Discouraged: i need HONEST opinions about this...

[Rhetts_mama]

Breeders aren't just looking at your current situation, but down the line, too. There are big changes in store for you after graduation. Internships take far more hours than school. Jobs require moves. And with moves come the possibility that you might have to give the dog up due to housing issues. A good breeder doesn't want one of their pups to be rehomed, or worse, end up in a shelter.

I don't want to discourage you, just give you more to think about.

[bran]

Have you checked this out? www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yorkies-sale-wanted/210733-adorable-male-biewer-peanut.html#post3262344 he is so cute and hes over 2 so he should fit for you having all shots, neutered, etc.
A yorkie is alot of work and one of the hardest breed to potty train.We have 2 and i have put thousands of $ into them from vet care, everyday needs,and beds/clothing. A yorkie will be the love of your life and becomes a kid from the first day you receive them. I am gone about 6 to 7 hours a day and mine have been fine with it. They normally go everywhere i go except work . I hope this helps you

Originally Posted by Islandloverr

Well, I'm STILL looking for my yorkie soulmate. & I'm getting a bit discouraged. I've been interested in some breeders but then when I mention I'm in college (studying to become a VET) I get rejected & get the "college= no money and no time" speech. So because I'm in college....I'm automatically a homless girl w/ a full booked up schedule? I'm not evaluated on how I CARE or will LOVE this yorkie! It doesn't seem like that part is even considered. Now I understand if I said I go away to college or a full time student....I go to school 3 days a week every other day for like 5-7 hours. I understand that is quite some time to be away from a yorkie....but I've seen yorkies handle more than that with NO PROBLEMS! I've heard people tell me that yorkies can't handle that & I've heard other owners tell me that they can.

So let me make my situation clear so you can understand it & tell me your honest opinions:

*I don't owe any loans because I never filed for one.
*my tuition payments will be done NEXT MONTH, already bought my books for this year.
*my schedule once again is 3 days a week every other day for a few hours (the most 7)
(I didn't even iclude the holidays yet)

So here's the question of the day....reading about my situation & fully understanding it.....should I not be allowed to get a yorkie?

What are your views on it I need HONEST (not blunt, or harsh) opinions.
& if I get enough reponses that say I shouldn't.....I will just COMPLETELY FORGET about ever getting a yorkie. Ill just stick with goldfish & cats.

[Islandloverr]

Originally Posted by Britster

I am in college, so I can give you first hand experience. I am 20yrs old, in the local community college, currently majoring in business and almost finished my associates. I plan on hopefully attending a four year university within the next year, but I have also contemplated becoming a vet tech, just to have an extra 'degree' on the side and keep my options open. Bottom line, I don't even know 100% what I want to do yet.

I got Jackson when I was 18 years old. I don't really even know what got into me, I suddenly wanted a dog of MY own. Not a family dog. So, Jackson came home on December 13th, 2008... 6 months after I graduated high school. For most people, getting a dog then would not have been a good decision. But for me, it was perfect timing. I had all the time in the world (winter break) to train a dog, bond, etc. And let me tell you, a puppy is HARD work. I was used to sleeping in really late, staying up late, though never was a big partyer. I was so tired when he was a puppy, I was crashing every night around 8:30pm, because I was awaken in the middle of the night once or twice for the first, oh, 2 months or so. Up every morning at 7am, potty time, and then puppy would need playtime. It worked out though, we created our own little schedule. Bedtime was 8pm, middle of night wake up call was usually midnight, and then again at 3:30-4am, then up again at 7-8am. Pretty much my whole winter break was dedicated and spent with him. Once I was back in school, it was only 3 days a week and from maybe 10am-3pm so he was fine in his expen when I left. I also live at home and do have the occasional help of my stepdad if necessary. Very rare but if there is ever a moment I can't be home on time, he can usually let him out for me.

Now, at almost 2 years old, there's no more of the waking in the night, etc. He gets let out at 11-midnight and sleeps until 9am or later. But don't think it's still an easy ride. Jackson requires a ton of attention and time. Sometimes, I do have to cancel plans or something I maybe wanted to do because I have a dog. But to me, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to pay and is worth the companionship of Jackson. We spend a lot of time together, he's a pretty high energy dog who requires a lot of attention, as a lot of terriers are. Walks daily are a must. He needs a place to run a few times a week so we go to the dog park or my dads house, etc. I spend a lot of money on him, both with unnecessary things (LOL) and the requirements. He came up limping last year, and it ended up being a $400 vet visit... that was $400 I really didn't "have" but I just made it work. I was broke for a while, lol.

