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Originally Posted by mjw  Does anyone have any hints on preparing our yorkie for being home alone for an hour or two?He is one year old and up to this point never been left alone(we have six children-someone is always home). The older children are going to college and we have to take them....Spike is an easy going perfect yorkie,But I know this is going to be an issue.Any hints would be greatly appreciated. |
He will be fine! I think you should prepare by leaving him alone for ten ninutes, just take a short walk or something, then move up to twenty minutes and so on and so on. Let him get used to being alone slowly. As long as you have proofed the room, he will be fine. Eventually, you will get to know whether you can let him have the run of the house whilst you are out, it is all about correctly judging what your dog is ready for or not (as the case may be).
This is what I did. I also left him in the kitchen (puppy proofed of course) with water, biscuits and some chew toys (including a stuffed Kong). I also left a radio on in the same room for noise as it must be strange for a pup to go from noise to quiet all of a sudden. I even put my washing machine on before I left for even more comforting noise. I didn't make a fuss when I left and I didn't make a fuss when I returned (until a few minutes later. I kept the whole thing low key, like it was no big deal. He is not bothered at all although he is pleased to see me when I return from work. Iworried myself to death the first day back at work. My mum went to look in on Oscar after he had been alone for an hour and he was fine. We are more worried than they are.
All dogs need to get used to being alone for at least some time, it teaches them to be indepenent as well.
Just let your yorkie get used to it slowly.