Working and getting a Yorkie? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

NewYorker10 · 03-06-2010, 06:27 PM

I really hope this does not turn into a heated topic, it's an honest question . . .

Do most people who have Yorkies not work? I ask this because I was talking with woman who breeds them today and her first question was do I and/or my fiance work. He works a 9-5 and I usually work 3 days a week but my schedule constantly changes (every other month I may have a 4th day I work, some times I work less than 3 days). She basically went on to say that until 4-5 months the puppies can't be alone for more than 3-4 hours and that even when full grown they "shouldn't" be left alone for 8 hours. She also suggested getting 2 instead of one so they can keep eachother company. I can see that this makes sense, but we're not sure how we feel about getting 2 dogs.

I understand that Yorkies are very social, like to be around their people and I do feel that we spend a good amount of time at home. I also would try to bring the dog with us when possible to as not leave it at home, but it's not like I can just not go to work. Basically, I'm wondering how other people do it. Are all of you lucky enough to have someone home all day with your dogs or is there a way around this? I kinda had my heart set on getting a Yorkie but this discussion today has be second guessing it.

Britster · 03-06-2010, 06:50 PM

Good, legitimate question! I think quite a few of us work and/or go to school full-time while owning Yorkies. The breeder is right, however, that you can't expect a puppy (ANY breed of puppy, IMO) to hold it for more than 4 hours or so. Puppies require TONS of attention to begin with when it comes to all kinds of training and attention. It's really like having a newborn child. Expect to be waking up at LEAST once in the middle of the night for the first month or more. It's difficult having to wake up and go to work in the morning but people do it.

Yorkies are not the only breed that will require this kind of attention, specifically in the beginning. Whether you get a Pit Bull or a Chihuahua... they are all pups at one point, who will often be needy, demanding and require a ton of attention and work.

It's actually kinda funny because growing up with all sorts of different dogs, we never had any questions about leaving them for 8 hours or sometimes more. I do find that with a Yorkie, it's different. I can't get myself to leave Jackson for more than 6 hours at a time, but it's typically around 4 hours. I'm lucky enough to have other people living with me that can let him out to potty, etc when I can't be there for some reason. At night, he sleeps for 8-10 hours though. They're very people attached and like to follow you from room to room. Yorkies are smart, and a lot are energetic. Jackson requires a daily walk, trips to the dog park weekly, a game of fetch and/or trick training every night. They're definitely needy dogs.

All dogs are pack oriented and most like to be with their family. With that said.... A LOT of folks work full-time and somehow make it work. Whether it be doggie daycare, a dogsitter pops in 1x during the day, coming home at lunch, etc. I dog-sit for a pair of adult Boxers and even the longest they leave them is usually 6 hours.

Basically -- puppies are a lot of work and require constant attention no matter what breed. An adult dog wouldn't usually require so much.

Patti · 03-06-2010, 06:50 PM

When I worked I always had a dog, mainly a yorkie and they did fine. If you can handle 2 it is nice for them to have company when you are gone if not they adjust. At first it is nice if you can have someone check on them during the day. Now that I am retired I have 4!!

PartPixie · 03-06-2010, 06:59 PM

I work full time as well. I find that taking Cricket to doggie daycare is beneficial for both of us. She is a tiny and has some health issues that I didn't expect. (I didn't buy her as a tiny, she just ended up that way.) She absolutly loves daycare, and the couple that own the shop adore her as well. It's almost like Cricket has two families. When I pick her up in the evenings she is usually tuckered out and is very calm and serene.

On the other hand, my brother and ex-husband both have yorkies as well. Both of theirs stay home in an ex-pen while they work.

So... every dog and person is different. I think it really comes down to you and how your puppy responds. (But I HIGHLY recommend daycare! )

T LYNN · 03-06-2010, 07:00 PM

I work 8 hours 4 days a week and have 2 yorkies. I only had one for about 1 1/2 years and then got the second one this summer. They do keep each other company, but the one did fine. My kids are here after school so they are not alone as much and my hubby's work schedule varies. I would not recommend leaving a little tiny puppy by itself for long, but you could get a pup that is 4-5 months. I leave food and water out for mine all the time, so they can eat when they want. When we are gone, I use pee pads. It works for us. You just have to decide if it will work for you. Oh, and I always thought I would just want one. But after we got the first one, I wanted another, now they are best buds.

BLADE · 03-06-2010, 09:51 PM

Kimbo is home alone 3 days out of the week. I go to work @ 7, come home for lunch for 30 min. @ around noon to potty and feed and then I come home around 4:30 or 5.