I don't want to discourage you, because I think having a dog is an amazing thing. Jackson is my best friend and companion and I can't imagine life without him. I would never suggest owning a dog to every college student though. I think it just depends on the individual. 99% of my friends could never own one. They are far too much into themselves (which is fine) and are much more concerned with finding the latest parties or hooking up with the hottest people than caring for a living species that needs love, attention, food, exercise, etc. I am able to provide Jackson with everything that he needs and my lifestyle works with having a dog. I think you just need to base it off of your lifestyle and if a dog can accommodate to it.

Will my life change a ton over the next 10 years? YES. Do I think that means I shouldn't have a dog? NO. You can be 60 years old and your life could change drastically over the next few years. Anyone can have life changing experiences whether it be divorce, moving, having kids, etc, at any age.... if that were the case, nobody could own dogs. Jackson will always be a part of my life, for the rest of his life, no matter what happens in mine. He's family.

By the way, I've spoken to a reputable breeder of Papillons, and a few Silky Terrier breeders, and both were willing to sell me a dog, regardless of my age. All I have to do is show them the time and effort I have put into Jackson, and I explain my lifestyle truthfully to them.

You just explained my life 100%. I'm 20 majoring in biology...goin to take 2 years of that & then transfer to a college that specializes in vet care. I stay up late....don't go to parties....even if I wanted to my mom wouldn't allow it (she treats me like a lil kid) lol. All I do is come home & burn my eyeball out from watching t.v. its sooo boring. I probably go out w/ my friends once/ twice a week ( once again my mother being over protective....she controls me.) I also think getting a yorkie will be my escape from being in the house all the time....ill be able to go out & get fresh air without my mom being paranoid that I'm out doing stuff I'm not supposed to. & its funny how you mentioned the time you got Jackson. After I graduated H.S. I took a year off from school. Now THAT would've been the absolute PERFECT time for me to get my yorkie. I had plenty of time I had a great paying 4 hour job that was literally a few block away from home my bank account was tripple what it is now....but my mom was flip flopping about getting one. Smh I'm still angry at her for that. But that's what I'm actually doing now. I want to get one around winter break or summer break.

[Islandloverr]

@ Brister ill definately look into those. Thanks! & wow that's GREAT....ill have to look around for that too.

@ yorkielady....yea that's true. I guess when breeders hear me....they just hear a teenager that wants a yorkie & not serious....so if my mom is there they'll take me seriously.

@ shodanusmc idk maybe you're right. But its REALLY hard to wait another 4 or more years when I waited a good 12 years already......wow this is a lot to think about.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by kalina82

Perhaps a young adult yorkie would be best in your situation. I don't see how being gone for 7 hours every other day is a problem. Most people are gone for at least 7 hours 5 days a week. The only problem I see is with young puppies and those hours. When i got mine i worked 8 hours a day but had a lunch break from 12-1 where i would go home to feed/take out my puppy. This made the situation work. If that's not possible then having a dog walker/neighbor/family member come over half way through your school hours would be next best. If neither of those options are viable then an adult is a better choice. They will have bigger bladders and be able to hold it throughout the day, plus there is less of a chance of them getting hypoglycemia.

try a rescue or a shelter. good luck

i agree here. puppy might be too much work for a college student. for every hour you are in class u are supposed to study for three hours. so for those 5 hour days you should be busy studying at least 15 hours!! that's a lot of time to not devote to a puppy. i think you should defin. get a dog because ur going to be a vet and you should have that experience of your very own pup. but i think that you might consider starting with a 1-3 year old dog and not a new 12 week old puppy. get a pretrained pottytrained one from a shelter or a breeder that has older pups.

good luck on finding your match.

