What to do?!?
 

I have a six year old female yorkie, Lexi, and I am torn on what to do! I recently got married and moved into a new home with my husband. I have always lived with my parents so Lexi has been a big part of all of our lives, especially my daddy's. He retired just a year after I got Lexi for graduation, so he has been home with her everyday since then. She is not potty trained the best but is a very loving natured dog! I want to take her to my new home because I miss her very much (she is still at my parents), but I will have to do a much better job at potty training her, because I do not want my new floors messed up. I have gotten advice from several others and they all say I should crate train her. However the problem is that I do not have the heart to lock my baby up all day while I'm at work (and I work and hour from home so I can't go home at lunch and let her out like I would like to), she has been a free roaming dog since she was brought home and I don't want her to feel like she is being punished by having to stay in this crate all day. Also I feel like she will wonder what is going on when she is used to company (my daddy) all day, every day and now she will all by herself during the day. My only other option is just to leave her with my parents, but I really hate to do that! I just don't know what to do!! Any suggestions?

I would just restrict her movement throughout the house. Maybe keep her in the bathroom where there is tile or in the kitchen so she is not crated, but if she has accidents... they will be easy to clean?

My two spend half the day in a bedroom with laminate and then my dh comes home and lets them out during lunch. After lunch, they have free roam in the house... and this has worked for us.

Because my adult daughters dog has been here his entire life,she let him stay with us when she moved out 3yrs ago. He was then 7 and he had always been with his two half brothers. He is such a social animal and never alone so staying in an apt or house by his self all day was not a good option for him. He also has some health issues that we can keep a better eye on because we are always here. She comes to visit him alot and even brings him bday and Christmas presents. I send pictures to her all of the time and notes by text from him to her.
This was very hard for my daughter to do because this is her baby. As hard as it is,try to think of where you think your baby will be the happiest. With your parents or with you. It is a tuff decision to make. My thoughts are with you.

can ur dad babysit during the day while your at work? or can she stay with them during work days and then with you when your home? just thoughts. xpen with potty pads may give her more room. good luck i hope you find a solution best for all of you.

It is going to be a hard transition for you both. Parents will be losing their daughter and their furbaby (yours :)) at the same time. Maybe they could work on her potty training for you for a while until she gets better at it then she could come live with you. Best of luck with this.

:thumbup: I agree-

Oh dear I do not envy you having to make this difficult decision. Since your baby is socialized with your parents and is happy there can you maybe leave her there during the week (so she's not alone while you are at work). Then bring her home on Fridays and let her spend the weekend with you (and you take her back on Mondays). This way she always has someone around and becomes comfortable living between both homes. It may be stressful for your baby in the beginning but again this is just a thought ...

Congratulations on your recent wedding and best wishes to you and your hubby.

I got my first yorkie when I lived at home and same situation. My Dad adored Karma and he would have free run and a fenced yard and he was use to my sister's dog being there. I ended up leaving him with my parents and it worked out for everyone. A year later when I moved to an apartment where I could have dogs I got a yorkie puppy Zorro. It's a hard decision since you can take her. Good luck.

I suggest that you sacrifice and do what is best for your pup and your father. Do you really want to uproot this 6 year old pup move her into a strange home, then put her in a crate all day for the first time in her life when she is use to being with your daddy all day? I vote that she stay with Daddy who I'm sure will be very lonely without her and then you can have her over for visits! When you and hubby get settled adopt a rescue together and get a pup for yourselves!!!

Just my suggestion. Good Lucky and congrats on your new life!

.....:thumbup: I like this solution best, IF it is possible. Everyone wins, especially Lexi, who is accustomed to human companionship throughout the day.

Congrats on your new Life!

What about my needs ????????????
 

:( My heart goes out to you. I know you love your Yorkie and want her with you. But what is really best for her ? Answer that question honestly and your heart will tell you what to do. Hugs

So ask the question, "What is best for the dog?" How does your Dad feel about it? If my daughter gave me her dog for six years I certainly wouldn't give her back!!!!! Heck that's how I got my own dog. Is it about your floors? Why not try taking her on weekends and see how it goes if that's agreeable to your family? And what are you gonna do for your Daddy? He probably bonded with her. Hmmmm Father's Day is coming. Does he want the responsibility of a dog? You know - Love just can't be turned on and off.

Oops forgot to say . . . No crate at this point. I don't envy you.

sometimes we must make hard decisions and do whats best for the dog, she might be better off having company all day long with your father in an enviroment shes use to for 6 years, i'm sure you can still visit her lots. i know its not the answer you want to hear, but i don't think it will be fair to uproot her and leave her alone all day.... if you do want to take her to your new home maybe you should do it in steps... maybe for a while just take her to your new house on your day off work..to get use to your home..and see how it goes..if it goes well slowly add in an extra day...and so on..

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.