Kimbo came home @ 9 weeks during our summer break. I wasn't working and was able to be home with him. When I had to go back to work and had to start leaving him, he was approx. 3.5 months old.

I feel very comfortable leaving him for 5 or 6 hours, but no longer than that.

loveshay · 03-06-2010, 09:56 PM

I use puppy pads, so if I am gone they use those....I don't work, but if I have errands to run and such, I dont like to be gone more than 3 hours.....

deeogie · 03-06-2010, 10:33 PM

Before I got Lucky I was in a car accident...so I was unable to work for some time. That's when I thought it was a great time to get my puppy because I knew I could be a full time mommy for the first part of his life.He helped me through things more than medication did

.Working is what prevented me from getting a Yorkie for over a yr. When I brought him home I knew I would be returning back to work part-time sooner or later, so I helped him adjust to being home alone, little bits at a time.
Now a yr later ....I am still not able to work, but Lucky can be left for up to 5-6 hrs at a time safely now. He has his pee pads layed down...he will go potty on those. He never goes to the door for outside...unless I ask him if he wants to go for a walk!!He is quite content being my shadow until daddy gets home from work...then he is a daddy's boy

. lol
As much as I wanted to NEVER leave him, I knew there was going to come a time when I just may have to(for work). There are maybe days at a time when I am constantly with him...he loves it! But I always make sure I take a couple of days a go out for a few hours...just so he knows...when mommy goes...she will be back! lol I guess I am just saying that as soon as you bring your baby home get him used to that routine! Seperation problems are not good on furbaby or mommy...but if truth be known...it's the mommies that go through the seperation stress more!! lol
It is so great when we are able to be a full time mommy to them for those first 6-7 months...you get to see their personality...they may all look very similiar but they are soooo different!! I love em'....lol

ellabee · 03-06-2010, 11:14 PM

i got billie as a 5 yr old. she spends our work days in an ex-pen, I don't give her free reign of the house as I have 4 cats and I don't want them to swat at her. also, she is safe from doing...whatever. she has a bed, toys, a pee pad, water in there i feed he rin the morning before i go (quarter cup) and again when i get home at 5. i go home every day for lunch for one hour and spend time with her, we go for a big walk.

i added a 1 yr old last week to keep her company, he is in a separate ex-pen right beside hers so they get used to one another. so far she and he get along beautifully, and he is so much fun i haven't had a yorkie puppy before and he is a riot, high energy, really different but lots of fun.

the reality of my world is that they are left alone through a full work week. i took a week off work to get ralphie settled, but i go back on monday. i believe that they are fine with the life we provide them ,as long as they are provided for, have all kinds of time with us outside of work hours, and are loved like crazy then i think their lives with us are good.

*its quality, not quantity!*

Jellybears · 03-07-2010, 05:49 AM

I work in the summer only - Mr. Darcy is just over one and he spent last summer by himself in the day, and I feel so bad about him being alone, that I am adopting another little Yorkie this Spring before I start work again!

OwnedByJezebel · 03-07-2010, 06:50 AM

It is extremely difficult to take care of a puppy if you work full-time. I did it with my Maltese, and for some time I had to come home at lunch to check on her and make sure everything was OK, she was eating, etc, basically commuting two times a day to work.

My next two dogs were Yorkies, the first a rescue and the second a rehome and they were both a little under a year old. It made all the difference in the world. They had another dog to keep them company, and they were old enough not to be a constant worry.

I quit work several years ago when hubby retired, and got my latest Yorkie about 4 months ago as a pup. I don't know how I could have possibly handled it working full-time.

I recommend that you find one that is a little bit older that needs rehoming. A dog that is a little older can handle being alone longer (although I would still recommend eventually finding them a companion dog if you are gone all day 5 days/week), and they also have the advantage of being old enough that any health problems could already be apparent. Some problems just can be seen when they are still small pups, but at a year might be easy to see by a vet, like luxating patellas, liver shunt, etc. They might already be spayed/neutered, and already have all their shots ... things that might be difficult for you to attend to if you are working full-time.

Good luck!

Yorkiegran3 · 03-07-2010, 06:56 AM

I would NEVER leave mine for 8 hours a day.

Hugs Shirl x x

gram2k · 03-07-2010, 07:28 AM

Seems I am the rare one that leaves mine home for 8 hours / 4 days per week, while I work. Mind you, she has her own bedroom, food, water, blankets, toys, pee pads, a crate if she chooses to go in and out of and a radio playing until we return. She is safe and I have peace of mind...

