The “Dog Days” of September Help Ease Homesickness for Some College Students

Many students have difficulty adjusting to college during those first few weeks of September.  This is especially true for college freshmen, but may be true for upperclassmen as well.  Those first few weeks back at school, away from home and family, require some shifting of thinking and habits.  Students miss home and family – and often the family pet as well.

 In September 2004, Kathy Bradley, Director of Health and Counseling Center and Associate Dean of College Life at Susquehanna University began a program called Dog Days which is now nationally recognized and duplicated at several colleges around the country.  Bradley’s program, which was designed to help freshmen with the adjustment to college by giving students an increased sense of familiarity and belonging, was modeled after programs using animal assisted group therapy.

 The program is simple.  For several evenings in September, faculty and staff of the college are invited to bring their dogs to campus.  The faculty members, and their dogs, spend an hour or so playing on the campus lawn near the student center.  Students are invited to stop by and meet and play with the dogs.  This serves as an icebreaker, and also provides an opportunity for some students who may be missing the family pet, to interact with other dogs.  Students relax and open up. 

 The Dog Days program seems to work to ease homesickness in some students.  An unexpected and added bonus, however, is the opportunity for students to see the more human side of faculty members.  As Bradley puts it, “If you get to know the dog, you can get to know the person.”  Students – and dogs – and faculty members interact informally and casually.  Everyone has a good time.

 Several other colleges around the country have adopted Dog Days or similar programs.  We think it’s an innovative way to honor the important connections between students, faculty members, staff members – and the four legged creatures they all love.