College Survival Tip #5: Service Dog in a Dorm

Having a service dog live in the dorm is something that has NEVER happened on our college campus before.  As one professor stated, Nemo is the “trailblazer,” but being the trailblazer can come at a cost. One cost is that almost everybody in the dorm is afraid to ask about the dog because they think it is a hostage situation and that I am hiding him from the RAs. If that were true I would be doing a TERRIBLE job. My door has a picture of the dog as well as a beware of my friendly dog sign. Similarly, the first thing I did when moving into the dorm was introduce the dog to both RA’s. He got his own name tag (Thanks RAs). Similarly, I take him to every class so every teacher (I have) also knows that he is on campus.


Items you need to successfully keep a dog in your dorm room.


  1. A crate - Sometimes you just have to. For example, if I have to go to fieldwork, I need a place to leave him. Also, it gives him a place to call his own. Now, he doesn’t sleep in there, but it still is a place that he enjoys hanging out in from time to time.  
  2. Make sure that people know there is a dog in the room - In this case, there is a sign, picture, and name tag stating that there is a dog in the room.  Also, he was introduced during the hall meeting, so people knew that he was allowed to be there.  If people know that there is a dog in the room, people know that a bark is normal. Also, they tend to be a little bit quieter than they are in other areas of the hall, because they know that a large dog (with an even bigger bark) lives there.  
  3. A toy to fill with peanut butter or another treat that your dog loves - This is very important for when you have a lot of homework or want to leave your dog in the crate in the room alone.
  4. Have a room that gives your dog space to move, or have his own space - Your service dog needs space.  If your room is too small, they will not have room to move, and be a dog.  Not saying that they need room to sprint, but enough so they are not cooped up when they are home.
  5. Dog bones - Your service dog needs a treat too at the end of the day.  This can keep him/her busy when you are doing homework, or even provide them some entertainment.  Just make sure that they know the limits of
  6. Dog food and bowls - This one is pretty straight forward, dogs are alive and therefore eating and drinking is a must if you want your new dorm friend to stay alive. 
    7. Interactive  Toys - These are important for when you have a lot of homework and don't have time to spend with the dog. This can be any toy that your dog can entertain themselves with for a substantial amount of time. It is different for each dog. For secret agent puppy he has prefilled bones which he will chew on for hours. I personally get the filled Redbarn bones as he can not break the bone and will spend hours on end trying to get the filling out. Similarly they come pre-filled which makes my life much easier. 
    8Dog bed - While secret agent puppy is needy (and by needy, I mean he wants love 24/7) and thinks he is to good for a dog bed it is important that he has a place to be alone. This is a place where he can chew on his bone as they are not allowed in my bed. By no means does he sleep here because again he is very needy but for a normal dog this would be a great place for them to sleep.
    9.Service Dog Gear - Everybody loves to see a dog on campus, however, when he is working he needs to be focused on me. A vest or his mobility harness is very important because it shows that he is working and therefore is not here for being a pet.  
    10. Friends - While this is not in your room, it is very important to have supportive friends who you trust to watch your dog. Sometimes you need to leave your dog even if it is just for 2 minutes. When I have to leave my dog to do something like run out of the classroom I always leave him with Tremors.


While I love my dog very much and it is really nice to have him living on campus it does take a lot of work. Just like with anything else you get out what you put in, and being prepared will make having a dog in your dorm much easier. There is not always a lot of room in a dorm so it is important to have toys that can be used in a small space but still require a lot of mental energy.


For all of you out there being a trailblazer, with or without a service dog

WE BELIEVE IN YOU!
-Nemo, Tremors and Secret Agent Puppy

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