Am I doing the right thing?

[Cutie_Emmy]

My Emmett is the love of my life. I have had him since he was apuppy and he is now three years old. He was the first dog I ever got for myself.

I am getting ready to start grad school, and am also getting ready to move out of my mom's house into an apartment. Here's the thing... My mom has a dog that has been Emmett's friend his whole life. My mom is also home all the time due to her disabilities. When I start grad school I will be away from home all day, up to 8 or 9 hours at a time. Emmett has never been alone. I was afraid he'd be lonely.

So what I did, although it is breaking my heaert so much... is that I told my mom she could keep Emmett while I am in grad school. I will only live 30 minutes away, and I know I will get to see him often... but am I doing the right thing? I am going to miss him sooo bad.

I've been crying about it frequently, away from other people like my mom and my fiancee because I don't want them to see how upset I am. Am I doing the right thing for Emmett? Will he miss me too much? Am I doing the wrong thing? I don't know what to do.

[Roccosmommy]

Oh, I'm sorry you are facing such a tough decision . I can't say what you should do, but it sounds like you are doing the right thing for your little guy. He will certainly miss you, but the stress will not be near as much as if he were taken from the only home he's known and his little dog friend, while also being left alone for so long every day. You should really feel fortunate that you can leave him with your mom and know he will be well cared for.

[smallmans]

What a tough decison. But, I am sure leaving him with a constant companion would be better than lots of time alone. Will you be able to visit him frequently? I hope you can find peace with your final decision. Good luck.

[hnybun128]

I'm not sure where your school is located vs. your new apartment, but is it at all possible for your mom to puppy sit during the day while you're gone? 30 minutes isn't at all that far. I have an hour commute each way to work, so a 30 minute doggy daycare commute isn't really unreasonable. Also, could you maybe have him live with you on the weekends? At least that way he wouldn't be gone all the time.

It's a tough decision to make, one I'm sure is weighing heavily on you. I wish you all the best and I'm sure you'll come to the right decision for Emmett.

[lil fu fu girl]

Whenever I find myself doing the unselfish thing, the one that puts the other party first and foremost...I find that it hurts beyond belief. Your decision to allow your pup to stay at "his" home with his friend and your mom sounds like it is in the best interest of the pup.

Yes, he will miss you, but you will have the gratification of knowing that he is well taken care of and that he is among family and with his friend, instead of being in a house alone by himself for hours. Sounds to me like you are doing the honorable thing....not the easy thing....but the one which puts your pup's needs before yours! Not many people can or will do that. In a self-fulfilling world it is a choice worthy of praise.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I am sorry you are going thru this but at least you know that Emmett will loved and cared for as you would want him to be...and you get to see him as you often as you can.

I know this is very hard on you but this shows just how much you love Emmett as you are putting his well being ahead of your needs. I wish you all the best and am sending you a big hug. Congrats and best wishes in grad school.

[Britster]

Wow! What a TOUGH decision. I feel for you. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. I know I could never not live without Jackson, I miss him sooo much when I have to leave him at my dads if I'm going somewhere, I literally miss him sleeping in the bed with me. I couldn't do more than a week or two without him (and even that is hard). Maybe that's me being selfish, but I just couldn't part ways. With you being so close, is there no way you can pick him up after work, and maybe just leave him at your moms during the day?

What I would personally do is probably enlist in doggie daycare, or a petsitter coming to my house once per day. A lot of dogs are often left home for 8 hours at a time, that's pretty common for working dog owners. So I don't think it's totally a terrible thing to do, but do think a dogwalker or daycare would be really beneficial (if, of course, he doesn't stay with your mom). If I was trying to make your decision, I would probably get a 2nd dog, to keep each other company. But I know that's not always possible with everybody, and not always the solution. It's just something I would do.

What are your hours that you're going to be away? Like an 8-5 type of deal? If so, I don't see an issue with getting home at 5-6pm, being able to still give Emmett a walk, or playtime, etc. Also, Jackson also lived his whole life at my moms house with their dog and she got hit by a car and died when Jackson was almost a 1year old, yeah he was really upset without her for a few weeks, but then he got used to being the only dog. Dogs usually adjust really easily, and alot faster than humans. You've also gotta think... what about when you're finished w/ grad school? Are you going to want to take him back... because that seems more unfair to me. By living even longer with your mom and dog playmate, the harder it's going to be to take him away from there when the time comes.

