New Puppy and Full Time job
 

I just bought a beautiful yorkie puppy and I will be picking her up next week.
I live in a condo and I work full time, but I do live close to my job so I go home on my lunch break for about an hour everyday. Other than working I spend all of my time at home.

My question is, what should I do to ease the pain for both the puppy and me when I have to leave her for work? I told the breeder about this before I purchased her incase it would be too much for her too soon. She said it would be totally fine as long as I give her toys and plenty of food and a soft bed. I still feel bad about it though. I know I can only do so much but I would love any other good ideas or tips.

You are always going to feel bad about leaving them at home. I still have guilt when I go out without my Zeus. How old is your puppy?

It's hard but is possible. I'm did it and still doing it. Bud was 14wks but
I did take the first wk off. After that I came home on my lunch hr for
6 wks by then he was able to hold it until I came home at 5:30.
It's good you work close by. I didn't and it was so stressfull driving
across a major bridge and 13.5mi each way, walk him and get back to
work in 1hr. I just about made it. Good luck with your pup and welcome
to YT. Post pictures when you can.

She is 8 weeks... I know.. she is so young. I was worried about taking her too early because I read that they should be 12 weeks when you take them home but the breeder said it would be fine. I attached a picture, hope it shows up :-)

She is adorable! 8 weeks is young. You will want to check in every few hours to give her a potty break and make sure she is eating. Have you thought about a puppy toy with a heartbeat. That might help ease her when you are gone. Keep her in a crate or an exercise pen when you are gone. This will keep her safe. I am sure others on here will fill you in on more advice. Watch out, she is going to steal your heart. Enjoy her!:aimeeyork

She's adorable. As you said, a secure area with nothing to get in trouble with, food, water, plenty of toys and chew stuff to keep her occupied, a soft bed ... and piddle pads!

Good luck. I'll probably catch flack ... 12 to 14 weeks is ideal. It's what you want for you baby, what's best. But plenty of people take their pups at 8 weeks. They're just smaller, more insecure and Mom didn't have enough time to teach them more manners. Younger pups may have more problems eating and drinking ... make sure she does well with both, or ensure that you give her Nutrical often so she gets her calories and does go hypoglycemic on you.

First of all, Welcome! Second, Congratulations - she is a cutie pie!! Third, I am in a similar situation. I got Rocco at 8 weeks, not knowing that was too young (the breeder told me he was all set to go!). But don't panic about the age thing - Rocco is 3 1/2 months now and doing well. I took the first week off (kids Feb vacation) and since then, I come home at lunch for an hour (also work close by) then he's back in the crate until about 2:30-3 when my kids get home. It's hard for me, but I know he's safest in the crate. I'm hoping that in the next year or so he can have his run of the house while I'm away and not have to be crated all day. My biggest suggestion to you would be to give her as much attention when you're home and let her be up as late as possible at night. Then when she gets up early (5:30?), get up with her, feed her early and spend some time playing with her - she'll be very ready for her very long morning nap. Best of luck to you and your new baby!!!

:confused: Not sure that this is really good advice for someone who is asking for help on a puppy that is already scheduled to come home. Not everyone can get a puppy at the absolute ideal timing. Let's welcome the OP with help and suggestions rather than scolding for no good reason (eg., "mad face" for a post title???). YT members have welcomed me although (EGADS:2omg:!) I too received my puppy at 8 weeks old, at the assurance of a 'reputable' breeder. And I also (get your mad faces ready)...work a full time job. But my little boy couldn't be more loved and well cared for :animal36.

Welcome!! My situation is similar to yours. I work full time and work close enough to home that I go home for an hour on my lunch break. The first couple of weeks are rough and tiring. That's because all the newness. Be consistant and you will be amazed how soon they learn a schedule. I devote my whole lunch hour to my baby though, playing, and making sure they are eating, giving potty breaks and such, so when they go back in their crate/pen they are ready to settle down for the afternoon. Good luck your new baby is adorable.

:wavey:
Hello and Welcome to YT! Having a yorkie so young can be difficult if you're not home all the time. I was lucky enough to be home with Twinkie. If you can wait until the little one is a bit older, that would be great. If not, is there anyone else that can stop by to check in? Good Luck and enjoy every minute! ;)

Hello and welcome to YT. I setup our new puppy in an xpen with her crate, food, water, toys and peepads in it. She came home at 12 weeks and I only work 4 hours a day, but she is quite happy in there. She comes out as soon as I get home and we play for quite some time. It is great that you are able to come home at lunchtime. I actually came home during my workday the first week to just check on her and all was fine. Listen to these folks on here...they have really great information. :animal-pa

Congratulations!!! I too picked up my little man at 8 weeks of age. I didn't know any better until I started reading here on Yorkie Talk..... So... I put my boy in the bathroom with a secure gate at the door. That way the cats can jump over and play with him throughout the day (which I know they do!!) and he can look out. We have a large master bath, it's about 20 x 14 - I have his pee pads in one corner and then I took a king size comforter that I am not longer using and folded it up so it is about 4 layers thick. He has about 10 toys to play with and two soft comfy beds to pick from and a fuzzy blanket also. His food and water are near by. When I go to work he gets to go to his "play room" when I am home, he is either following me around or if I am doing something that I don't want him to get stepped on, I purchased a 4x4 play area plastic fence from Amazon that I have on a blanket and he has a bed in there and pee pads and toys.

