Is a Yorkie right for me? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cinmn · 04-17-2005, 07:55 AM

Hi everyone

First of all, I'd like to thank you guys for the wonderful advice posted on the forums. Secondly, I just want to say hi since I'm one of the newbies. I was wondering if anyone can give advice on deciding whether a Yorkie is the right breed for me. I've been reading a lot about separation anxiety and, as a prospective dog owner who is seriously considering getting a Yorkie, I must admit that I've become somewhat scared of leaving a Yorkie or any dog home alone. Both my fiance and I work long hours -- sometimes 12 or 13 hours at a time. Would it be just plain cruel (or stupid?) to leave a young Yorkie alone for that long. We've been interested in the breed for a very long time, but on the other hand, we don't want to be careless dog owners. Please give us some advice!!

eensor · 04-17-2005, 08:00 AM

IMHO I think 12 or 13 hours alone is too much. 4 or 5 hours is the longest I will leave Lexy, and not to often do I leave her that long. I don't think you can train one being gone that much either.

If you can afford to, you might want to get 2 Yorkies so they have each other to play with while you are at work. You might also consider getting adult Yorkies as well.

Either way, I still think 12 or 13 hours is a very long time for a Yorkie to be alone.

I hope this helps some!

cinmn · 04-17-2005, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the advice... but what about a puppy who's 8 months old and already housetrained? That's the predicament we're in right now. The breeder has told us that he has a great personality and is basically potty-trained already. I just don't want to turn an already good dog into one who's "bad" by leaving him home alone.

Prissy012899 · 04-17-2005, 08:24 AM

If he is accustomed to someone being home a lot and suddenly goes to a home where he is left alone he will surely get separation anxiety.. My advice is that a yorkie is not for you since you are gone so much.. again there are day care providers for dogs if you are willing to go this route.

orinskye · 04-17-2005, 09:02 AM

i think 12 hours alone is a long time for a young puppy......... you are better off getting an older dog
I leave toby alone for about 6-8 hours at a time, but during the first month and a half of his life i was not going to school and working only 3 hours a day
(and my fiance stayed home with him)....

SoCalyorkiLvr · 04-17-2005, 09:12 AM

I agree with everyone else that 12-13 hours alone is not fair to the dog. You do have options:

All of these options would really only work if you and your fiance make a deal where you don't BOTH work late on the same day so that one is home after 8 hours every day. You could hopefully alternate.

1. A second dog for company
2. An older dog who sleeps during the day
3. A kitten to keep the dog company
4. A pet sitter who will walk, play and care for the dog during the day

I really appreciate the fact that you are considering all of these things before getting a yorkie!

lohgan · 04-17-2005, 09:13 AM

You need to take into consideration the amount of care Yorkie's require also. They do require bathing and grooming alot more so than other dogs. Their sorta like having a child. Did you say the one you are wanting is potty trained? That is another thing I have heard that they are very hard to house break and I totally agree with that one. It took me almost a year to get my Yorkie to understand and I'm home with her most all the time and she still will use my rug as a toilet once in a while. You metioned the hours you and your fiance work and I would hate for you to get fed up with this dog every time you come home and find little presents all over the floor. I felt that way about mine and like I said, I'm home with her most of the time. But I do have to say they are very sweet and lovable dogs, just alot of up keep. Let us all know what you decide.

cinmn · 04-17-2005, 09:16 AM

Thanks again... the advice is very helpful! But what to do you mean by an older dog? I realize a puppy who's just a couple of weeks old is way too young to leave alone.... but what about a dog whose 9 months or older? Would that be okay? Perhaps I'm just being selfish for wanting a dog so badly

Olivier · 04-17-2005, 09:20 AM

When peoples who are working 12 - 13 hours , very busy schedules etc etc ,
my breeder always answer " A plush puppy " .

Whitech6 · 04-17-2005, 10:18 AM

I also agree that if you are gone that long I would think about either getting an older yorkie that has been use to being alone the majority of the time. My Fiancé and I both work full time jobs, and he is out of town most of the time. Since I work like 10 minutes from my house, I always go home for lunch to check on Cordelia. The only other suggestion is if you do get a yorkie puppy you may want to get 2 or enroll in doggy daycare.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 04-17-2005, 11:31 AM

Older dogs like over three years or so usually sleep all day whether you are home or not so it wouldn't be as bad leaving them for longer periods if you absolutely had too as it would to leave a dog under 2 years who really needs companionship and lots of active play time with you or another animal like a kitten or dog.

aimee · 04-17-2005, 11:43 AM

First off, GOOD FOR YOU for doing research on different breeds before making a purchase. You are already one step ahead of the game. That said, I find that Yorkies are kind of "needy" - now for me, that is great as I am home almost all the time. For people who need to leave their dogs for that long of a time (10-12 hours) I really wouldn't recommend this breed to them.

