so you can get it some medical care.

It’s just like having a child, basically. Your dog can’t take care of itself and so the responsibility falls upon you. You can’t stay out too long because your dog might get depressed without you. Besides, you can’t keep it locked up in the house or a crate for too long when you’re away. At the end of the day, you come from the experience as a much more responsible person.

2. Dogs make great Exercise Buddies

Ever wanted a gym buddy that would never stand you up at the gym? That’s a dog for you. They will always be up for a jog or a run in the park. Better yet, you get an exercise buddy that lies in with you and constantly motivates you in their own way to get in shape.

3. You get the Benefit of Unconditional Love

Your dog will always love you no matter what. It doesn’t matter if you step on his paw or if he chews that expensive bag of yours. You will always have each other and that love will never end. You will know by the way he will always leap at you in excitement when you walk through the door.

4. No Stress

You might think that having a pet is stressful overall, but having a pet dog can actually help you deal with some of the stress you’re going through in college. A dog can help you relive some of your stress, especially when you have to deal with finals. When you own your dog, you’re forced to relax by talking him or her out for a walk or cuddling him or her or just generally meeting his or her needs. In a way, by making time for your dog, you’re making time for yourself.

5. You might get popular

Most people love dogs and they love to see a cute one on the street. You’re definitely going to get a lot more attention walking around with your dog that you are walking alone. You might even make some new friends that way!

Author Bio:

Jacob Dillon is a professional writer and distinctive journalist from Sydney. Being passionate about what he does, Jacob likes to discuss stirring events as well as express his opinion about technological advancements and evolution of society. Find Jacob on Twitter and Facebook.