Not enough time in the day
Posted 06-21-2008 at 12:53 PM by alaskayorkie
I'm tormented by the lack of attention I give my dogs.
Yes, yes, I take them on multiple walks a day and I engage them often when I'm home. But I think of the 10 hours I'm at work each day and the eight hours I sleep each night. That makes for 18 hours a day of a pretty boring life.
I come home on a dinner break and walk them, but it's 20 minutes at best. Our morning and evening walks total less than an hour.
The guilt comes after the walks and after the quality time when I sit down at the computer to check out YT. Or when I decide I want to read a book. Or watch TV. They hover and let me know I'm slacking.
There's really no answer. I can't afford to spend more time with them. And it's not as though they are children. They drew the short straw in life, and they have to deal with it. A dog trainer once told me that it's not the amount of time you spend but the quality of time. That gives me some comfort.
But I still feel guilty. I'd hire a dog nanny in a second if I could afford one.
Yes, yes, I take them on multiple walks a day and I engage them often when I'm home. But I think of the 10 hours I'm at work each day and the eight hours I sleep each night. That makes for 18 hours a day of a pretty boring life.
I come home on a dinner break and walk them, but it's 20 minutes at best. Our morning and evening walks total less than an hour.
The guilt comes after the walks and after the quality time when I sit down at the computer to check out YT. Or when I decide I want to read a book. Or watch TV. They hover and let me know I'm slacking.
There's really no answer. I can't afford to spend more time with them. And it's not as though they are children. They drew the short straw in life, and they have to deal with it. A dog trainer once told me that it's not the amount of time you spend but the quality of time. That gives me some comfort.
But I still feel guilty. I'd hire a dog nanny in a second if I could afford one.
Comments 6
Total Comments 6
Comments
 | That dog trainer is right - it really is the quality not the quantity. Plus, they have one another to help keep them busy. They will be okay. Don't beat yourself up... I believe you are being harder on yourself than you really should. Those hours during the night...well... they sleep too. And when you're at work... they play and sleep and play some more... they have it good  Its ok |
  |
| |  Aww, thanks for consoling me! I'd feel better if Eddie wasn't so aloof around the other two. He's the alpha of the house, and he usually goes off by himself and doesn't want to be bothered. I stumbled on something today, though, that makes me wonder if I'm spending too much time with them! We went to a dog park, and while all the other dogs were running around and playing with each other, my three hovered around me. They wanted me to entertain them. All of them are fine around the other dogs. They just prefer my company, I think. That would actually make an interesting poll: Does your Yorkie prefer humans to other dogs? I think I'll do that. |
| |
| | I take my yorkie to dog parks too and all he does is stay by my feet but as soon as he is on the leash he wants to say hi to every dog on the street. Not sure what that means but he definately loves people (And dogs when he has his leash on) |
| |
| |  Aww Mike I'm sorry! <3 I know it's hard, but try not to stress yourself too much over it. Dogs don't have that great of a sense of time. The trainer is right, it's the quality not quantity. |
| |
| |  Oh, stop! My dogs have seen the videos, the pictures, the stories of all the things you do with yours. They are already asking to move in with you. (I keep telling them how cold it is there). Don't let them see this...they'll be packing their bags! |
| |
| | LOL, no need to pack their bags. I've got warm clothes waiting for them! |
| |