We began using the xpen, as I ( personally ) would never crate her for 8 hours a day. Then she figured out how to jump over it. We looked into covers for the pen, but finally decided to use a baby gate and just give her free reign in the small room. She quickly learned how to jump over and crawl under ( as we raised it a bit to see if it resolved the issue ) the gate. We've now moved on to leaving the door open and using 2 gates, one on top ot the other, and so far, so good.

And although I'm sure Chloe would prefer I quit my job, that isn't an option yet. We take her with us most times, she has full access to us and the house the other 136 hours of the week, so it's fine. And for those of us that doggie daycare or multiple dogs are not an option, they do adjust. You are home more than most and I think it's something you can work around. Do your research, make an educated decision and then get your puppy and enjoy!

SophieKatesMom · 03-07-2010, 07:35 AM

I work and Sophie Kate is left at home for 8 hours or more but with that said I pay a dogwalker to come over daily and take her for a 30 minute walk around lunch time.

Sophie Kate also goes to daycare two days a week.

I have to work in order to afford my expensive Yorkie shopping habits.

sherile · 03-07-2010, 12:23 PM

I work 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week and my husband does too, unless it rains or is very cold. I had one yorkie for a couple months and did feel sorry for her being alone all day. After she died, I got 2 because I had been planning on getting a companion for her. Now I have Moses and Isabel and I don't think Moses would make it thru the day if he had to stay alone. Isabel would, she would just sit on the back of the chair and bark at any and everything; but Mosey is very anxious and she, being older, calms him. So, they are confined to one area with food, water and pee pads and they are left alone 8 - 10 hours a day some days. But, that said, I have never had a puppy - my first 3 were 1 year old or more when I got them and Mosey was 6 months. I'd probably worry more if I had a puppy. My sister in law had a puppy and we all felt sorry for him being left alone. When my other sister in law looked into getting a yorkie puppy, her husband told her to get 2 so they could keep each other company. So she has Hank & Jr and poor little Chopper is left alone all day. Chop is well loved and gets undivided attention when they are home, but he's alone 8 hrs a day.

03-06-2010, 06:27 PM	#1
NewYorker10 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NY Posts: 58	Working and getting a Yorkie? I really hope this does not turn into a heated topic, it's an honest question . . . Do most people who have Yorkies not work? I ask this because I was talking with woman who breeds them today and her first question was do I and/or my fiance work. He works a 9-5 and I usually work 3 days a week but my schedule constantly changes (every other month I may have a 4th day I work, some times I work less than 3 days). She basically went on to say that until 4-5 months the puppies can't be alone for more than 3-4 hours and that even when full grown they "shouldn't" be left alone for 8 hours. She also suggested getting 2 instead of one so they can keep eachother company. I can see that this makes sense, but we're not sure how we feel about getting 2 dogs. I understand that Yorkies are very social, like to be around their people and I do feel that we spend a good amount of time at home. I also would try to bring the dog with us when possible to as not leave it at home, but it's not like I can just not go to work. Basically, I'm wondering how other people do it. Are all of you lucky enough to have someone home all day with your dogs or is there a way around this? I kinda had my heart set on getting a Yorkie but this discussion today has be second guessing it.

03-06-2010, 06:50 PM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	Good, legitimate question! I think quite a few of us work and/or go to school full-time while owning Yorkies. The breeder is right, however, that you can't expect a puppy (ANY breed of puppy, IMO) to hold it for more than 4 hours or so. Puppies require TONS of attention to begin with when it comes to all kinds of training and attention. It's really like having a newborn child. Expect to be waking up at LEAST once in the middle of the night for the first month or more. It's difficult having to wake up and go to work in the morning but people do it. Yorkies are not the only breed that will require this kind of attention, specifically in the beginning. Whether you get a Pit Bull or a Chihuahua... they are all pups at one point, who will often be needy, demanding and require a ton of attention and work. It's actually kinda funny because growing up with all sorts of different dogs, we never had any questions about leaving them for 8 hours or sometimes more. I do find that with a Yorkie, it's different. I can't get myself to leave Jackson for more than 6 hours at a time, but it's typically around 4 hours. I'm lucky enough to have other people living with me that can let him out to potty, etc when I can't be there for some reason. At night, he sleeps for 8-10 hours though. They're very people attached and like to follow you from room to room. Yorkies are smart, and a lot are energetic. Jackson requires a daily walk, trips to the dog park weekly, a game of fetch and/or trick training every night. They're definitely needy dogs. All dogs are pack oriented and most like to be with their family. With that said.... A LOT of folks work full-time and somehow make it work. Whether it be doggie daycare, a dogsitter pops in 1x during the day, coming home at lunch, etc. I dog-sit for a pair of adult Boxers and even the longest they leave them is usually 6 hours. Basically -- puppies are a lot of work and require constant attention no matter what breed. An adult dog wouldn't usually require so much. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