Older dogs do sometimes do better with being left alone DEPENDING on their circumstances before you get them. My older girl, Sandy, is very dependant though and does not like to be alone for long periods of time. She regresses with potty training and I'm told this is because of her former life. Our solution is to take her with us whenever possible and if we must leave for a day, a petsitter or friend stays with her. She's not as small as Tia so it is not always feasable to take her with us everywhere.

I would continue to research Yorkies. Are there any other breeds you are interested in? Again, I commend you for being realistic enough to ask these questions before bringing a dog into your home.

bkessler · 04-17-2005, 02:13 PM

I have had mocha for about 1 month... She is 16 weeks old (i think).. I leave her alone during the day when I work but I make sure to give her all the attention at night and on the weekeds.. She is totally spoiled on Saturday's and Sundays... I do have my mom come to my place during the day and take her out to play for a little while.. I agree with Aimee when she gave you props for doing the research.. I think its a sign you will be a great mommy!! Good luck and keep us posted

whispersmom2 · 04-17-2005, 03:58 PM

No matter how old the dog is, whether a Yorkie or another breed, leaving them alone for so long is unfair to them. IMO Dogs are pack animals and therefore are social animals. More so than, say, cats. I have retired and placed adults in homes but absolutely will not consider placing them where they will be alone for so long. Puppies are even more social and needy.
I wonder if another species might work better for you. As has been said, Yorkies require so much more maintainence than some others. But, that could be arranged if all other conditions were optimum. Maybe, you can wait for a while til you and your fiance can alternate being home more and giving the baby the time and socialization the need..

Mydogkelsey · 04-17-2005, 05:02 PM

Yorkie or not..it's cruel to leave any pet alone for that much time. I agree with others on this..get a sitter, doggy day care, go home on your lunch break, etc. I was in this predicament when i got my dog a couple months ago...and i've had to adjust. I didn't do research ahead of time, and i was stressed b/c i didn't want to leave her alone at home for a long time. So I had to change a lot for my dog.

04-17-2005, 07:55 AM	#1
cinmn YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4	Is a Yorkie right for me? Hi everyone First of all, I'd like to thank you guys for the wonderful advice posted on the forums. Secondly, I just want to say hi since I'm one of the newbies. I was wondering if anyone can give advice on deciding whether a Yorkie is the right breed for me. I've been reading a lot about separation anxiety and, as a prospective dog owner who is seriously considering getting a Yorkie, I must admit that I've become somewhat scared of leaving a Yorkie or any dog home alone. Both my fiance and I work long hours -- sometimes 12 or 13 hours at a time. Would it be just plain cruel (or stupid?) to leave a young Yorkie alone for that long. We've been interested in the breed for a very long time, but on the other hand, we don't want to be careless dog owners. Please give us some advice!!

04-17-2005, 08:24 AM	#4
Prissy012899 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 251	If he is accustomed to someone being home a lot and suddenly goes to a home where he is left alone he will surely get separation anxiety.. My advice is that a yorkie is not for you since you are gone so much.. again there are day care providers for dogs if you are willing to go this route. __________________

04-17-2005, 10:18 AM	#10
Whitech6 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The Colony, Texas Posts: 440	I also agree that if you are gone that long I would think about either getting an older yorkie that has been use to being alone the majority of the time. My Fiancé and I both work full time jobs, and he is out of town most of the time. Since I work like 10 minutes from my house, I always go home for lunch to check on Cordelia. The only other suggestion is if you do get a yorkie puppy you may want to get 2 or enroll in doggy daycare. __________________ Some say a dog is a mans best friend but it can only be a womens companion till the end My dog is always my Friend, In my eyes, she will be to the end Cordelia's Mommy

04-17-2005, 11:43 AM	#12
aimee The Royal Mommy Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,010	First off, GOOD FOR YOU for doing research on different breeds before making a purchase. You are already one step ahead of the game. That said, I find that Yorkies are kind of "needy" - now for me, that is great as I am home almost all the time. For people who need to leave their dogs for that long of a time (10-12 hours) I really wouldn't recommend this breed to them. Older dogs do sometimes do better with being left alone DEPENDING on their circumstances before you get them. My older girl, Sandy, is very dependant though and does not like to be alone for long periods of time. She regresses with potty training and I'm told this is because of her former life. Our solution is to take her with us whenever possible and if we must leave for a day, a petsitter or friend stays with her. She's not as small as Tia so it is not always feasable to take her with us everywhere. I would continue to research Yorkies. Are there any other breeds you are interested in? Again, I commend you for being realistic enough to ask these questions before bringing a dog into your home. __________________ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) «´¨ `·.¸¸.Aimée, Sandy, and Tia.¸¸.·´¨`» (¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`'·.¸)

