YorkieRose ... We have much in common!
I have raised two children as "only child" because of the huge gap in their ages! Christopher first ... then My Amanda who is 25 and jealous of my now "only child" Toto!!
I too was a perfectionest ... just can't help it!
But ... who says you can't "teach an old dog new tricks?" ... we now live with toys strewn from one end of the house to the other and instead of picking them up a bzillion times a day or restricting them to the "play room" ... I pick them up about once a week!!
Also, when Toto wants to be held, regardless of what I'm doing, I put everything on hold and she naps in my lap! I amazed family and friends, when Toto was very small and we were so "scared" of her, by moving all the furniture from the dining area of the large family room and setting up "puppy central"! Two X-pens containing dog beds, eating/drinking area, wee wee pad area and toys everywhere!
Now that Toto is older and trained, I have greatly reduced the size of the X-pen and now just keep dog bed, eating/drinking area and wee wee pad area ... works out well and I still have a small area to restrain her if she has to be left alone for a short period of time! I also have room in the dining area for furniture again!
Works really well! I am no longer quite the perfectionest ... I am a Yorkieholic!! Life is good!!
