new puppy+full time teacher (advice) hi everyone! i've been looking into adopting a yorkie for several years but never really got around it due to finacial, housing, breeder etc. now that i have a stable job (full time teacher yipee!) and found 2 breeders that i have been in contact with for the past 6-8 months. both breeders have contacted me and told me that they have new puppies! so now im really considering adopting a new baby to my family (of just me) this is not my first yorkie. i have a 14 year old yorkie named mickey who lives in canada with the parents. however my problem is that i work from 9-4.40pm (i leave my apartment at 8.30am and get h ome at 5pm) and i can't leave the grounds for lunch. i can kind of ask my head teacher to see if i can leave on a week after last class to go check up on the dog but i doubt i can do it everyday *sniff* i plan on having those play pen set up in the apartment so the dog is not confined to a crate. i plan on having a pee pad in on corner, and the house and food and toys on the other corner. do you think i can do this? *i've done research here and google and most state that they come home during lunch hour. *dog walkers are non-existant in the country i currently reside in. Thank you in advance!!!! |
Wish I could offer advice, but I will just ask, what do you think? Is it fair to the little dog? What if you have to stay after class? Will you be having any type of social life where you will be out? If it were me, I would not do it yet, especially with a new job, and a lot of unknowns. What about an adult rescue. or that little dog, being alone for 8 hourd a day is still better than having no one. JMHO. Best of luck, and congrats on the new job. |
hehe! its not a new job. i'm on my 2nd year. it really isn't fair to the dog however, i feel like in that case i will never be able to get a dog because i will continue to be a teacher... i would never have to stay after class because its under my contract that i leave at 4.40. if i stay after class it is with my choice and often because i need to lesson plan (which can easily be done at home). edit: what if it got old enough (after the shots & etc) i can bring my mickey and they can be friends? |
I think you can do it, maybe with an older puppy though, just because it's a long time for a puppy to be alone and try to learn what he/she is supposed to do in the house when unsupervised. I think it would make potty training harder with you unable to come check up during the afternoon (lunch hour) so you couldn't set a routine that he/she would be able to follow until older...Do you know anyone that can check up on him/her around noon everyday? A stay at home mom/dad that lives near your house? |
The way I see it-- we all (for the most part) have to work. It's normal to have an 8 hour a day job and nearly everyone that has a dog makes it work. Just because you're getting a new job, doesn't mean a dog can't be included in your life. As a matter of fact, I would say 95 percent of the people I know who own dogs work 8hr shifts. It's just a fact of life. I will say, as a puppy, they require a lot more work. Probably shouldn't leave a little puppy for 8hrs a day but if they are pee-pad trained, it's not like they have to hold it. But beware to be awaken in the middle of the night, and just be like having a newborn baby really. When you are home, they are going to require a lot of your time and attention. I do think that maybe in your situation, a young adult may be best. As long as you can provide mental stimulation, training, exercise, discipline and affection to a dog... you can own one. :) Do you really not have ANY dogwalkers where you live? You can usually always find a high school or college student looking to make a few extra bucks, or a neighbor. Any family or close friends? Good luck! |
I know there are a lot of people on YT that work full time and have Yorkies and I'm sure they do fine. Having said that, Yorkie personalities can vary quite a bit. We have three. Wrigley is very dependent and has separation anxiety, she wouldn't do well being left alone 8-9 hrs a day. Camden & Crosley are a little more independent, but they still wouldn't be that happy about it, but they are all used to having someone here most of the time! It's a shame that you can't come home at lunch or find a dog walker to break up the day, that would make it easier. Best of luck with your decision! |
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is 3-4 months old puppy still young? |
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Breeders often have 6-12 months old that need placed, you can look into that. Or a rescue organization. Petfinder.com |
as for dog walkers, i live in south korea. a country where they do not believe in walking dogs, or like to eat dogs because it gives them "stamina" (their favourite word), or are really afraid of them. ideally i'd like to train the dog to go on a pee pad just like mickey because i don't want the dog to wait for me when it needs to go. |
It is just fine to have a dog even with a full time job. It isn't ok to leave a small pup home alone for 8-10 hours because you can't make sure it is eating. If it goes hypoglycemic while you are gone, it could die. And it will be hard to potty train. So I'd find somebody to check up on the pup or whatever. If that isn't possible, you can get an older one. Yes, if you are gone all day, a play mate is a good idea. |
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i will be visiting them this weekend so hopefully i can ask them about their breeding schedule. |
I work full-time as well but was fortunate to have my mother living with me. She did not like the idea of having a dog to take care of but it's my house and I promised to go home during lunch hours to take care of him (i live only 5 miles away). However, it didn't take long for my little baby to wrap grandma around his little paw. I have to fight my mother to get some quality time with him now. Sorry, got carried away with my own story. I agree with everyone that you should consider an older puppy. I think my Mocha was able to hold his potty for 8 hours by about 9 months. There was also an excellent suggestion above for you to get your puppy during summer vacation since you are a teacher. What grade do you teach? If it's preschool or kindergarten and the school approves, you can even bring your baby with you to work. I have seen other teachers do that. |
Several ladies I work with have dogs and they work full time. I think lots of people who work also have pets. Maybe you could get two so they could keep each other company? That's why we got a 2nd. |
I don't think the problem is so much having a dog while working full time as trying to take care of a puppy while working full time. There are potty training issues to deal with, worries about hypoglycemia if the pup is small, etc. |
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