04-17-2005, 02:13 PM	#13
bkessler Mommy's Little Angel Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,496	I have had mocha for about 1 month... She is 16 weeks old (i think).. I leave her alone during the day when I work but I make sure to give her all the attention at night and on the weekeds.. She is totally spoiled on Saturday's and Sundays... I do have my mom come to my place during the day and take her out to play for a little while.. I agree with Aimee when she gave you props for doing the research.. I think its a sign you will be a great mommy!! Good luck and keep us posted __________________ Brooke & Lily Mae (Maltipoo) Mocha (12/23/04-6/25/05)

04-17-2005, 08:00 AM	#2
eensor YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Effingham, Illinois Posts: 2,535	IMHO I think 12 or 13 hours alone is too much. 4 or 5 hours is the longest I will leave Lexy, and not to often do I leave her that long. I don't think you can train one being gone that much either. If you can afford to, you might want to get 2 Yorkies so they have each other to play with while you are at work. You might also consider getting adult Yorkies as well. Either way, I still think 12 or 13 hours is a very long time for a Yorkie to be alone. I hope this helps some!

04-17-2005, 08:12 AM	#3
cinmn YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4	Thanks for the advice... but what about a puppy who's 8 months old and already housetrained? That's the predicament we're in right now. The breeder has told us that he has a great personality and is basically potty-trained already. I just don't want to turn an already good dog into one who's "bad" by leaving him home alone.

04-17-2005, 09:02 AM	#5
orinskye YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,990	i think 12 hours alone is a long time for a young puppy......... you are better off getting an older dog I leave toby alone for about 6-8 hours at a time, but during the first month and a half of his life i was not going to school and working only 3 hours a day (and my fiance stayed home with him)....

04-17-2005, 09:12 AM	#6
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	I agree with everyone else that 12-13 hours alone is not fair to the dog. You do have options: All of these options would really only work if you and your fiance make a deal where you don't BOTH work late on the same day so that one is home after 8 hours every day. You could hopefully alternate. 1. A second dog for company 2. An older dog who sleeps during the day 3. A kitten to keep the dog company 4. A pet sitter who will walk, play and care for the dog during the day I really appreciate the fact that you are considering all of these things before getting a yorkie!

04-17-2005, 09:13 AM	#7
lohgan Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 53	You need to take into consideration the amount of care Yorkie's require also. They do require bathing and grooming alot more so than other dogs. Their sorta like having a child. Did you say the one you are wanting is potty trained? That is another thing I have heard that they are very hard to house break and I totally agree with that one. It took me almost a year to get my Yorkie to understand and I'm home with her most all the time and she still will use my rug as a toilet once in a while. You metioned the hours you and your fiance work and I would hate for you to get fed up with this dog every time you come home and find little presents all over the floor. I felt that way about mine and like I said, I'm home with her most of the time. But I do have to say they are very sweet and lovable dogs, just alot of up keep. Let us all know what you decide.

04-17-2005, 09:16 AM	#8
cinmn YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4	Thanks again... the advice is very helpful! But what to do you mean by an older dog? I realize a puppy who's just a couple of weeks old is way too young to leave alone.... but what about a dog whose 9 months or older? Would that be okay? Perhaps I'm just being selfish for wanting a dog so badly

04-17-2005, 09:20 AM	#9
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	When peoples who are working 12 - 13 hours , very busy schedules etc etc , my breeder always answer " A plush puppy " .

04-17-2005, 11:31 AM	#11
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Older dogs like over three years or so usually sleep all day whether you are home or not so it wouldn't be as bad leaving them for longer periods if you absolutely had too as it would to leave a dog under 2 years who really needs companionship and lots of active play time with you or another animal like a kitten or dog.

04-17-2005, 03:58 PM	#14
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	No matter how old the dog is, whether a Yorkie or another breed, leaving them alone for so long is unfair to them. IMO Dogs are pack animals and therefore are social animals. More so than, say, cats. I have retired and placed adults in homes but absolutely will not consider placing them where they will be alone for so long. Puppies are even more social and needy. I wonder if another species might work better for you. As has been said, Yorkies require so much more maintainence than some others. But, that could be arranged if all other conditions were optimum. Maybe, you can wait for a while til you and your fiance can alternate being home more and giving the baby the time and socialization the need..

04-17-2005, 05:02 PM	#15
Mydogkelsey YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orlando, Fl. Posts: 1,133	Yorkie or not..it's cruel to leave any pet alone for that much time. I agree with others on this..get a sitter, doggy day care, go home on your lunch break, etc. I was in this predicament when i got my dog a couple months ago...and i've had to adjust. I didn't do research ahead of time, and i was stressed b/c i didn't want to leave her alone at home for a long time. So I had to change a lot for my dog.