can i bring him to work yet?

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

**WARNING**
This is a different and controversial viewpoint so if you do not want to hear something that is not the "norm" then please read no further.

I am not one who worries so much about the puppy "catching" something either..in fact my vet told me that he feels it is better for the puppy because this helps build a stronger immune system...the more they are exposed to.

I think they are fine after the first round of shots (in fact my vet feels they are fully vaccinated for life after the first set) but YOU have to be convinced of that. My vet feels that when the puppy is so sheltered it hinders their socialization skills which are so necessary to start on early. He has no problem with taking puppies to the dog park or starting them in a puppy kindergarten training class and feels that people are overly concerned about this to the detriment of the puppy's development.

No offense, but I feel your puppy is too young to be left home alone. I think you shoud defintiely keep him with you. I agree thet he needs a lot of at home time too and being with you at work for 8 hours is a very long time. If possible, maybe you could work short shifts for the next 4 weeks or so until he is past the critical "baby" stage and more into the "toddler" stage and then bring him to work for the longer shifts if that was your plan for him. I am sure he will have a beneficial effect on the patients in the nursing hime...your own personal therapy dog!!

[SnowWa]

Sure - this could be a controversial issue -

But before we do much disagreeing - we have to realize that every little puppy is different. Some are larger, better eaters, and better able to start out doing a little more visiting at a younger age.

Some of us have great places where we can take our pups and keep them with us. Some of us don't.

We need to assess each of our own personal situations and the little puppies we have and treat them accordingly.

I do agree with you that taking our little dogs out (when we can) does help them build antibodies and build tolerances to many things - and they will be all the healthier for it.

And - I also agree and think going visiting (and having company) is the best way to socialize our little pups.

Believe me - my little pup (5 months old) is ready to go anyplace I'll take him. And, like I said earlier, when the weather warms up a little - I'll take him out much more often than I can now.

I also hate to leave new little puppies at home alone. I was able to spend his first two weeks at home with him. I took him to work with me twice because I just couldn't leave him at home (I work for only 4 or 5 hours a day). He spent the next week at my sister's house while I was at work, and after that two of my neighbors were kind enough to visit him most days. They took him to their houses for a few hours occasionally -- which was fine with me. I appreciated their doing it.

I think we all do the best we can. But, all of our situations are so very different. And, our little pups are different too.

There is more than one way to raise a Yorkie (or is it "skin a cat?")

Carol Jean