03-06-2010, 06:50 PM	#3
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	When I worked I always had a dog, mainly a yorkie and they did fine. If you can handle 2 it is nice for them to have company when you are gone if not they adjust. At first it is nice if you can have someone check on them during the day. Now that I am retired I have 4!! __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

03-06-2010, 06:59 PM	#4
PartPixie Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 168	I work full time as well. I find that taking Cricket to doggie daycare is beneficial for both of us. She is a tiny and has some health issues that I didn't expect. (I didn't buy her as a tiny, she just ended up that way.) She absolutly loves daycare, and the couple that own the shop adore her as well. It's almost like Cricket has two families. When I pick her up in the evenings she is usually tuckered out and is very calm and serene. On the other hand, my brother and ex-husband both have yorkies as well. Both of theirs stay home in an ex-pen while they work. So... every dog and person is different. I think it really comes down to you and how your puppy responds. (But I HIGHLY recommend daycare! ) __________________ Cricketts kisses make the world go round

03-06-2010, 09:51 PM	#6
BLADE YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 251	Kimbo is home alone 3 days out of the week. I go to work @ 7, come home for lunch for 30 min. @ around noon to potty and feed and then I come home around 4:30 or 5. Kimbo came home @ 9 weeks during our summer break. I wasn't working and was able to be home with him. When I had to go back to work and had to start leaving him, he was approx. 3.5 months old. I feel very comfortable leaving him for 5 or 6 hours, but no longer than that. __________________ Team Kimbo

03-06-2010, 07:00 PM	#5
T LYNN Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rhome, TX Posts: 72	I work 8 hours 4 days a week and have 2 yorkies. I only had one for about 1 1/2 years and then got the second one this summer. They do keep each other company, but the one did fine. My kids are here after school so they are not alone as much and my hubby's work schedule varies. I would not recommend leaving a little tiny puppy by itself for long, but you could get a pup that is 4-5 months. I leave food and water out for mine all the time, so they can eat when they want. When we are gone, I use pee pads. It works for us. You just have to decide if it will work for you. Oh, and I always thought I would just want one. But after we got the first one, I wanted another, now they are best buds.

03-06-2010, 09:56 PM	#7
loveshay YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: TN Posts: 556	I use puppy pads, so if I am gone they use those....I don't work, but if I have errands to run and such, I dont like to be gone more than 3 hours..... __________________ loving my lil SHAY

03-06-2010, 10:33 PM	#8
deeogie YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brampton Posts: 408	Before I got Lucky I was in a car accident...so I was unable to work for some time. That's when I thought it was a great time to get my puppy because I knew I could be a full time mommy for the first part of his life.He helped me through things more than medication did .Working is what prevented me from getting a Yorkie for over a yr. When I brought him home I knew I would be returning back to work part-time sooner or later, so I helped him adjust to being home alone, little bits at a time. Now a yr later ....I am still not able to work, but Lucky can be left for up to 5-6 hrs at a time safely now. He has his pee pads layed down...he will go potty on those. He never goes to the door for outside...unless I ask him if he wants to go for a walk!!He is quite content being my shadow until daddy gets home from work...then he is a daddy's boy. lol As much as I wanted to NEVER leave him, I knew there was going to come a time when I just may have to(for work). There are maybe days at a time when I am constantly with him...he loves it! But I always make sure I take a couple of days a go out for a few hours...just so he knows...when mommy goes...she will be back! lol I guess I am just saying that as soon as you bring your baby home get him used to that routine! Seperation problems are not good on furbaby or mommy...but if truth be known...it's the mommies that go through the seperation stress more!! lol It is so great when we are able to be a full time mommy to them for those first 6-7 months...you get to see their personality...they may all look very similiar but they are soooo different!! I love em'....lol __________________ Mommy 's Lucky

03-06-2010, 11:14 PM	#9
ellabee Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: british columbia, canada Posts: 145	i got billie as a 5 yr old. she spends our work days in an ex-pen, I don't give her free reign of the house as I have 4 cats and I don't want them to swat at her. also, she is safe from doing...whatever. she has a bed, toys, a pee pad, water in there i feed he rin the morning before i go (quarter cup) and again when i get home at 5. i go home every day for lunch for one hour and spend time with her, we go for a big walk. i added a 1 yr old last week to keep her company, he is in a separate ex-pen right beside hers so they get used to one another. so far she and he get along beautifully, and he is so much fun i haven't had a yorkie puppy before and he is a riot, high energy, really different but lots of fun. the reality of my world is that they are left alone through a full work week. i took a week off work to get ralphie settled, but i go back on monday. i believe that they are fine with the life we provide them ,as long as they are provided for, have all kinds of time with us outside of work hours, and are loved like crazy then i think their lives with us are good. its quality, not quantity! __________________ billie ralphie sophie maddy boo sadieben Last edited by ellabee; 03-06-2010 at 11:15 PM. Reason: adding a quick thought!