[lizzieg]

I think that people of many situations can make it work. I too faced a battle when getting Khloe, and was interviewed three times with my 5 year old and 6 year old because typically the breeder won't home with small kids. We just had to show her that her baby would be taken care of, and prove to her that it would be a good decision for both her and my family. I would approach a breeder with everything that they would question upfront, and explain to them that you have taken all of these factors into consideration, and that you are capable to give it all the love and attention, and are prepared with the financial obligation of it also. I think bringing your Mom there too is an excellent idea; it will show the breeder that you have other family members that support your decision to expand your family also. With that said, I would think that a dog around a year old would be the ideal choice. My first dog that I owned alone and wasn't 'the family's dog' was my Westie, and he was around 7 months old. It was nice to have a dog that came pre-trained to a certain extent so that we didn't have any unreasonable expectations of him. But with time, devotion, and dedication, any age will work.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

i agree here. puppy might be too much work for a college student. for every hour you are in class u are supposed to study for three hours. so for those 5 hour days you should be busy studying at least 15 hours!! that's a lot of time to not devote to a puppy. i think you should defin. get a dog because ur going to be a vet and you should have that experience of your very own pup. but i think that you might consider starting with a 1-3 year old dog and not a new 12 week old puppy. get a pretrained pottytrained one from a shelter or a breeder that has older pups.

good luck on finding your match.

Lol, I don't know anyone that studies for 15hrs a day. I would never study for that long, hahaha. Maybe I'm just an under-achiever, but there's only 24hrs in a day. Sorry, 15hrs is insane!

[Cha Cha]

I have a 20 and an 18 year old, both in college now. There is no way either one of them could take on a dog. They come home to get their "dog" fix. All I can say, however, is you know your situation better than anyone else. Can you predict your schedule next semester? How about the one after that? When you transfer to the vet school, can you guarantee you will be able to find a place that allows dogs? If you are in a situation where you have a roommate in the future, you have to understand that at times, your dog will be at their mercy. That is, what if the dog gets out? Will they take responsibility to go get it? Will they not abuse your dog when you are not there? What about roommate friends coming and going? I know this these questions sound harsh, but you have to consider every single scenario. It is impossible for anyone to predict their future. I get that. It really becomes a question of how much are you willing to sacrifice once you have committed to the dog. If you have considered every possible conflict that "may" come along, and you have a plan to deal with that, then you can most likely handle having a dog. Best wishes in your search, and your schooling. (My scenarios are just examples of why my girls cannot even begin to think about having a dog right now even though they desperately long for thier babies who are at home with ME! ).

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Islandloverr

You just explained my life 100%. I'm 20 majoring in biology...goin to take 2 years of that & then transfer to a college that specializes in vet care. I stay up late....don't go to parties....even if I wanted to my mom wouldn't allow it (she treats me like a lil kid) lol. All I do is come home & burn my eyeball out from watching t.v. its sooo boring. I probably go out w/ my friends once/ twice a week ( once again my mother being over protective....she controls me.) I also think getting a yorkie will be my escape from being in the house all the time....ill be able to go out & get fresh air without my mom being paranoid that I'm out doing stuff I'm not supposed to. & its funny how you mentioned the time you got Jackson. After I graduated H.S. I took a year off from school. Now THAT would've been the absolute PERFECT time for me to get my yorkie. I had plenty of time I had a great paying 4 hour job that was literally a few block away from home my bank account was tripple what it is now....but my mom was flip flopping about getting one. Smh I'm still angry at her for that. But that's what I'm actually doing now. I want to get one around winter break or summer break.

I don't have controlling parents, but I've just just grown up around drinking and partying and it's something I am already over, lol. I just don't find it appealing. I like to hang out with some of my close friends I've known for years, going out to eat, or just hanging out, etc. I've always been more mature for my age, certain events in my life have shaped me. Jackson has made me a better person, in my opinion. I would rather spend my Saturday's at the dog park than anywhere else! In my particular city, it's not that hard to find rentals (even near the major universities) that allow pets, especially with small dogs. So I've already looked into that. I will say, it was kind of tough during winter break because it was so cold, potty training can be a difficult thing to get outdoors in the freezing but Jackson loves the cold, LOL. But it was hard for me. You can see Jackson out in the snow on my YouTube; YouTube - brittanyjadexo's Channel

[nana911]

Whatever your decision, if you do get a dog, make sure it is healthy and then get dog insurance. I use petplan which runs me around 23-24 dollars a month per dog. That means I pay a 200 deductible for anything catastrophic and then they pay the rest up to 20,000. That takes those unforeseen vet expenses due to liver problems, broken legs, etc.. off your shoulders and out of the equation. Small price to pay for peace of mind.

I would check shelters and rescues, get a young adult during a long break, like your winter break, so you would have time to bond and do some training. I would pad train so that having to take it out would not be an issue. Mine are indoor trained so when I'm gone for 12hr shifts I don't have to worry about them messing where they shouldn't because they don't get outside.

