Is it ok to leave yorkie at home alone for 12-14 hours on a regular basis?

[scrapindee]

Originally Posted by gaijingirl

A fish was going to be my suggestion too.

Well, it's at least good that the OP thought about this before she got a dog. I know we have all seen a lot people out there who get a dog and then end up looking to re-home it because they "don't have the time to give it the love and attention they deserve". That is one of my biggest pet peeves.

I just saw an ad for a puppy to be rehomed after 6 weeks with its new mom because she was returning to work and she felt bad about leaving it. I don't understand why she bought the puppy and spent the time potty pad training her. Or why the breeder didn't ask the right questions. Now yes the lady contacted the breeder to rehome the puppy but what trauma for the puppy--two new homes in a short period of time plus trust issues. I feel for the puppy.

So to the poster, thank you for thinking about the puppy and realize that you are not ready to add a puppy to your busy life. Come here to YT and enjoy all the puppies here. And I hope you find a cuddlesome dog to hug on your day off.

And as a breeder, the answer would be NO.

[jackie200]

I read some of the older posts about leaving a yorkie alone and I have come across quite a few posts (some current and some a few years ago) from people who leave their yorkies home for around 9 hours while they go to work... with no problem. Perhaps I reworded the topic wrong, it wouldn't be 12-14 hours; they would usually alone 9 hours a day and twice a week maybe like 11 hours or so...

Sure they are social but they can we can do that when I am home; If I can be hone 3 days during the weekday (and just work out twice during the weekdays), I don't think it's that big of a deal...

[MinniesMom10]

I have never left Minnie home alone for no more than a few hours and that is when I have had to. I always want to take her to doctors visits with my kids and I but I can't. I sneak her in the gas station and so does my husband. I have taken her into Walmart before and the mall lol. Got kicked out of there for it too. But in all seriousness you probably should not do that then. You will need to spend quality time with him/her with PT on a pee pad etc. They can't raise themselves. They are just like children and you have to take responsibility for them. Just saying lol

[RachelandSadie]

NOPE! Yorkies are very needy and dependent dogs. they shouldn't be home alone more than 4 hours let alone 12-14. it is not fair to the dog to have a non existant owner that doesn't have time in their busy life and schedule to properly love and care for them. they have to pee about every 2-4 hours as a puppy and mine still prefer to pee every 4-6 hours to this day and they are TWO. it's just not a good idea to get a dog if you aren't with it that much of the day. get a cat that can use the box and eat on it's own leisure not a dog that needs the human and emotional contact all the time.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by jackie200

Actually, it wouldn't really be 12-14 hours on most days; I work from 8-5 (9 hrs) and then go home for around an hour and then leave to work out around 6:00 pm and can get home as early as 8:30 pm (if I rush), so I would be gone 11 hours 2 or 3 times a week but with a break in between....

I am sure there are plenty of people who work 40 hrs a week and still have yorkies...?

i work 40 hours a week and so does my husband BUT we work on opposite shifts so there is almost NEVER a day goes by that someone isn't home almost the entire day. they are alone maybe 2-4 hours TOPS on most days with a very rare day that is about 8 hours total. but NEVER EVER more than 8 hours without someone letting them out and spending lots of snuggle time with them. it wouldn't be fair or right to have a dog that's never with me even if i get a few hours here and there it is not enough.

i still say NO WAY. get a fish or cat or something not nearly as dependent on you as a yorkie will be or get a different job or quit yoga if you want a yorkie. it's a sacrifice of self to have a puppy and esp a yorkie. they need you a lot more than it sounds like you have time in your life right now for. maybe wait until it slows down more?

[MyLilyRose]

Would you leave your skin kid alone for 12-14 hours on a regular basis? Then why would you do that to a dog?

[jackie200]

I can't rework my schedule; it is what it is and will remain that same. It's not going to change any time soon.

My posts take a long time to show up because they are moderated and when they do show up they are buried among other people's posts (retroactive)so please read my responses on page three. It's not really 12-14 hrs; like I said just 11 hours max maybe twice a week. I cannot not work out and I don't like to do it at home at all.

Like I said; I read some posts from some folks by googling past topics and I've read other owners say that they leave theirs home for 8-9 hours while they go to work and no one else said anything...

[jackie200]

Originally Posted by MyLilyRose

Would you leave your skin kid alone for 12-14 hours on a regular basis? Then why would you do that to a dog?

Well, a dog is not a kid; they are different.

I also happen to be one of those rare women who do not want kids...

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by jackie200

I read some of the older posts about leaving a yorkie alone and I have come across quite a few posts (some current and some a few years ago) from people who leave their yorkies home for around 9 hours while they go to work... with no problem. Perhaps I reworded the topic wrong, it wouldn't be 12-14 hours; they would usually alone 9 hours a day and twice a week maybe like 11 hours or so...

