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

[cpurser]

I can imagine how badly you want a little fur baby to love, but I couldn't even think about leaving my babies alone that amount of time, they love being with their people too much.

[laci32]

Please don't think I am being mean, But that really is to long to leave ANY dog on a regular basis. Think what kind of life they would have alone,bored, have to go the bathroom for hours on end. That is no life for them. Honestly you don't have time for one at this point in your life. I totaly understand you wanting to get one. I did to. But I had to think of the yorkie and not myself. I waited until I was retired, kids grown, I devote all my time to Andy except for the odd time I have to do something without him (groceries).

They need fresh air and excercise, walks activities you can't possibly do that from work. So please think about the puppy first.

[Sweet Girls]

Originally Posted by jackie200

On the days that I work out I actually do go home after work for around 40 min until I go to yoga class (which is from 6:30-8:00pm) even though I end up home like at 9:00 pm probably.

I would still have time on the days that I don't work out plus the weekend. The girl at my office has a yorkie and she works from 8-5 but probably doesn't get home until 6:00pm every day and her yorkie is really quiet. She has brought him in with her twice but she usually leaves him alone. I don't ALWAYS work out 3 days during the weekdays, sometimes its only 3 times a week... Most people work 40 hours a week, I don't think that's extreme.

Hey Jackie,

I'm glad you asked. As you can tell from the responses...many of us have a hard time leaving our dogs for more than a few hours, the possibility of leaving them for 10+ hours on a regular basis is very near impossible to think about. Amongst the suggestions about a different kind of pet, it is possible to make it work. You could try using a doggie day care for the days you were going to be extra long. You could substitute long walks with your dog to doing Yoga in a class...or even take your dog outside to a park and do Yoga with your dog!

There are ways to do it...but a dog is a huge time commitment not only on a daily basis, but on a weekly monthly and yearly basis. They require attention, training, companionship, vetting (sometimes can be costly if you have a dog who gets injured or is sick). There are days when you feel sick, like you want to crawl into your bed and just DIE...but you have to get up, take the dog for a walk and feed and water the dog. The dog will repay you with endless amounts of love and patience...but there will be the demands of daily care. Can you leave a Yorkie home alone for long periods of time is a good question...but some better ones you might want to ask yourself is:

What will I give up to make this work? Can I put the needs of my dog before my needs? If I meet someone who doesn't like dogs...do I toss my dog aside...or toss the love interest to the curb? If my dog causes me inconveniences (accidents on the floor, eats the remote, tears a hole in my favourite shirt)...will I work through it...or toss the dog to the curb? Too many dogs end up in situations where their people did not do the research and thinking you are doing...so Good for you!

Think long and hard...and then make your decision. The time might be right now, or it might be later...but when you get the time and opportunity to share your life with a Yorkie...you will be blessed many times over for your sacrifices!

[shodanusmc]

No way. We feel bead leaving them for a few hours. Any longer than that, and we get someone to come over and sit with them and let them out. That is way to long, for any dog. Wait until your situation changes.

[Charlies Mamma]

I would have to say no as well. they require attention for fun health and life in general.Hubby has his own business so he is home allot I wrk an 8 hr day but if I was alone i would come home at lunch to play

I think a cat is a good idea if you want a pet but wrk allot of hours

[jackie200]

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to get one because it wouldn't fit in my life right now and it wouldn't be fair to the dog. So I'm glad I asked...

I had no idea they demanded so much care. My ex bf's family had a dog that was only kept in the yard (never allowed in), I have no idea what breed it was but it was more of a guard dog and no one played with it (except fed it) and it was fine. I had no idea that yorkies were so sociable and needed so much attention.

I'm glad I asked though so I can make a good decision. I always plan to have a busy life I guess and I enjoy working 40 hours a week (and don't see myself quitting ever) so probably best not to get a yorkie!

[Doodlebug]

I say NO too. When we got our Yorkie we came home every day at lunch to let her out to potty and play with her. When we got her we knew that in 6 months I would be home with her full time. Now when we leave them (we have 2 now) even for an hour we feel guilty. Thanks for coming here to ask for opinions before getting a Yorkie.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I don't know that the dog left to guard in the back yard and never played with was fine. You might wonder what kind of life it had out there with no one to play with. Sounds pretty awful to me. Most dogs just love to play, even service dogs.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by jackie200

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to get one because it wouldn't fit in my life right now and it wouldn't be fair to the dog. So I'm glad I asked...

I had no idea they demanded so much care. My ex bf's family had a dog that was only kept in the yard (never allowed in), I have no idea what breed it was but it was more of a guard dog and no one played with it (except fed it) and it was fine. I had no idea that yorkies were so sociable and needed so much attention.

I'm glad I asked though so I can make a good decision. I always plan to have a busy life I guess and I enjoy working 40 hours a week (and don't see myself quitting ever) so probably best not to get a yorkie!

I'm so glad you kept an open mind.

[Susan78]

I think you should get a stuffed animal to snuggle to. What would you do if you had to stay home with nobody around all those hours? I do not think you would like it at all. I feel yorkies and all dogs are like furbaby humans and they surely have wants and needs. I hate to say it this blunt to you but please think about the yorkies feelings coming into a household with no socialization with the owner.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Susan78

I think you should get a stuffed animal to snuggle to. What would you do if you had to stay home with nobody around all those hours? I do not think you would like it at all. I feel yorkies and all dogs are like furbaby humans and they surely have wants and needs. I hate to say it this blunt to you but please think about the yorkies feelings coming into a household with no socialization with the owner.

Whoa hold on she already said in a past post she wasnt going to get a yorkie

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by jackie200

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to get one because it wouldn't fit in my life right now and it wouldn't be fair to the dog. So I'm glad I asked...

I had no idea they demanded so much care. My ex bf's family had a dog that was only kept in the yard (never allowed in), I have no idea what breed it was but it was more of a guard dog and no one played with it (except fed it) and it was fine. I had no idea that yorkies were so sociable and needed so much attention.

I'm glad I asked though so I can make a good decision. I always plan to have a busy life I guess and I enjoy working 40 hours a week (and don't see myself quitting ever) so probably best not to get a yorkie!

Good for you, Im so happy to hear you have made this decision, others ma have thought of themself and you have chosen to think of the puppy. KUDOS to you

[lexi43]

Very smart!!!!

[wykid]

I brought home a puppy 3 weeks ago, knowing what a commitment they are, but I wasn't prepared for even how MUCH attention my puppy demands. Barkley won't even let me go into the bathroom by myself. If I'm out of his sight at all, he starts crying, howling, and looking for me. I'm trying to crate train him and at only a minute and a half before he gets hysterical. I would never be able to leave him for as long as you plan to. It would be cruel to him, possibly dangerous, and I would worry the entire time. They also need to be played with and walked a lot. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they can have less exercise than other dogs. You say you cannot NOT work out. Look at it from the puppy's side: If you were not able to work out and had to be locked in a tiny room every day for that length of time, how would you like it? If you choose to not listen to what everyone is saying, and get a yorkie anyway, you will find out very quickly that it is a bad idea, for the puppy AND you.

[wykid]

Dang it, just noticed that she wasn't going to get one, after I put up my post. LOL Oh well. I'm glad you made the right choice