Wow, I feel your pain. It would worry me too, leaving one so young, but if you trust the neighbor and ya'll have talked thoroughly about what you both expect then it will probably be ok. Teens afraid of a 4 month old Yorkie would have me a little concerned.
Just how huge and vicious is Abbey?
Ok, sorry, just so don't get the whole fear of a Yorkie puppy thing. lol
Do you have a vet yet? If not, I'd work hard to find one you like and get Abbey in for a first visit. Let them know you will be away for vacation, who will be looking after Abbey and do they have any procedures in place for emergency care in such a case as this. Be sure to leave the vet info with the neighbor.
Can you start taking her over now for short visits? This way it won't all be totally new to Abbey when it comes time for her to stay there. Also, leave a tee-shirt or two that ya'll have worn - so it's good and smelly of you
- having that to sleep with, be with may help her some.
Will there be a way for the neighbor to call you if need be? If not, then let them know you'll be calling whenever you are able to get to a phone. And I would try to call every few days.
The suggestion of taking her stuff over and how to broach the subject of the gate are good ones. The only other thing I would do, and I know this may sound really silly to some, but I would start now telling Abbey now what is going on. Explain it to her, tell her every day. I'd act all excited like it was going to be a great adventure. Then when it comes time to actually leave, do your very best to be upbeat and not stressful, she'll pick up on that and if she senses that you aren't upset then she won't be either.
Good luck, have fun on your vacation, post when you get back about how it went.
