New Puppy and Full Time job

[kkubas]

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.

[Zeus08]

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?

[ARCHIE]

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.

[kkubas]

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 :-)

[Zeus08]

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!

[Lee B]

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.

[Roccosmommy]

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!!!

[Roccosmommy]

Originally Posted by blink124

8 weeks is really young.
Wait month or two.

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!) 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 .

[Cha Cha]

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.

[Twinkie2Cute]

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!

[teacup0819]

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.

[OzzysQuadshot]

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

[Yorkiedaze]

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.

[mscat]

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.

[pancakepat]

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