I'm gonna miss her...
 

No, I'm not getting rid of my precious Bella... but starting Monday, I go back to work full time after having about a year off.

When I got Bella at the end of February, I didn't think I'd be going back to work (full time, during the day) anytime soon. But an opportunity has arisen and I don't want to pass it up.

I've been home all day w/Bella since I got her so for almost 3 mths now...

VERY seldom has she been home alone... only on weekends when we (my BF, and daughter) go out to eat, or shopping. So... this will basically be the first time she'll be alone all day... :(

I'm unable to come home during the day (same w/the BF) because we work too far away...

Bella is doing well w/potty training. She's about 85/15 and the 15% usually occurs somewhere in close vicinity of the pad.

I feel soooo bad tho... she's use to me being here all day... we lounge around in bed all morning (after we get my daughter off to school) she follows me everywhere...

I've tried leaving a few times in the past couple weeks to try to get her use to me leaving, and when I leave, she's staring out the window (sadly) and when I return an hour later, she's still there starting sadly out the window...

We can't get another puppy because we already have 3 cats (one she plays w/constantly) and a turtle and a fish. BF says ENOUGH!

I'm just soooooo nervous. I know there have been alot of threads posted about having to go back to work, and I don't think my situation is any more unique then anyone else's... but I just wanted to "vent".

I'm sorry.... things will get better... and look on the bright side.. more puppy kisses when you get home.... I leave Disney or Animal Planet on..... they both sleep most of the day so that helps too...

Worry, I promise it gets easier. Since the first week I've had Coco she's been alone while I'm at work for almost 9 hours. She used to look all sad but she got used to it and now she gets so excited when I get home, that she forgets that she was alone. Don't worry, they just sleep anyway.

That's what I'm hoping... that she sleeps...

But she's just so use to sleeping w/me all day. (I've been lazy! LOL). She sleeps in bed w/me in the morning, in my lap while I'm on the computer, on my lap on the couch when I'm watching TV...

*sighs*

I just hope she sleeeeeeeeeeps during the day and not wanders around "sad".

You can do what some people do, and set up a web cam to watch her at work if you can. I was planning that until I realized my work filters that stuff and I wouldn't be able to watch her. :(

That's a great idea but I'm going back into banking and w/security measures and all... I don't think I'll be able to do that either! LOL.

My BF works in the office at Ford... he's on a computer all day... I wonder if he can do that there... I'll have to ask. :)

Trust me it's not a fun video to watch. They just sleep all day..lol...and occasionally eat/poop/pee:rolleyes:

I was in the same situation when I start school, I was gone 8-5 everyday. I found that our vet had a "daycare" and I would take him there 1 or 2 times a week and he ABSOLUTLEY LOVED LOVED LOVED it.

When we would pull up to the vet his tail would start to wag so quickly and once we stepped in, he couldn't get away from me quick enough.

You may want to check out if there are any doggy day cares in your area.

;) ;) that is such a good idea...i have just started back to work, and most nights i am only out for 4 hours, but tomorrow i am working a ten hour shift...i hate leaving my animals...i would love to take the dogs with me....;) i get a friend to pop in though if i am gone for a while, just to see that they are okay...and let them out for a wee really....but what a great idea...i wish there was something like that in my area....

You can also try to leave music on, or a TV on when you are not home. We've found that helps for Yoda. Cheska will miss you just as much as you miss her when you are gone, but when you come home, she'll be as excited as ever! :)

If you have a notebook computer with a modem, you may be able to use it at work to monitor the web cam. This way you are not using the work computers, you are just plugging in to a phone jack and using your own dial-up time during a break perhaps? Just a suggestion. I have been doing this periodically since my Bichon was diagnosed with diabetes and I went through a rough time with regulating him and worried about the chance of him having a hypo episode while I was gone. I have used it to look in on April too, and except for one time I got to see her pooping :animal36 :animal36 , she is usually asleep in her crate/bed. Technology....gotta love it:)

MaryKay

LOL!!! I'm not laughing at your suggestion... I'm laughing because I'm Cheska... She's Bella. LOL. :D


Thanks everyone for your suggestions... It's like when I went back to work from my maternity leave and I was so worried/anxious... :rolleyes:

I know your pain. I adopted 2 Yorkies (from someone who was never available to them), in part because I worked from home and knew I could give them the attention they deserved.

Then after a year of Yorkie ownership, my employer changed my job - ugh - and required me to in the office, and 3 of the 5 days are 10 hour days!

I started that in Sept. and to be honest, I think the dogs have adjusted better than I have - LOL. Of course, they do have each other - and I usually run home at lunch and let them out.

The worse part is that I'm either exhausted when I come home from those long days, or worse if I have errands to run - I feel like I take away from them more.

I do just work 4 hours on Tuesdays and they love that!! So, I know they know the difference :D :D And the best news is my boss just told me on Friday that I can start working from home for 2 hours a day twice a week.

You've received a lot of good advice, and it's great that Bella has a fun kitty friend to play with. Do they curl up and sleep together? My male Yorkie - Bubba - and my almost 18 year old male Siamese - love to sleep together. Sometimes I find Alexander sleeping in the dogs bed!

I know a lot of people say the radio or TV help. Best wishes for a smooth transition.

Yorkiesmiles :aimeeyork :aimeeyork

I went from working part time to full time in the last few months. I was concerned also. It turned out that the only negative was on the days she was actually alone all day (like 9 hours) she would keep us up a bit more at night wanting to play. I'm pretty sure she just slept all day and needed to burn some energy at night. This was easily resolved by some serious play time when I got home. Now I have two and I think they both sleep most of the day. Your little one will be fine really and will adjust to your new work schedule.

I feel for you..I very rarely leave Sadie alone...She is either with us or when I'm at work she goes to my parents. Do you have a doggie daycare near you? This would be good for your furbaby as well as you...OH...suggestion...don't look at her when you leave...I know that look oh so well lol