Whatever you decide, I really wish you luck. You will know what's right and what's best.

[Cutie_Emmy]

I'm not sure where your school is located vs. your new apartment, but is it at all possible for your mom to puppy sit during the day while you're gone? 30 minutes isn't at all that far. I have an hour commute each way to work, so a 30 minute doggy daycare commute isn't really unreasonable. Also, could you maybe have him live with you on the weekends? At least that way he wouldn't be gone all the time.

My new school is 2 miles away from my apartment, and 30 minutes away from my home. I am only moving because I would have to go over a high traffic bridge everyday and it is more convenient to live closer... plus I can ride my bike because I am in a city location. Weekends are a possibility, but would it confise him?

What are your hours that you're going to be away?

My Teaching/School schedule is:

MONDAY
2-4:30
HOUR BREAK
5:30PM - 8:15PM

TUESDAY
1-3:45

WEDNESDAY
2-3:15- 4:30
HOUR BREAK
5:30PM - 8:15PM

THURSDAY
1-3:45
45 minute break
4:30PM - 5:20PM
40 minute break
6:00PM - 8:45PM

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Free all day

[2Morkies]

Staying with your mom is the best thing for him. When I had my Cocker, he stayed with my mom for two years when I lived in a place that couldn't have dogs. He would stay with me on weekends and I'd visit after work on days I didn't have to work late. This will be the best thing for him...don't worry. At first, I thought you were going to say that you were rehoming him. This is so much better

Wow, what a schedule!!! Friday could be your fun day with your baby...then I guess you could "study"....uggh.....or something later.

[kidmuzicdotcom]

Oh my heart hurts for you...maybe you could have him for a sleepover on Tuesday and then take him for the weekends...I keep Kaylee my sons yorkie 90% of the time but she still gets so excited to go with her mom and dad and sometimes spend the night at her moms..My son lives with us but he is gone most of the time..and if he doesn't come home for the night she sleeps with us and the rest of the time she sleeps with him...it doesn't seem to upset her at all to adjust back and forth...so I think Emmett would enjoy staying with you on the weekends and going back to your mom's for the week..he would know you are always coming back for him. I hope you can work it out for both of you to be happy

[AbbysMom08]

Oh, I'm sorry you have to make this decision. This has to be so hard.
I hope you can come to some sort of arrangement that you can be at peace with.
By the looks of your schedule, you would have some time with you little one.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

[nana911]

If the traffic situation necessitates you having to move then it certainly wouldn't be feasible to have your mom go to your place once a day or to pet sit. I think you are doing the right thing during the week. Yorkies do fine alone but they prefer company if that is an option and obviously he has the option. I would get him on Fridays and take him back to mom's on Sunday. That way you and he have best of both worlds. Wouldn't be confusing to him at all. They love adventure and change of scenery just as much as we do. He'd have his playmate and granny during the week and his mommy on the three day weekends. What more could a furbaby want?

Heck if you pick him up Thursday night it's a 3 1/2 day split between the two of you so he would be spending the same amount of time with you as your mom. You wouldn't be 'giving' up anything at all!

[PenniesMom]

Your doing the right thing even if it does hurt its whats best for your baby and your going to see him all the time! if i were you ide be very proud of your selfless choice like fufu girl said the right choice usually hurts more

[Rachael x]

Its a hard decision to make but I think you are doing the right thing, a constant companion is much better then him being alone all day.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by nana911

If the traffic situation necessitates you having to move then it certainly wouldn't be feasible to have your mom go to your place once a day or to pet sit. I think you are doing the right thing during the week. Yorkies do fine alone but they prefer company if that is an option and obviously he has the option. I would get him on Fridays and take him back to mom's on Sunday. That way you and he have best of both worlds. Wouldn't be confusing to him at all. They love adventure and change of scenery just as much as we do. He'd have his playmate and granny during the week and his mommy on the three day weekends. What more could a furbaby want?

Heck if you pick him up Thursday night it's a 3 1/2 day split between the two of you so he would be spending the same amount of time with you as your mom. You wouldn't be 'giving' up anything at all!

That would be a very good plan!