 One Yorkie? Really, it's OK!!
Up until this past month (please see my posting on Buddy the Yorkie LOL) I have always had ONE Yorkie. I taught school for years and left at 7, didn't get home till around 3:30 and my pooches did fine. I did make CERTAIN that when I was home that I took them on playdates, took them out for loooooong periods of neighborhood socialization and spent really quality time with them. Right from the get-go (meaning when I first brought them home at three months) I started teaching them to be alone for ever lengthening periods of time to avoid the dreaded separation anxiety that so many people complain about. This CAN DEF. BE AVOIDED.
If you are seriously concerned about your poochie being alone for too long and you def. do NOT WANT ANOTHER YORKIE, then get a dog walker or pet sitter in once a day during your absence (as many of neighbors do)and he/she will be just fine. Question? Is your dog housetrained? Or did you succumb to the paper training thinking? (which I personally believe is a disservice--YORKIES ARE DOGS!!)
At any rate, you do not need to get a second dog. Having said that, I now have two because I simply could NOT let Buddy go anywhere but to me--even after asking many people to adopt him when I first started pet sitting for his EXTREMELY NEGLECTFUL owner. Many wanted him and I almost let him go because I was so afraid of the work that might be involved with a second dog. Buddy is only two months older than Dixie--four and half years old. I am retired and have the time, had the time to socialize them and be vigilant for the first few weeks. Will you have this time if you bring in a second dog? Would you want a real puppy (I wouldn't recommend this since THEY ARE WORK when that young) or would you get one a bit older--say around 2? These are things you must think about. But once that second pooch and your first born know each other and YOU know that both are reliable in the house (bathroom-wise) then having two is really cool.
At any rate, if YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO DO THIS PROPERLY then just carry on as you are and if your dog is alone too much during the day, get someone in to socialize and walk her on a daily basis while you are working. You definitely NEED TIME TO START WITH ANOTHER DOG.
I hope this helps just a little. YS |