I am a pet sitter and honestly, if you are feeling bad, try out that route first. You can hire someone like me for like $10-$15 a day (usually what we spend on lunch) to come over, check on him take him for a walk, clean his bowl and any pee pads. It's worth it. The dogs I take care of are great, they enjoy the break and it gives you a peace of mind.

I hope you decide to keep him and don't give up on him. I have 2 yorkies who I have adopted and it's hard on them to go to a new home after they are attached to the owners.
We all work and we all have to do what we have to do. He sounds like he is safe in his expen while you are at work.

I am just glad i can take mine with me evrywhere... what about day care a couple days of the week? I friends who do that , they love it !!!!

I also work from 8:30am-5pm... Mollie Grace is either in her pen or in my bedroom for the day... She doesn't seem to mind it. But I also walk daily at a local state park, and I bring her with so she can be outside, and get much needed exercise.

Take Leo for a walk in the evenings when you get home from work... He will love it!

I know this is a very difficult decision for you to make. Just think long and hard, and I'm sure you'll do what is in his best interest. I know my six-month-old wants to play all the time, but my 1 1/2-year-old sleeps a lot during the day. I also work full-time. When I got my second, it eased a lot of the guilt. Even when I'm home, they enjoy playing with each other -- or harassing each other. Good luck with this. Every day that goes by, I know you love him more and more.

I totally agree with this! When I come home from work, I always felt so bad at how excited my boys were to see me. It was like they missed me SO much! But when I leave the house for 30 minutes, they do the exact same thing! They just go nuts!

I totally understand how you feel though. I have two and even though they have each other, I still feel guilty leaving them all day. But I know I take the best care of them and love them to death when I am home, so how could they be better off with out me? It sounds like you are a very loving, wonderful mommy to Leo, so how could he be better off without YOU?

I don't think you would have to rehome him, lots of people work and leave their dogs at home. Is there any way that you could come home at lunch time? Or, if that's not possible, maybe find a dog walker who could come and walk him and play with him for awhile each day or even every other day. At least you are leaving him in a large area, and he's not crated all day.

Like others have said, they do a lot of sleeping during the day. I am home all day, as I work eves. I have been off work due to illness, so I am home all the time right now. My boys are very playful in the morning after breakfast. They nap on and off all day long. Honestly, I think the only reason they don't nap all day is because I'm home, and they are nosey so they follow me around to see what I'm doing.:) And, it is the same here as others have said. It doesn't matter if I'm gone for two minutes or for hours. Their still react the same way....as if I've been gone forever!

When I got Teddy, I was in my junior year of college. I had really long hours.. got up at 5am didn't get back til around 9 am. But luckily, i had those classes on monday, wed, and fri. Tues/ thurs I was able to see him. I can understand the guilt that goes into leaving him for hours unattended. I used to cry to bad when I left. I still do. I'm starting law school in the fall and and I know there will be periods of the day where I am gone. But you know, your dog loves you when you come home. Thats all that matters.

I hope
 

you can find a solution to your problem with him. Most small dogs are left alone all day without a problem.

I'm so sorry you're going thru this:( I just got a new job and just finished training but they put me on the schdule for the whole week. Let me tell you..i miss my babies so much when im at work, i even looked at their pics from my cell phone on my way home cause i missed them so much. But i need to make money for them, so i have to do it, atleast for a while. First thing if i were you, i would ask myself do you WANT to keep him? If you absolutely want to then i think you should. 2nd what do you think is best for him? or wait... it should be the other way around actually.. what is best for him, then do you want to keep him? If the solution to keep him is possible i would either put him in a daycare a few times a week or keep him in a bedroom with all his toys, food, etc. and have someone come over to check on him while you're working. Also you said you have a husband, does he work the same hours as you? Can he help in taking care of him? My bf doesn't work right now so while i work, he is with them. But if he starts to work soon we will work something out for them, either put them in doggie day care or have someone stay with them, like my mom or hire someone. It's possible that it can work. If i feel like my dogs miss me too much, i will quit my job, i just love them too much:( i already trained for 3 days and i miss them too much already lol I hope it all works out hun

i'm curious about where this is going... it's been 7 days since the OP. what's the verdict?? :)

i hope you decided to keep him! :love:

I have to wait until he is 6 months and have him neutered first and then find him a new home.He will be 5 months on may 12th.
I still havent made a decision yet but will keep you all updated.;)