Thank you all so much for all your suggestions! I honestly feel in my heart she will be happier staying at my parents home, mainly because that is where she has grown up. I guess its just hard for me to admit to myself I know that is the best choice because that is my baby and I hate thinking that I won't have her to snuggle with at night! My daddy however is too funny...he told me yesterday that him and Lexi had a heart to heart the other night and she told him she wanted to stay with him! He will be so lost without her, I just don't think I could do that to him either!! So I have to do what I KNOW is the right thing to do. I know that she will be well taken care of...she is as rotten if not more than the grandkids!

im so glad you have decided to let her stay sounds like your dad's heart woudl have been broken. i commend you for being so strong and doing what is best for you baby!!! :thumbup::thumbup:

I think you have made the best decision for your baby and your Dad. It's going to be hard for you, and for that I'm sorry:( But real, true love often is painful, and you are doing the really truly loving thing for them both:love:

Maybe when the time is right, you can get a Yorkie again. Then they can get together for playdates at Grandpa's house:D

:thumbup: I couldn't agree more :) that is very unselfish of you to think of dad & Lexi first

Great unselfish decision...good for you.

i agree... you did what was best!

That is such a terribly hard decision!!! But, I really feel you are doing whats best for your baby. That is her home.... I admire you for putting her first and letting her stay with your parents.

That's something my children (will be a freshman and senior this next year) and I talked about when they got their babies. I told them that this was the furkids home and when they went off to college and beyond someday, the babies were staying home with me and my hubby. I know it is going to break their hearts when its time for them to venture off in their own lives.

It sounds like you made the right choice. How would your husband feel about a non potty trained pup in the house? That could have caused a strain.

How did it come about that nobody bothered to potty train her? To be frank, that grosses me out. Is she trained AT ALL? Or does she just go randomly where she wants. I have a nieghbor with 3 dogs who pee on his kitchen cabinets, and on his tile. My friend cleans his house for him and says it STINKS. He tried to list it with a realtor who told him he had to get rid of the smell before he could list it.

I doubt your dad will handle it at this point. If it doesn't bother you then I guess that's fine. Have you even asked visitors to be honest and tell you if the house smells? You might be ok if you have females since they only go on the floor (not walls and cabinets) and if you have vinyl floors. My neighbor has tile and it gets in the grout.

That's a tough decision.

In my case, Jackson is very very much my dog and attached to me. I do still live at home, and spend time at both of my parents houses, but Jackson always come back and forth with me. Jackson is potty trained, and used to being left alone on certain days so I am not too worried about the day when I move out and bring him with me, as I won't have to crate him or anything. He's always been reliable free roam no matter what house we go to.

I definitely don't envy your decision. I know for me personally, I could never leave Jackson behind. He would absolutely devastated. But like I said, he's fully MY dog, and while he loves my father, he's not "his" dog. It sounds different in your situation - since she's been home with him every day of her life already.

It sounds like you made the right decision for her. I wish you well.

No she is not potty trained to the point where she lets us know when she needs to go outside. But she is taken out on her harness about every hour so that she doesn't go in the house (that is totally gross). We have to watch her carefully! However if I were to take her with me to my new home no one would be there to take her out every hour like my daddy can and does now during the day when he is home with her, so there would most likely be more accidents!

I'm glad to hear that! Perhaps your dad needs to start lengthening the time between taking her out, being sure to take her out shortly after meals, playtime, and naptime. Give big praise and reward when she goes. Not sure how to teach her to ask to go out, but if she only goes outside (grass?) and usually uses only one door, then she may well be trained. If you don't take her out just keep a close eye...Maggie just goes to the door and looks at us. If we aren't there she will whine a little. She can hold it a long time. Actually, she often won't go when my kids let her out if I am not home. Seems like she is too disturbed that me or daddy aren't home that she doesn't go. I learned she can hold it quite a long time! Does she sleep through the night? If so, that tells you she can hold it.

It would be nice for dad to know he can leave her and feel safe that she will hold it. It will be good for you to know when she visits. We took Maggie to my moms and last time we couldn't figure out what she was whining about, we thought she wanted food. Then we realized she was telling us she had to pee! So, she knew even though she'd only been there a few times, that the pee spot was out the front door.

Aside from the potty issue, she will likely be happier staying where she is used to and Dad will be happy to have you come visit her I am sure. And she can have sleepovers at your house if she is comfortable there and once you know your floors are safe. You can "share" her!

Maybe you could bring her to visit you on weekends? Gate her in the kitchen or some other room that is not carpeted when you are out. If she is happy where she is then what would the sense be of her being alone all day instead of with your father?

If it was my problem, I think personally I would bite the bullet and leave the baby with my parents, who have also become very attached to that baby. I personally see no benefit for anyone involved, including the pup, to remove her from a home and people she is familiar and attached to, place her into a new home, where her schedule will include being alone most of the day, secluded in one room or in a crate, options she is totally unfamiliar with. I would choose to leave Lexi with my parents, visit her frequently, and then after you and your new husband have settled in, start your own "new" family, with another puppy.