40 hours a week and 12 hours per day are two different things. I think we all have to be realistic about what we can or cannot provide. IF your dog has to spend 12 hours per day alone - day after day after day . . then I don't think that is fair to the dog. That is one lonely dog no matter how much we may want one for ourselves.

I mean no disrespect to the OP but I am offering my opinion and 12 hours a day alone is too much.

Hopefully, this will improve as referenced by the OP's recent post that he will try and find someone to check in - give the little dog a break and/or the change in his girlfriends schedule.

yes, im looking for a friend that is willing to come over daily during lunch time right now. i do want my puppy to be healthy. i do work 40 hrs a week, just with an extra 1.5 hrs traffic time each day. =\

Well here is the real "dirt" on this whole situation. Having a puppy is lots of work, and time, having a nine wk old puppy is even more work and time. You will need (as mentioned to find out how to train bite inhibition), and I hope you have set aside every wkend for about six months to try to socialize this pup and to give good healthy people and dog interaction with this wee one.

First until your pup is at least 16 wks old and most importantly has had all their shots, you should not bring the pup outside - unless it is into your own private fenced in back yard, and not to public places..

You have very unrealistic expectations if you think a pup will be potty trained at 9wks old after having him for only one wk, and that being you are out of the house for 12 hours a day.

Play time at this age and particularly if your dog is quite light ie under 2lbs should be kept short 15 minutes or so. When you stop the playing, he is brought to his peepad, and rewarded immensely for going pee pee or poo.

You can have your friends over on the wkend, so your pup can meet new folks, again short 10-15 minutes interaction then pup is back into his playpen and put on pad to do his business.

It will be good if you can have one or two of your friends to come in during the day for a short play time and again to help with the housetraining.

I agree with both these ladies and Ringo1.

No one is being mean here, We are just giving you our honest opinions..That baby is only 9 weeks old, shouldn't even be away from its mommy & littermates yet...let alone left for 12 plus hours a day ALONE...You will never be able to potty train him in just 4 hours a day...that training alone is a 24/7 hour job...would you leave a skin child of 9 weeks home alone for 12 hours? no you wouldn't!! so please reconsider about taking him back to the breeder.

Yorkie are very social dogs and need the attention of there humans more than 4 hours a day in order to thrive and be happy...with you gone 12 hours a day, you are going to have a unhappy, unruly, misbehaving yorkie..you will be cleaning up after him on a daily bases...and like now you will get even more frustrated and tired...Yorkies need training, with no training they will get out of control quickly and become little yappers.

If you won't take him back...consider putting him in a doggie day care while you are at work...that way he gets the training he needs and the socializing and won't be alone for 12 hours.

Honestly, I think you are in for a long, hard road.
Under the best of circumstances Yorkies can be difficult to train. But your puppy, as everyone has mentioned, was too young to have left his mother. Combined with all but four hours out of a day left confined and/or alone is a difficult situation.
I hope you can find someone to come in and help during the day. Your puppy needs exercise, socialization, and consistent training.
Good luck

[QUOTE=bellababy08;3555597]I agree with both these ladies and Ringo1.

No one is being mean here, We are just giving you our honest opinions..That baby is only 9 weeks old, shouldn't even be away from its mommy & littermates yet...let alone left for 12 plus hours a day ALONE...You will never be able to potty train him in just 4 hours a day...that training alone is a 24/7 hour job...would you leave a skin child of 9 weeks home alone for 12 hours? no you wouldn't!! so please reconsider about taking him back to the breeder.

Yorkie are very social dogs and need the attention of there humans more than 4 hours a day in order to thrive and be happy...with you gone 12 hours a day, you are going to have a unhappy, unruly, misbehaving yorkie..you will be cleaning up after him on a daily bases...and like now you will get even more frustrated and tired...Yorkies need training, with no training they will get out of control quickly and become little yappers.

If you won't take him back...consider putting him in a doggie day care while you are at work...that way he gets the training he needs and the socializing and won't be alone for 12 hours.[/QUOTE]

He is too young to go to doggie daycare, plus he has not been properly immunized, but it would be a great idea once he is older.

I think now that you have heard everyone you will be able to figure something out.
I just recently went back to work and my puppy is 15 weeks. I only work 6 to 8 hours 4 days a week and I am a wreck leaving her. I cannot imagine how you feel.
I would make it your first priority to get someone in. I have my granddaughter that I pay 5.00 to come stay when I work on the weekend.
She likes to come anyway and it is company for my pup and she leaves 5.00 richer.
Now you may not get that cheap, but if you can find enough friends to chip in it wouldn't be that hard to get her company during the day.
Remember it is only for a few weeks until she will have shots and be old enough for doggie daycare. I would advise you to start looking for one in the area where you work so they will still be open when you leave work without that 1.5 hour drive before you get him.
Everything will work out. Between you, your girlfriend , friends and daycare your pup will have a full happy life.

Please find day care help...and do not be offended, but I never placed a pup in home if the owner is gone everyday more then 4 hrs..and that is with a 12 to 16 week old...not even an adult.

The chances of housetraining and good social skills are just about nil when puppies are alone for many hours at a time...seen it too many times.

I just want to add that I hope it is dry food that you are leaving out for 12 hours and not wet food...if it's wet food you are running the risk of him getting eColi. Always dispose of any wet food that is not eaten fairly soon. I, personally, would not leave my pup for any length of time at 9 weeks. I know it is hard to find someone to come in to puppysit. I hope you can work this out. Good luck.

I am surprised that no one mentioned doggie daycare. I think that Brownie is too young right now, but in another month or so, he should be just fine at doggie daycare. I take Moses twice a week, my son is home one day a week and the other two he stays home in his gated area. He loves daycare so much now that when I pull into the parking lot, he is ready to jump out of the car and get playing! It's a hard thing to worry about your puppy all day...been there, did that! Good luck!

Ha,I think its unfair to leave your puppy for more than fours hours a day,I got Oscar when he was six weeks old due to his mom rejecting him and a few months later i got daisey at twelve weeks,It has taken me nearly a year,many walks and leaving them in the garden for twenty minutes at a time(keeping my eye on them)Im not having a pop at all but i personally feel you should of considered your lifestyle before getting a puppy,they need love,constant attention!!