Do you feel guilty when you spend too much time away from your dogs?

[SassyAnn101]

Me Too, I am a soon to be single mom of one child and 4 fur butts. I work a full time job, and my son plays sports. I feel bad that my babies stay home while I work. I try to take them to day care at least twice a week, and if I have a full day on Saturdays I take them to day care then. When I am out shopping or something I think about them and want to drop everything and run home.

[hugz4all4]

YES!! even if its a 15 min. trip to the store, but i feel the same way about my 2 legged kids, if I leave them for even an hour with a sitter I start feeling quilty.

[alisonJ]

yes, I feel guilty. That's why we bought a travel trailer last week. We want to take them on vacation with us next year!

[MIZBROWN]

I never thought I would...but I must admit that I do. If I have plans for the weekend, I'll take her to my mom's or grandma's so they can watch & play with her..lol. And I go home daily for lunch to play with her & give her love. Im always thinking of her being at home alone and wish I could be with her all day

[TachaYorkies]

Before i got Roxy and Feebie i would leave my little Guidoune with my mom while i left for 4 days to visit my 3 year old nephew for his B-day and i called (like a worried mom) to check up on my baby and my mom said that she was upset, she would lay on my bed and whine, and then pace to the door. When i got back she was happy to see me but almost in disbeleif... i really felt bad. She then walked away...like upset.

I read that they do this because dogs are pack members and the leader (me) has left and so she's looking for me.

Or...it's mainly my fault because wherever i visit i bring her with me, she even rides on the 4wheeler!

All i know is i feel guilty if i have to leave them, i know they know i'm leaving...so it's sad.

I never go on vacations and refuse to now visit my cousin unless it's for the day!...lol

[Yorkiedaze]

I don't work outside the home anymore so I am with the girls all the time. When I have to go grocery shopping or have a dental or Dr. check up twice a year and once a year, I feel just terrible leaving them. It's as bad as withdrawal symptoms from a drug or nicotine for me. My husband is as bad as I am at leaving them, even thought it's usually only 3 hours max. I don't even want to take a vacation if I can't take them. There are many, many places right here in CA. that we haven't seen and so we are buying a motor home just to make it more enjoyable for us and the girls. It will be like their home away from home and they will feel comfortable and happy. This is what it's all about for us, this is our happiness!

[zenzele]

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

I know there are people on here who dont even believe you should leave your dog alone to go to work. To each their own, but I definitely am not one of those people. I support my family so have no choice but to work full time. That said, other than when Im away at work, I feel guilty for leaving my dogs at any other time for more than a couple of hours. I can see how it really could impact your life though and Im not sure its a good thing, or even normal. Truth be told, I dont have that active a social life to worry about, but I would like to do a few more things and dont because of the dogs. As long as their basic needs are met, does it really hurt them to spend time alone once in awhile. They are dogs after all and I think we tend to give them human qualities (at least I know I do sometimes) when they dont exist. Maybe Yorkietalk is a bad place to ask this question as I know people on here tend to be pretty crazy about their dogs, but seriously, does anyone else have this problem? My husband thinks Im nuts about these dogs.

Couple of questions for you... how many Yorkies do you have and how old are they? How do they get along with each other? Do you have children? If so how old are they? My children are now 20 and 17 I got my Yorkie 10 months ago (I was suffering from the empty nest to be syndrome) I realize that dogs are a lot like children, they are going to reflect the emotions you put out, if you baby them and make them feel fearful or allow them to make you feel guilty, they will be fearful and they will make you feel guilty. On the other hand if you instill a healthy dose of self confidence by easing them into independence they do better. Now Yorkies are not children who will grow to become self sufficient adults, they will always depend on us, but you can leave them for some "me time" by starting out for shorter periods gradually building up to longer periods, they will become much more stable and the good thing is they have each other for company. Also they probably spend most of that time away from you sleeping!!