Since they are so little, they will tire out and need to take naps, I can find him in his bed in the bathroom when he needs a break. At night he is crate trained and sleeps in a crate on my nightstand.

I will add that because these little guys are so small and especially being young and not eating well...you will want to purchase a tube of Nutrastat or Nutracal - these are a high calorie gel that is flavored. I squeeze out a drop about the size of a small peanut and give it to Ozzy 2 times a day to help combat hypoglycemia. At his first Doctor's appointment she started to tell us how important hypoglycemia is in these little breeds but when we told her he got his gel 2 x a day she was very pleased!!!

After having Ozzy for 3 weeks tomorrow... I can say that ideally he should have stayed with his mommy. My next Yorkie will be over 12 weeks before I bring them home. But... now I know!

Enjoy your new baby!!!!!! Your heart will be stolen and I hate to tell you that you will never be the same. I can't wait to get home to my wee-man!!

Karen

If you had done your homework and researched adopting a puppy that young you would have found out the puppy should be at least 12 weeks old. Next, did you have a well thought out plan as to how you were going to take care of this puppy's meal times, which should be several times a day, (and not left with dry stuff it could choke on) or how you were going to house train? Dogs are also social animals and don't do well when left alone, especially a young puppy. This alone will cause some unwanted behavior problems. That breeder sure didn't have the puppy's best interest in mind by selling it so young and knowing it would be left alone all day. How heartless of her! BYB!
My suggestion to those who want a puppy but work full time is simply don't! Not unless you have someone at home all the time to help take care of it. A better plan would be to adopt an older more settled Yorkie that is already house trained and is ok being left for a little while, and even then come home for lunch to walk and take care of the dog, or have someone come and do that for you.

Hi there and welcome to YT . you are right that 12 weeks is the ideal time to bring a yorkie puppy home, and even at this age they need so much attention. A responsible breeder woud never sell a 8 week old pup >
Mine was going on 9 weeks old , and I was at home all day long with her. I did not know any better either. Hypoglecimia is the thing that is the mot scariest part about bringing home such a young yorkie baby home . They have to eat often , and sometimes they do not want to if stressed out , and in a new environment .
BE sure to have Karyo syurp on hand to give if she is not eating rub it on her gums to prevent any hypo attacks.
If at all possible , have the breeder hold onto her for a month . That is anther important thing is that these pups learn social skills from each other , and this is the critical age for doing so.
If I were you I woud have an ex pen ready , puppy pads , toys, and have someone check on her every few hours , make certain she is eating .... A tiny pup can die of a hypo attack , so it is really vital to make sure she is eating well.

Sorry...:cry:....But I have to agree w/yorkiedaze. (and mscat)

I got bailey at nine weeks and kept her in an expen while I was at work. All worked out fine. You can work and have a dog.

Good luck!!

Yorkidaze - Please don't take this the wrong way...I'm sure you are very experienced and have wonderful dogs, but I don't think it's a fair statement to say that just because someone works full time they should not be able to experience raising a puppy. Indeed, adopting an older "more settled" Yorkie could work, but that could also be a disaster, not knowing what behavior issues you'd be inheriting and if you'd be able to manage such issues. And your comment "did you have a well thought out plan as to how you were going to take care of this puppy's meal times, which should be several times a day, (and not left with dry stuff it could choke on) " sounded a bit sarcastic. The poster did say she would be coming home at lunch time. My vet told me feeding 3x per day is absolutley fine - I do this and my baby is extremely happy and healthy. Give the poster a break.

We all have our own opinions regardless if they come out a bit gritty don't we. I expressed mine, and will stick with it. I'd say the same things, maybe even rougher to my kids, sister, mom or any family member, but doesn't mean I don't love/like them. ;)

Is there any way the breeder can keep the dog until 12 weeks? It will be better for both you and the dog if you could.

