Puppy Advice
 

Hey, I'm new to this site and I'm on the edge of making a big decision and was looking for some advice from fellow Yorkie-owners!

I'm 22 and a senior at university; I'll be graduating in May. I've been wanting a dog for a while now, but the time has not yet been right. My family has a 4-and-a-half-year-old Yorkie, who is an amazing dog, so I've been looking for the same breed for myself. I know an excellent breeder in my hometown who has a beautiful Yorkie puppy available. He is 13 weeks old, already house-trained (what?!), and ready to go to his new home. If I adopt him, my parents will be bringing him to my town next Wednesday.

A lot of the usual concerns for student/just out of college owners don't necessarily apply to me.
- I already have an established job for when I graduate, so while it is a transitional time of my life, there is a stability and security there that many other people in my position do not have.
- There are two different apartment complexes (for a year from now, after I graduate) that I've been considering that are both pet-friendly.
- My parents are willing to help pay for the initial needs of the puppy (they'll actually pay for the puppy himself) until I am financially independent.
- I have been around dogs all my life, so I am well-aware of the commitment and responsibility it takes to raise a puppy. It's actually why I've wanted to get a puppy now instead of after I graduate, because I have more time for initial training now than I will when I'm working 40 hours a week in the future.
- I have 3 roommates, but they are all on board.
- (Also, I'm a college student, but I don't drink or party, so I'm home more often than some.)

My mom is very happy for me to adopt a puppy; my dad is a little apprehensive because he doesn't want me to bite off more than I can chew, and he's worried that when I start working 8 hours a day (I will have an hour lunch break), it might be cruel for the dog.

So, if you've stayed with me through that entire explanation, I would like to get some opinions.
- Is it cruel to have a dog while working 40 hours a week?
- (This is totally an opinion question, but) as a college student, with these measures set up, am I still simply too young to take the long-term responsibility of a dog?
Are there any other concerns that I've completely missed?

I would love some opinions! I'm doing as much research/asking around as I know before I make the final commitment next week.

Sounds to me as though you're ready and willing to take on the responsibility of a puppy. Just remember to put things up where he can't get them if it's something you don't want chewed up. LOL It sounds as though you've pretty much made up your mind that you're going to get it. Make sure that your roommates understand that the puppy does need to chew and I would crate him when I'd be gone.

I hardly think the pup is completely potty trained so you do need to be prepared for that, yorkies have been known to be very hard to potty train. Do you have the money if an emergency happens? Do you have the money for pet insurance?

To me, it sounds like you're put a lot of thought and preparation into this, but you should consider some things. Since you are graduating and beginning your career, you should understand that beginning a career doesn't end at 40 hours a week. There's going to be networking you'll probably be doing, joining co-workers for lunches, dinners and drinks after work, you'll be making new friends and that can take up your weekends, etc. It's an investment you make into having a long term job and something you really need to think about for now.

While I think your roommates mean well by being on board, at the end of the day this is still your puppy and responsibility. They could be "onboard" at first, but after having work fall onto them after a while, cleaning up after your puppy, watching him, feeding him, they could get tired of it. Roommates also aren't a forever situation, they will come and go and new roommates might not be so onboard.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I personally don't think it's the 100% best time. Unless you have been working this job and know exactly what your schedule is like, without even having to take your roommates into consideration, I wouldn't bring a puppy on yet. I'd use this time to get acclimated and adjusted, meet new people, enjoy your degree and put time into researching bring a puppy on for yourself. I say this as someone who's experienced this...

Good luck with whatever decision you make, you're in the best place for advice and knowledge!