03-07-2010, 05:49 AM	#10
Jellybears YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: MacTier Ontario Canada Posts: 365	I work in the summer only - Mr. Darcy is just over one and he spent last summer by himself in the day, and I feel so bad about him being alone, that I am adopting another little Yorkie this Spring before I start work again!

03-07-2010, 06:50 AM	#11
OwnedByJezebel YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,921	It is extremely difficult to take care of a puppy if you work full-time. I did it with my Maltese, and for some time I had to come home at lunch to check on her and make sure everything was OK, she was eating, etc, basically commuting two times a day to work. My next two dogs were Yorkies, the first a rescue and the second a rehome and they were both a little under a year old. It made all the difference in the world. They had another dog to keep them company, and they were old enough not to be a constant worry. I quit work several years ago when hubby retired, and got my latest Yorkie about 4 months ago as a pup. I don't know how I could have possibly handled it working full-time. I recommend that you find one that is a little bit older that needs rehoming. A dog that is a little older can handle being alone longer (although I would still recommend eventually finding them a companion dog if you are gone all day 5 days/week), and they also have the advantage of being old enough that any health problems could already be apparent. Some problems just can be seen when they are still small pups, but at a year might be easy to see by a vet, like luxating patellas, liver shunt, etc. They might already be spayed/neutered, and already have all their shots ... things that might be difficult for you to attend to if you are working full-time. Good luck! __________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy

03-07-2010, 06:56 AM	#12
Yorkiegran3 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: England Posts: 212	I would NEVER leave mine for 8 hours a day. Hugs Shirl x x

03-07-2010, 07:28 AM	#13
gram2k Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Anytown Posts: 78	Seems I am the rare one that leaves mine home for 8 hours / 4 days per week, while I work. Mind you, she has her own bedroom, food, water, blankets, toys, pee pads, a crate if she chooses to go in and out of and a radio playing until we return. She is safe and I have peace of mind... We began using the xpen, as I ( personally ) would never crate her for 8 hours a day. Then she figured out how to jump over it. We looked into covers for the pen, but finally decided to use a baby gate and just give her free reign in the small room. She quickly learned how to jump over and crawl under ( as we raised it a bit to see if it resolved the issue ) the gate. We've now moved on to leaving the door open and using 2 gates, one on top ot the other, and so far, so good. And although I'm sure Chloe would prefer I quit my job, that isn't an option yet. We take her with us most times, she has full access to us and the house the other 136 hours of the week, so it's fine. And for those of us that doggie daycare or multiple dogs are not an option, they do adjust. You are home more than most and I think it's something you can work around. Do your research, make an educated decision and then get your puppy and enjoy!

03-07-2010, 07:35 AM	#14
SophieKatesMom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 3,242	I work and Sophie Kate is left at home for 8 hours or more but with that said I pay a dogwalker to come over daily and take her for a 30 minute walk around lunch time. Sophie Kate also goes to daycare two days a week. I have to work in order to afford my expensive Yorkie shopping habits. __________________ Cheryl,Mom to SophieKate

03-07-2010, 12:23 PM	#15
sherile Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pewee Valley, KY Posts: 48	I work 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week and my husband does too, unless it rains or is very cold. I had one yorkie for a couple months and did feel sorry for her being alone all day. After she died, I got 2 because I had been planning on getting a companion for her. Now I have Moses and Isabel and I don't think Moses would make it thru the day if he had to stay alone. Isabel would, she would just sit on the back of the chair and bark at any and everything; but Mosey is very anxious and she, being older, calms him. So, they are confined to one area with food, water and pee pads and they are left alone 8 - 10 hours a day some days. But, that said, I have never had a puppy - my first 3 were 1 year old or more when I got them and Mosey was 6 months. I'd probably worry more if I had a puppy. My sister in law had a puppy and we all felt sorry for him being left alone. When my other sister in law looked into getting a yorkie puppy, her husband told her to get 2 so they could keep each other company. So she has Hank & Jr and poor little Chopper is left alone all day. Chop is well loved and gets undivided attention when they are home, but he's alone 8 hrs a day.