In your situation I would never suggest getting two, but that is why mine are okay when left, because they have each other. I'm not sure that leaving one alone would work. They are littermates and have each other to play with and keep each other company. I really can't imagine leaving one alone..that is beyond my experience.

Good luck whatever you decide. Huge decision.....I understand your impatience, but I know you also want to do right by whatever dog you are considering....

[Islandloverr]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

I have a 20 and an 18 year old, both in college now. There is no way either one of them could take on a dog. They come home to get their "dog" fix. All I can say, however, is you know your situation better than anyone else. Can you predict your schedule next semester? How about the one after that? When you transfer to the vet school, can you guarantee you will be able to find a place that allows dogs? If you are in a situation where you have a roommate in the future, you have to understand that at times, your dog will be at their mercy. That is, what if the dog gets out? Will they take responsibility to go get it? Will they not abuse your dog when you are not there? What about roommate friends coming and going? I know this these questions sound harsh, but you have to consider every single scenario. It is impossible for anyone to predict their future. I get that. It really becomes a question of how much are you willing to sacrifice once you have committed to the dog. If you have considered every possible conflict that "may" come along, and you have a plan to deal with that, then you can most likely handle having a dog. Best wishes in your search, and your schooling. (My scenarios are just examples of why my girls cannot even begin to think about having a dog right now even though they desperately long for thier babies who are at home with ME! ).

Yea I've put all those things into consideratioto the statement about knowing my schedule next year...... that's the beauty of community college they're schedules are sooo flexible. & due to the high application submissions.....they created more classes, more times & the classes are even shorter.I can't predict the future... but that shouldn't be a problem.

& I'm living with my mom while I'm goin to be in college there's no rush to leave my mommys nest anytime soon. (She told me I don't have to leave until I get on my own 2 feet.....but trust me I'm not goin to be a 29 year old living w/ her still. Lol.) I want to stay around the city when I transfer....so I can stay at my moms house (NYC) or dads house (New jersey).

in NYC ill like to say 75-80% of houses pets are allowed...there's only a weight & size limit in some. & I don't think illl be good with roomates, I have too many peeves I like things to be in order a certain way. So that's something that I don't have to think about.


AND lucky you! You get to stay w/ the yorkie babies while your girls bust their brains over Midterms & final exams!! Lol.

[felicity1008]

I know exactly how you feel. I wanted a maltese so bad when i was in college. I was a full time student and worked full time as a hairstylist. School was from 8-12 then work from 1-9 and when i got home i did homework till midnight. I insisted on a puppy and mom said ok as long as i cared for it myself and she helped me take him out when i went to work. Well little to say my life got even more filled up once the boyfriend came into the picture. My boyfriend, who is now my husband, surprised me one day and DIED HIS PRETTY WHITE FUR PINK WITH JELLO. It was quite a cute shade on him.....But poor Pookie was locked up in my room day and night and was miserable. I started to take him to work with me as i cut hair and my boss soon did not approve of it. So Pookie was soon hating me and he would pee on my bed when i was not home!!! ugg. so i would have to strip the bed, put a plastic sheet on it and he would pee on the plastic...it was a nightmare!!! I loved him so much that after a year, it broke my heart to, but i gave him to one of my clients who had 4 maltese females. WELL... he was one happy puppy!!!! She said that she would breed him to one of her girls and give me a pup when the timing was better for me.
Well 20 years later I am a stay at home mom of 2 kiddos and 3 yorkies.
My two girls are pregnant right now. Felicity is due in a week and Daisey is due in three weeks. We are very excited for our expecting furbabies to come. Well Felicity had one litter before, 2 boys. One went to live with my then 16 year old babysitter...who lives on my street. I knew her well and she is a perfect fit for him. I know her mom well too.. and she cares for him when she is at school. If she goes away to college next year i would care for him while he is gone too!!! The other boy went to a stay at home mom and she treats him like a baby. I am in contact with both of the buyers and it makes me feel secure about that. You are a very honest and caring young woman. you just need to find what is best for you. I just wanted to tell you my college story and how it did not work out for me. But it does work out for my young babysitter who is a very mature, responsible young woman.
Well, you can PM me and we can talk more. To get to know eachother, But my babies will not be ready till December. My babysitter, Alex, really enjoyed visiting her Toby while he was in my care, seeing him grow everyweek. I am located in Farmingdale NJ and would only place him in a home that is in travel distance of me. What part of NY are you in?

