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

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.

I am SO with you.. I rarely go anywhere besides work or the grocery store and if I go to the store, I gotta bring treats or prizes.. lol.. we never go on family trips either, we go inn shifts.. lol..
my family ALL thinks I am crazy about my dogs but o well, my dogs dont give me a hard time like they do :)

My hubby thinks that I spoil my dogs to much too. But I own a dog grooming salon, so they (at least captain jack usually roscoe(english springer spaniel) too) go to work with me. And most of the places that I have to go to for my business are pretty much pet friendly so he goes on errands with me. My husband always teases me and says that I love the dogs more than him because when I have to go to the grocery store I love on my babies for 10 minutes before I leave and all he gets is a quick peck on the cheek on my way out the door. But I am used to having them with me all the time. It probably isn't good for them to be with me all the time, I don't want them to be so dependant on me that they have anxiety when I am not around. I guess there MUST be a happy medium....I just don't know what it is:rolleyes:

it is a pleasure to read your post as someone I can identify with. I love all you yorkie talkers, but as a mom of 3, teacher, coach, etc I do think that some of us yorkie talkers are over the top. Well, since we are all at school during the day, I got a doggie playdate for Cocoa so I could try a yoga class! I definitely want to stay active physically and socially and mostly feel guilty if I leave her alone on a worknight. I coach basketball so I think she will have to be our team's new mascot. Soccer season hasbeen great since it's always outside !

Hi
 

I felt that way when he was younger. but I have to work a full time job as well. But that doesn't mean I don't spoil my baby. They need some time on their own as well. They need to be a little independent. I also have a cat and they keep each other company.

Maybe if your baby had a friend you wouldn't feel so bad..and I take my baby on every trip I go on. Everynow and then I take him to the kennel. He really loves it there. He comes home and can't even talk.. He just quacks like a duck..hehe.

Good luch ;)

I dont work so I am with my dogs alot, LOL I do leave them to go to horse shows on Saturdays though. They have each other so they don't seem to mind it. But when I come home, it's like I been gone for days, lots of kisses and everyone has to be in my lap.
I havn't taken a vacation in years. Most I have been away from them is overnight and my mom babysits. I just don't trust anyone to watch them for a long period of time. I know , I'm terrible, I just love them so much.

I was having this discussion with my mother the other day. She said I shouldn't feel guilty to leave my baby Chloe but I do. I don't work any longer due to a car accident so I am home almost 24/7. I put Chloe into a create when I leave and boy, that really makes me feel guilty. She is really wild and I know I can't leave her out to roam for her safety and our house.

I am home most of the time. i get really guilty if i hang out with friends and i am gone till like 12am or so... I feel like.. "i must get back home to my dogs.." i feel really badly when Im out and think of them. I know they go crazy even when I leave the room so I am thinking they are just whining for me the whole time....

I would say you are not alone! I leave Bobby to go to work 4 days a week, 1 day I get to work from home. I feel guilty leaving him on those days as well as any other time. I definiatly have changed this past year because of him. If we go to a get together where I can't bring him, we always come home early. (we used to be all night partyers!) And we don't go away on weekends anymore unless he can go with us. It has actually brought my hubby and I alot closer because we spend so much time at home. I do look forward to getting a friend for him, so that I won't feel so guilty leaving him. And I am really going to try and find him a place to stay in December so that my hubby and I can go on a cruise to celebrate our anniversary.

Always:(

Ditto here - terribly. I always tell him that I'm sorry, but I have to go to work, and I'll be back.

I'm a lot luckier than most: There are a total of five dogs in my household, three of which hang out together, so no one is ever alone. My husband is "retired" due to disability, so he's always here unless he has a doctor's appointment. Additionally, my daughter and family moved back in :rolleyes:. So the dogs are seldom alone.

*I*, on the other hand, suffer from separation anxiety :D

The problem of wether its normal or not u cant make sure they understand you will be coming back and I do believe that sometimes if not all the time they have no idea if you will come back. There are some dogs that make themselves sick when they are left alone because of fear that they were left. I live with my grand parents who neither work now because they are retired and due to my anxiety I do not curently have a job so Callie has never been left a lone and even if I'm the only one who leaves she will sleep the hole time, not eat, not drink, not play and stuff and I feel bad about that so I do limit somewhat what I do so I dont have to leave her but with my anxiety thats not hard. I think these dogs do have human qualitys sometimes tho they are so smart and can understand some things that can shock you. No offense and maybe I'm crazy but my dog seems smarter then some people I have meet. I think when you have two or more dogs its not as bad as when you have one and leave them alone because then they have some kind of companion and arnt completly alone. One of the reasons I dont leave Callie alone is because I absolutly hate being completely alone and I wouldnt want to be left alone.

Absolutely! I usually try to run errands when hubby is home but that doesn't happen all the time so I find that when I am out and about, I rush home to be with them.

I use to but with 4 of them they have companionship and I don't worry as much, Also, I am now retired so I am home a lot or if I am gone my husband is home. When I worked and had only one dog ata time they all did fine. I find they sleep most of the day anyway and really were happy when you came home.

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.

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. :rolleyes:

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!

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 :)

I know what ya mean......
 

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

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!

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!! :animal36:aimeeyork:)

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!!!

I Agree
 

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.

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!

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.

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!:p:aimeeyork:animal36

yes i do~
 

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 :eek:
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?

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.