Sure they are social but they can we can do that when I am home; If I can be hone 3 days during the weekday (and just work out twice during the weekdays), I don't think it's that big of a deal...

IMO it is a big deal, it would be a big deal for our Yorkies!
We have three of them, and I can tell you from our personal experience it would be so hard for them!
As others have already posted, Yorkies are a needy and dependent breed. They love human companionship and want to be with us 24/7 if possible!
I would be sad for mine to be alone that many hours. Some Yorkies are really clingy and suffer from separation anxiety.
I would think long and hard about the time, especially with this breed!

[Charmed777]

Just because you CAN do it, and SOME people do it does not mean you SHOULD do it. Poor Yorkie. They really do get sad when left alone.

[Ladym]

Are you thinking of getting a puppy or an older dog? If it's a puppy then I would have to say no. If you are adopting an older dog then maybe. Still, you would need time to get to know the dog and set up a regular routine.

[roseylovestosho]

A few things to mention about the dogs left alone in the house for 8 hours a day.
1) They were trained incrementally to like being alone. You cannot hope to bring home your dog on one of your "off days" stay home with it all day, and then hope that he/she will be alright and "quiet" the next day.
2) Most (not all) of the people that go in to work all day, come home during lunch to check on the dog and take him/her out for a walk...AND that is with...
3) Waking up two hours before you have to leave for the entire day to give him a LONG walk and then PLAY time.
4) When you get home, that is another two hours devoted to playing/walking your dog.
5) Also, all of your examples of dogs being left alone are probably adult dogs, not puppies. As I mentioned earlier, they didn't just miraculously one

You stated that you would be the only person taking care of your dog, no sitters, etc and that is another mistake. I am a graduate student on a small stipend and because I haven't trained my dog to feel comfortable (by comfortable, I mean that it is very apparent that whenever he is left alone and I come back he is OVERLY EXCITED by it. This is a clear indication that the dog does not like being left alone and is simply sitting around waiting for you to come home) being left for several hours at a time--I take him to daycare 3 times a week. It's expensive for me, especially since I have such a low pay grade, but I'd rather have a happy, healthy yorkie since he will be in my life for a long time.

[roseylovestosho]

Originally Posted by Ladym

Are you thinking of getting a puppy or an older dog? If it's a puppy then I would have to say no. If you are adopting an older dog then maybe. Still, you would need time to get to know the dog and set up a regular routine.

I agree, age matters, but rarely do dogs you can adopt come without issues. They all have "histories," many of which you will not be made aware of until he/she is home with you. And even if she were to go through a rescue, when she has to disclose information about her lifestyle they would flatly reject her since most rescues require that there be at least one person home at all times (depending on the dog).

[IsabelleOllie]

I can understand why you would want a yorkie. But, unless you can have someone come over to let your dog out, or you are able to bring your dog to work, a puppy is out of the question. It would be a very lonely baby.
I worked in a no-kill shelter for 5 years, the most common reasons for an owner turning a dog in were that the dog was destructive, not housebroken, or that the owner just didn't have time for it. Puppies are a lot of work, and a big commitment on your part. There is no way on earth that a small breed puppy (especially a Yorkie) will be able to be housebroken if left completely alone for 9 hours a day. You are setting yourself up for failure. If someone came to my shelter to adopt a puppy and told me that it would be alone for that many hours a day with no one coming home to let it out, I would refuse their application.
Maybe you could consider an adult dog, one who is already housebroken. But, as soon as you get home all attention needs to be on the dog. Maybe take a month off from working out.... walk your dog for an hour when you are home in the evenings instead.
I still don't think it's an ideal situation for any dog.

[gidget529]

Originally Posted by jackie200

I can't rework my schedule; it is what it is and will remain that same. It's not going to change any time soon.

My posts take a long time to show up because they are moderated and when they do show up they are buried among other people's posts (retroactive)so please read my responses on page three. It's not really 12-14 hrs; like I said just 11 hours max maybe twice a week. I cannot not work out and I don't like to do it at home at all.

Like I said; I read some posts from some folks by googling past topics and I've read other owners say that they leave theirs home for 8-9 hours while they go to work and no one else said anything...

It really sounds like you have your mind made up. A friend of mine wanted a yorkie because she liked the one I had and ones other people had that she knew. She also had a schedule like yours. Needless to say, she did not listen about the time requirements for a dog, and she went out on the spur of the moment and got one. The poor dog only lasted with her a couple of weeks. She was frustrated that the dog was not potty training (due to her schedule), that the dog was destructive in her home (due to her schedule), and that her dog was very hyper at night when she was home and would not sleep through the night for her (due to her schedule). She posted the dog on facebook and rehomed her after a few weeks and was very upset that she lost hundreds of dollars.

The most my dog is left alone is 3 hrs in a "play pen" with potty pads. She does not like being left alone this short time and has anxiety. You might want to look into a Ragdoll breed of cat. A friend of mine has one, and they are very dog like and cute - they play fetch like a dog!