Quote:
Originally Posted by kjcmsw  Hi Mary,
I was wondering if you could clarify not leaving a tiny at home for any amount of time. The reason I'm asking is sometimes I have to leave my dogs at home alone but they are not "tinies" (IMO), but just wondering exactly how tiny you mean. What is the safe size to be left alone in your opinion? Mine are 5 1/2-6 pounds (adult), 5 pounds (adult), and two 4 pounder's (kinda "tinies" but both are puppies: one 4 months, the other 6 months) - I've been fortunate for the last nine months to have a job that allows me the luxury of taking the pups (most of the time) but occasionally I do have to leave them home alone (pups are kept in an x-pen when left alone and the adults have most of the upper level of the house). "But" when I got my first Yorkie (she was 12 weeks/2 pounds - the now nearly 6#'er) I couldn't take her to work at that time, thus we did leave her home alone (contained in the bathroom set up safely for her). (I did take my vacation to coincide with getting her so I could be home with her everyday to help her adjust to her new home before I had to go back to work) Was that not good/was she too tiny/young to be left alone at that time? Concerned for her being alone at that time we did get her a 'friend' 3 months after getting her.
(I'm sure I'm being overly concerned, but I do hate leaving the pups in the x-pen, but sometimes it can't be helped).
Obviously, the oldest is no worse for the wear now (but I probably need something else to feel guilty about LOL)...just wondering for the future or if the pups now are too small (4#) to be left for several hours now.
Thanks |
Logically thinking; You just bring a pup home from a breeders (12 weeks of age and in my opinion still a tinie), home 2 days . Pup is undergoing, adjusting not being with mom/littermates....being with new people....starting to just back on track in eating regularly. In my opinion a young pup shouldn't be left alone for extended periods of time. Now as the OP person describes.....this pup in her words is a "TEACUP", 11 weeks of age.....she wanted a TEACUP to carry in her purse...No, way would I leave one like this unattended.
But, that's me....I don't even like to leave my adults home alone for more than an hour.....I tend to be a bit over-protective....rarely placing a pup in a home where both husband and wife worked out of the home....And when I have I strongly recommend they take vacation time so they can help the pup make the adjustment. How would you feel....all of sudden being taken from your mom, litter mates to a new environment and then you're left alone....
When I worked, my son didn't leave for school until 9.....I came home at 11:30 stayed until 12:30....I hired the neighbor's children to come in when they got home at 2:45. I was home at 4:00.....But, at that time my yorkies (and I had 2 at the time, were kept in an x-pen, with all their creature comforts).