Need Suggestions, Advice, Opinions, etc....A young pup and working during the day.

[browniemiss]

I just recently purchased an yorkiepoo. She is 3 months old. She is as cute as a button! Boy, did I learn that it is much more work than I expected. But, it's cool. I have adjusted. Of course, I was nervous because I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything right, giving her the proper care. I am now faced with a delimna of whether or not we should keep her.

When we purchased her, the breeder informed me that she'd be fine eating two times per day. However, as the days progressed, we found that 2 times per day was not going to be enough. She needed to eat 3 times per day. My husband and I have different days off. So, there's a total of 3 days where we would be out at work. Initially, a neighbor agreed to come in and feed and walk her. However, now the neighbor is unable to due to a change in their circumstances. So, last week on those 3 days, I went home for lunch to feed and walk her. Unfortunately, my job is about 20 minutes (without traffic) away from home. I realized that this (between driving home, feeding her and walking her) was going to take much longer than I anticipated. Sure, I can return to work a little late, but I dont want to take advantage either. Right now, she is crate trained. (She isnt quite housetrained yet. We allow her to walk around certain areas of the house under our supervision.) .

I was looking for other options for those 3 days where she would be home alone. In a perfect situation, it would have worked. However, now that the neighbor is unable to assist us, I am wondering what we should do. Some have suggested that she'd be fine in her crate all day, but I personally would not feel right leaving her for about 8 hours straight in the crate, not at this age. (She needs to eat and go to the bathroom.) If that is the only option, I would much rather her be with someone who could care for her properly.

Thank you in advance!

[vcabbyw]

Maybe hire a dog sitter for the time being to feed her? Or someone else you trust.

[vainchick5]

Don't give up so easily. I got my little girl at almost 12 weeks. She was less than a pound and I was worried sick about hypoglycemia and all the stuff that can happen when you're not there. Plus I worried about her being in a crate all day for 8-9 hours while I'm at work and travelling home. You know what? My little girl is so happy. Yes I'm gone for a big chunk of the day, but when I get home I am all hers. When my b/f comes over, she's with us, when we go anywhere, she's with us. They do adjust. I was worried about the feeding as well, but I free fed her, meaning I just left a bowl of food for her to eat anytime she got hungry. She didn't eat all of it, infact only ate as much as she needed all throughout the day. I crate trained her for 3 months when I got her. She gets playdates, attention, love and she's well adjusted. Being home alone while I'm at work, doesn't even phase her. Even when I am home, during the same hours, she just wants to sleep. Puppies need to sleep. Of course the ideal situation is to be there or have someone be there if they can, but if you can't, I wouldn't just give her away. I would let her adjust to you being gone. Let's face it, most of us need our jobs. Just because we have jobs, doesn't mean we should choose between our babies and jobs. You can have both.

[Osso]

But I don't crate the two of them, I leave them in a "playpen" with a bowl of food, water, toys and their litterbox. The playpen is an eight panel pen that you can adjust and move and is sold at Petsmart. I also cover the flooring with a painters cloth in case they miss.

This option allows Simon and Nigel some freedom and leaves me guilt free. I know that some people crate them and it works very well for them, but I had too many concerns and guilt about doing that to them.

[txshopper73]

you could always get an x-pen. Have her food and water, bedding and pee pads in there on those 3 days. Also, cover the top of the pen so that she can't climb out and injure herself. Best of luck!

[AmandaG]

You don't have to give up your little girl! I think an x-pen would be a perfect solution to your problem. This would give her a couple square feet to roam around in while you are gone for so long. If that wouldn't work for you, how about a crate made for a larger dog? Atleast she would have a place to go to the bathroom and not have to lie in it. Good luck working this out!

[3CrazyYorkies]

How about putting her into doggie daycare for those 3 days. She would gain more out of daycare -- socialization, not having to spend her days alone, and many other benefits.

[carol]

Gosh she sounds so cute, don't give her away if you love her. Do you have a room where you can put her with toys, water, food, pee pads { I cut a box down to about an 1" and the pee pads are about 23 X 22 find a box with about the same dimensions} it makes the pads stay in one place and a little more stable. Have to change box every so often I also put a newspaper in first. Leave the radio on for company. Once she gets a bit older then you can just confine her to a piece of the house. Cassie for instance sometimes has the whole house and sometimes I confine her to the downstairs part. She is now 18 months no problem! When I go out I tell her she has to stay and she just goes then and gets on her bed which is one I have for her down by the door. I make sure if it is going to be dark before I come home I leave light on for her. They will learn what to expect. Good Luck

[fourdez]

I, too, use the x-pen. I feel the crate is too confining. I leave her in there with her toys, pooh pad, her bed and she seems fine.

[SnowWa]

I work four 6-hour days a week.

The first few days I was home with the puppy. The first week I went back to work, I dropped the puppy off at my sister's house.

Then - I also have a couple of neighbors who will drop in and see the pup sometime in the middle of the day. (But - they can't do this every day).

I leave my pup confined to the kitchen and mud room. It is a good size. He has his bed, a puppy pad, water and food.

I feed my pup before I go to work - leave him dry food - and feed him when I get home.

I know my pup sleeps a lot when I am gone because he often comes to the door still yawning when I get home.

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I leave the radio on and a light on.

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I have another dog that the puppy loves, but he is not in the kitchen with the pup when I am gone.

I feel that everything is working out fine for us. He's happy, healthy, and playful and with me almost every minute when I'm not working.

I work with about 30 people and I don't think there is that doesn't have a dog at home. Dogs adjust to this very well.....and so do people!

If working people couldn't have dogs - there wouldn't be very many dogs in this world.

Good luck - Carol Jean

[cindy0721]

My two yorkies are pups also.. Gizmo is 5 1/2 mo. & Maddy Rain is 9 1/2 weeks old..I also free fed(I work 8 hrs a day) and leave on the Disney Channel while I am out.... leave plenty of potty pads and toys and they will get used to it. If you don't feel comfortable with free feeding, they have feeders with timers on them, maybe even a doggie door into a garage or secured area for potty breaks?

Good Luck!

[Nikko's_human]

Lots of us working folks totally understand your dilemma!! My fiancee and I am away from Nikko for an average of 8-10 hours per day. We keep him locked in the kitchen with a baby gate. I leave him some food, water, toys, and a wee wee pad. In the beginning he was not too happy about this, but now he is used to it and knows it is part of his routine. He pretty much sleeps most of the day anyway. I think if you either get an x-pen or a baby gate, you will be able to keep your baby.

[Sadiesmom]

We leave Sadie in an x-pen with her bed, food, water and litter box. It works out fine and I know she doesn't mind it because sometimes she disappears and we see her sleeping in the pen.

[mometts]

I am new to this site. Thank you for asking my questions for me. I am a teacher and my first Yorkie will arrive in a week.

[Lexi Rae]

welcome to yt , im gina. when i first got lexi, mom took herto work for month, after that, lexi was confined to a hallway with her cage and some water and toys.. she was just fine... lexi stays home byherself for 10 hrs a day, mom stops in for about 15 minutes, thats all...the puppy will be just fine, just make sure you have wee pads out and maybe a tv or radio.
if someone can check on the pup during the day, that would be just great..