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Ladylavender · 08-23-2005, 10:39 AM

KariAnn - I have read Yorkies for Dummies (and this has really become my bible). The author/writer (who is a yorkie owner and breeder) also agrees that you should not leave your yorkie alone (unconfined in your home) until over a year old. confinement does not = imprisonment or babysitting; it simply means establishing boundries. crating and confinement are tools utilized in training and are not by any means harsh or abusive (if used correctly, of which I am sure you are doing).

Millie will be 4 months old on 8/25/05 and I would not even consider allowing her the freedom of my entire home while at home or away. I either crate her or confine her in an x-pen. Just as you do.

I have allowed her more freedom in the house, while I am there and can be there to monitor her activities. I will still watch like a hawk. I think that doling out freedom when earned is appropriate and it sounds like your puppy is earning her freedom. I do want her to get used to the rest of the house and expose her to what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior (manners) like what not to chew or not to get into.

It will be a while before I allow her free reign of any room, while I am not there (much less the entire house). And when I do, it will be in hour increments, not whole days.

I have only just starting to allow her to sleep in her x-pen at night, whereas before she was crated. But she is doing great and she is not have any accidents in the x-pen at all. But I have the control of taking her out at night if she cries and needs to potty. I won't trust her in the x-pen during the day for quite sometime (since I am not there to take her out), so she will remain crated while I am at work.

I am going about this "freedom" thing, little by little and in baby steps. I know I am doing something right, because she is learning her potty training, not having accidents and is a happy little girl.

I am a happy owner too, because I don't come home to the place all torn apart or messed up on, so this is a win-win situation.

So based on my current progress, it could be a year before I let her have access to the house, while I am gone, but only for short periods of time. I really don't know when I will be ready to let her have free reign for a full work day. I will play it by ear and Millie and I will work on this together.

08-23-2005, 10:39 AM	#4
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	KariAnn - I have read Yorkies for Dummies (and this has really become my bible). The author/writer (who is a yorkie owner and breeder) also agrees that you should not leave your yorkie alone (unconfined in your home) until over a year old. confinement does not = imprisonment or babysitting; it simply means establishing boundries. crating and confinement are tools utilized in training and are not by any means harsh or abusive (if used correctly, of which I am sure you are doing). Millie will be 4 months old on 8/25/05 and I would not even consider allowing her the freedom of my entire home while at home or away. I either crate her or confine her in an x-pen. Just as you do. I have allowed her more freedom in the house, while I am there and can be there to monitor her activities. I will still watch like a hawk. I think that doling out freedom when earned is appropriate and it sounds like your puppy is earning her freedom. I do want her to get used to the rest of the house and expose her to what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior (manners) like what not to chew or not to get into. It will be a while before I allow her free reign of any room, while I am not there (much less the entire house). And when I do, it will be in hour increments, not whole days. I have only just starting to allow her to sleep in her x-pen at night, whereas before she was crated. But she is doing great and she is not have any accidents in the x-pen at all. But I have the control of taking her out at night if she cries and needs to potty. I won't trust her in the x-pen during the day for quite sometime (since I am not there to take her out), so she will remain crated while I am at work. I am going about this "freedom" thing, little by little and in baby steps. I know I am doing something right, because she is learning her potty training, not having accidents and is a happy little girl. I am a happy owner too, because I don't come home to the place all torn apart or messed up on, so this is a win-win situation. So based on my current progress, it could be a year before I let her have access to the house, while I am gone, but only for short periods of time. I really don't know when I will be ready to let her have free reign for a full work day. I will play it by ear and Millie and I will work on this together.