[Islandloverr]

Originally Posted by nana911

Whatever your decision, if you do get a dog, make sure it is healthy and then get dog insurance. I use petplan which runs me around 23-24 dollars a month per dog. That means I pay a 200 deductible for anything catastrophic and then they pay the rest up to 20,000. That takes those unforeseen vet expenses due to liver problems, broken legs, etc.. off your shoulders and out of the equation. Small price to pay for peace of mind.

I would check shelters and rescues, get a young adult during a long break, like your winter break, so you would have time to bond and do some training. I would pad train so that having to take it out would not be an issue. Mine are indoor trained so when I'm gone for 12hr shifts I don't have to worry about them messing where they shouldn't because they don't get outside.

In your situation I would never suggest getting two, but that is why mine are okay when left, because they have each other. I'm not sure that leaving one alone would work. They are littermates and have each other to play with and keep each other company. I really can't imagine leaving one alone..that is beyond my experience.

Good luck whatever you decide. Huge decision.....I understand your impatience, but I know you also want to do right by whatever dog you are considering....

Oh wow really?? I've heard about pet insurance but never looked into it. Where can I get more info on petplan??

I agree with you I need to narrow my search more on older yorkies. That's what I was looking for an older trained neutered yorkie at 1st but there weren't many so I just settled for looking for a puppy & starting from basics. Plus who doesn't love that "puppy stage" lol. Its so cute......but maybe I'm not ready for that stage...

[Jessilee19]

I just wanted to give you my story, maybe it will help give you hope. =)
I am nineteen and my boyfriend is twenty. We have been together for over three years and lived together for quite some time now. We have a kitten who is six months old now but I have always wanted a yorkie and he decided to get me one for my birthday/anniversary. We are both in college at the university and live eight hours from where we grew up so we are taking care of ourselves. Denali came into our lives at fifteen weeks old but we got him in the middle of the summer so we have had a lot of time to spend bonding with him. He is still really young and still needs a lot of training but i only go to school two days a week for about 5 hours each day and then have two online classes(which can be worked on while he is playing with the kitten or sleeping). My boyfriend and i are both involved in sorority/fraternity so that takes up some time too. He is with me practically all the time though, we take him to a doggy beach/park and pet stores all the time, he even comes to a lot of the events that our sorority/fraternity hold so he is never by himself too much.
Both our kitten and puppy are utd on their shots and are scheduled to be spayed and neutered come the right age. Denali is on heartworm prevention monthly. We switched both to blue buffalo cat and puppy food(which is not cheap food) because after some research i decided i wanted them on something better than they were eating. They both have a ton of toys, treats, and everything else they could want or need(such as Denali has a winter jacket because the winters here are pretty cold and we wanted to be prepared for when it gets to that point and he also has a life jacket because he loves to swim but is so little that he gets tired quick). We also have pet insurance in case an emergency ever happens and Denali is in puppy classes to help with training.
We pay for everything ourselves- school, books, groceries, rent and bills, everything our animals need. We give them all of the love and attention they deserve(they are actually kind of spoiled). Our pets are like our children and they come first. I would buy them food before i would buy it for myself if need be.
I know that there will be a lot of changes that occur throughout my lifetime such as getting married and having children, but my babies will be right there with me the whole way, no matter what happens. I feel like getting a pet is a very huge commitment and shouldn't be taken lightly. It is very time consuming and you can't be selfish when it comes to caring for an animal. I have friends who have pets and i tell myself i wish they wouldn't have gotten one because they are simply so wrapped up in "college life" whereas i know my personality and i knew i was ready for a pet(actually two now) =).

Good luck figuring out if you are ready for a new baby. Only you can know whether or not you are mature enough to take responsibility of an animal because it will be there for the next fifteen years of your life. I knew i was ready and if you know that you are ready then your baby will come to you eventually.

[jltwigg10]

Britster, The list that you put together for her was awesome.

I have read the comments and can tell you that patience is so hard to have. I had to have some in getting my 2 but it was the best thing to do.

There were several very sweet looking male and females in Britsters list.

I wish you the absolute best in your quest.

Please let us know what you end up deciding and please post a picture or two if you do get a little furr angel of your own.