When we got Bandit (11 weeks) we got him on a 3-day weekend so we spend the first 3 days of his life with him. My husband worked across the street from our apt so he came home at lunch to feed walk and play with Bandit and came home by 4:15. It is def possible to work and have a puppy, and it's great that you'd be able to come home at lunch to take care of him!! To help you can put a shirt you slept in inside his crate so he smells you. Is your breeder close by? Maybe she could let you mail a shirt or blanket that smells like you so the pup is familiar with your scent when he comes home. Good luck:thumbup:

Honestly I would go back to the breeder and tell her/him that you want to wait until 12 weeks after all the reading & research to give the puppy more time with Mom and littermates. A reputable breeder who cares about their puppies shouldn't have a problem with that and should want for the puppies to have the best start and learn important behavior steps before moving on.
If you read posts on YT from quite a few who got their babies at this age, there tends to be a recurring theme of similar problems they experience that a lot of people don't that waited until 12 weeks.
There is of course never a guarantee, but if it were me I would want to have the optimal situation starting out with a puppy!

Welcome to YT and congrats on the new furbaby! It really would be for the best talk to the breeder. It wouldn't hurt to ask right?

Hi and welcome! I got my first yorkie at 8 weeks and the second when she was 12 weeks. They did great. And I work a full time job. (Not all of us have the option to not work. And just because we have to work does not mean we can not have yorkies or even raise a yorkie pup. Mine are very LOVED.) You just have to spend time with them when you are home. Coming home at lunch is great. Just be sure to leave water, toys, bed, and food out for the puppy.

Congrads on your new baby!

although the puppy is scheduled to come home...it can be change since he/she is not home yet. i would suggest going back to the breeder asking if she can keep the puppy until at least 12 weeks old. i don't see why she couldn't do that. it would make the transition from previous home to new home especially since the OP works full time. Between 8-12 the puppy will gain so much from being with mom and littermate.

Welcome to YT and congrats on your new baby. You will find a lot of helpful info and very experienced people here on YT :welcome4:

As others said, the best thing to do would be to ask the breeder to keep the puppy a little longer.

If you must bring this puppy home at 8 weeks however, the most important thing to do is have the puppy checked in on as often as possible, these little guys can go downhill fast... Can you take shorter breaks and go home for even 10 minutes every 2-3 hours? Can someone else stop in and just make sure the puppy is doing okay, eating, drinking, etc. Once the puppy is a little older it wont be necessary to check in as often, so just finding someone to help out for a short time would be good.

The best setup at this age is an xpen or very small room with puppy pads, food, water, and a bed or crate for them to sleep in.

Good Luck.

Congrats on your new puppy. I also work full time and when Sophie Kate as a baby I would come home everyday at lunch time and take her for a walk and play with her for an hour.

I cannot remember are you crate training her? that is what I did with Sophie Kate and it worked well. Remember to make sure she goes to the bathroom before she goes into the crate and immediately when you take her out.

The part about leaving your dog and feeling guility, it will never stop. Almost 2 years later I still feel guilty and miss her every minute I am at work or away from her.

Good luck and keep up posted on her progress.

When coming home for lunch, make sure pup eats and make sure pup eats before you leave in the morning. Really any exception to that could put him/her in a bad situation.

If possible, come home on breaks or have somebody else check in.
Yorkies are extremely vulnerable to hypoglycemia at this age.

I got Ellie at just less than eight weeks. Didn't know any better at the time and I don't think her breeder did either. I love her to pieces, but I also have learned a valuable lesson. That is, this is far from the optimal time to take a Yorkie home.

And just because someone works full time does not mean that they shouldn't be able to have a puppy! Wonderful for everyone that has the ability to stay home, but for only stay at home owners to be considered good puppy candidates really isn't fair, imo. As long as the pup is taken care of, it's just fine. :) You may want to consider a playmate for your pup after awhile.

I was in the SAME situation as you. I got my puppy when he was 6 WEEKS!!!! He was just a baby and I worked a full time job and my fiancee is deployed right now. You are always going to feel bad about leaving them but I just got him a play pen with a puppy pad, toys, food & water a nice fluffy thing to sleep on and he will be fine. I got home from lunch EVERYDAY...I wont ever skip a day! But I dediciate my lunch to him making sure he eats play and get his excerise. I make sure to show him LOTS OF LOVE when I am there just to let him know that there is someone that really loves him and that you arent going anywhere!!! PM me if you have any questions..I would be happy to help.

If I am gone for more than 3 hours, my pup is in the pen. i put her cage at one end and papers at the other. during the day she likes to be outside of the cage (the cage door is always open) so i also have a cozy blanket outside of the cage too. the whole pen is set up about four feet long by 3 feet wide. I put a heavy plastic table cloth under the whole pen (one with flannel on the underside.) Just make sure there is water and food down. She should do fine especially if you are coming home mid-day for an hour.
Good Luck! and enjoy your new baby!!!