[SaraAlexine00]

I'm with yah! I feel guilty too. Whats even worse it... she used to come to work with me every day until our management started enforcing the pet policies since so many people have started to bring their pets to work.

Luckily, she rarely has to spend the whole day alone. Usually my BF's mom comes and picks her up for the day.

I was going to go to a local festival last weekend, but after learning from their website that they were not allowing pets, I didn't go!!

My BF has to remind me on a regular basis that Mia is a dog... but she's my BABY!!!

[mstrooperwife]

Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with me.....I have the empty nest and that's why i agreed to get Tyke. It's really my daughters that is 17 but guess who takes care of him.
I don't like leaving him either.

[Jeri Cunningham]

I hate to leave mine. I work from home so I'm with them all the time. We have a time share in Hawaii and I agreed to do one more vacation before selling it. We bought a Travel Trailer and will vacation with our dogs from now on. I hate going anywhere that I can't take at least one!

[Roseanderson]

I love this thread. I have been home since getting my first then I worried about going back to work and leaving him alone. So I have gotten a girl to keep him company. In a couple of days I am going on a cruise and have to leave them with my kids. I worry and look at their little faces and wonder if they will be okay and if my boy will whine alot as he is so accustomed to having my DH and I around. I will let y'all know when I get back how they do.

[Lucia]

I'm very fortunate that I work from home and at weekends we tend to take Twinkle everywhere with us (she loves a ride in the car!) But if we're going somewhere I can't take her....such as the supermarket....I find myself whizzing round, chucking stuff into the trolley and saying to my DH; 'Hurry up, Twinkle's on her own' He just rolls his eyes at me When we get home Twinkle is normally fast asleep in her crate without a care in the world! xxx

[vviccles1]

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

I know there are people on here who dont even believe you should leave your dog alone to go to work. To each their own, but I definitely am not one of those people. I support my family so have no choice but to work full time. That said, other than when Im away at work, I feel guilty for leaving my dogs at any other time for more than a couple of hours. I can see how it really could impact your life though and Im not sure its a good thing, or even normal. Truth be told, I dont have that active a social life to worry about, but I would like to do a few more things and dont because of the dogs. As long as their basic needs are met, does it really hurt them to spend time alone once in awhile. They are dogs after all and I think we tend to give them human qualities (at least I know I do sometimes) when they dont exist. Maybe Yorkietalk is a bad place to ask this question as I know people on here tend to be pretty crazy about their dogs, but seriously, does anyone else have this problem? My husband thinks Im nuts about these dogs.

Last weekend I threww a bridal shower so I was out most of the weekend, I came home to a bitching neighbor saying Nya was howling. I usually never leave her for over 5 hours but some times.....I propose a toast to our unconditionally loving furchildren. Heres to all who wish us well,the rest can go to hell!

[iamannietan]

i'm seriously feel bad to leave my furbaby at home for my work,
but there is no choice..

every time before i leave the house i will go up n down to look at her
my baby will have to stay at home alone for minimum 9 hours
and i put her into a crete (to avoid danger from her)
right after my working hours, i will rush back
and for sure she will act crazily, which really makes me feel bad

after i have my first yorkie,
i rejected all trips and all that

im worry to put them in pets hotel..
sigh..
what to do?

[Dougal&Little]

Hi ya I work full time and sometimes I'm out of the house for nine or ten hours cos of work while I miss them and they are usually excited to see me when I get home -- I don't make too much of them when I come through the door -- and if I can stick to the routine they don't fuss nearly as much.

My partner and i go out on dates on week nights and they aren't too worried.

I have to work to make money and I have to work at my relationship because it makes me happy and healthy. So spending time away from my dogs is to their benefit. While I miss them I work hard to not feel guilty about it - it's only damaging to myself. They don't benefit from me emotionally blackmailling myself

I walk them regularly and I train and play with them everyday -- I make sure the time we have together is quality time. We do dog agility and I'm starting to do heelwork to music and we're loving it.