Moving? Should we take our 'baby'
 

We currently live in Ohio and I have been transfered to Richmond VA. My husband had worked 2nd shift & I work days. Our sweetheart Charlie,14
mths. has only been left alone a few hrs. during the day and only 6-8 hrs. a 1/2 dozen times since we got him. Right now our townhouse has a huge 'common yard' that Charlie runs and plays in. In Richmond there is a very strict lease law plus he will be alone at least 9 hrs each day. I tried to crate train him but hubby would not do it. Plus Charlie still potty's in the house. Again, hubby would not try and litter box train him but let him have the run of our townhome. He thinks we should give Charlie away to a new home that has a yard and an elderly woman who is always home. I want to take my sweetheart, get him fixed and feel that after a while he will get use to our new hrs. and time home. He does also potty outside and loves his walks.
I'm a newbie here. What do you experienced yorkie owners think? I love my baby and will be sad without him. My hubby is crying over leaving him but feels it best for Charlie

Boy this is a tough one and many members will probably not agree with me but depending on what you mean by elderly(????) it maybe would be the best thing for your little one. Yes he would get adjusted to your new hours but I doubt if he would ever become completely housebroken. I do Yorkie Rescue and many times this is the number one reason people give these little ones up. I realize you love him a great deal but now you have to figure out if your decision is being made for the best interest of him. What would make him happy in the long run. This will be tough for you and my thoughts will be with you as you figure out what you are going to do.

Casper is 15 months old and up until a few months ago he spent 9-10 hours a day home alone. He did have to adjust but was fine after a few weeks! He still has some accidents but his usually happen on the kitchen tile which is great. If you're going to be gone that many hours and he is not quite potty trained maybe you could get him belly bands so he dosen't mark up your house. I hope all works out for you and you get to take your baby with you!:animal-pa

When I'm going to be gone more than 4-5 hours I have someone who comes in to walk and play with my dogs. Works for us!

You should just try crate training him it might be tough but don't give up.:( If you do give him away why elderly? A young dog needs lots of attention maybe a family with kids or something?

HaHa - lets see what she means by elderly before we all jump to conclusions...in her book I could be considered elderly:rolleyes:

welcome to richmond!!!
if things dont work out, pm me
where about are you moving in richmond?

p.s.
i also stay home all day

but i hope you can keep your baby!

take him with you
 

I would take him with you. He is old enough to adjust. I have 2 yorkies and puppies right now. I am off for the summer since I closed my insurance ageny in May but I have always had to leave my dogs home alone during the day and alot of times 9 hours. Maybe you can confine him to one room if you do not want to leave him in a crate that long. he will be fine!:)

I think that you should keep him and consider having someone come over during the day to let him out etc... You can keep him in the kitchen to make sure he doesn't mess on the carpet. I am only speaking for me, but I could never give Georgie away. Good luck with your move we live about an hour and a half from Richmond and it's a nice place.

Forgot to say Welcome to YT!

If you do decide to rehome your little guy - find him a nice loving home, and I'm sure he will do very well. Dogs are very adaptable - more than people are, I think. I think this is always harder on the people than it is on the dog.

And - if he goes to a good home, it will be easier on you also.

Whatever you decide - we all know you are considering what will be best for everyone.

Sometimes things do change and our little pets really might be happier someplace else. I think it is always wonderful for little dogs when someone can be home with them, and they have a yard to run in.

I wish you the best. And - I know from experience that sometimes the right thing to do is also the hardest ---


Carol Jean

You may want to give some thought to doggy daycare. Richmond does offer a couple of these services and they are nice from what I hear.

All Dog Playschool and Holiday Barn

I say..get another one for company...

Doggie doors
 

can you put a doggie door in the new home? Is there enough room for him to just go outside to pee? My husband and I also work and we only crated Starsky until he was potty trained. But the doggie door was a huge help!!! I do hope you can keep him.

You might find that if you take him with you, confine him to an area while you are gone (ie; bathroom, or kitchen blocked off) with food, water, bed, toys and some wee wee pads that he will might learn to "hold" it and consistently go outside. Unless he sleeps with you and you know he doesn't leave the bed during the night to potty, wherever he is confined during the day would be a good place for night also.

Tough call. Sissy is 10 months and mostly potty trained for outside, but occasionally will go inside - but mostly if I'm not home cause her signals are not at all clear to others who don't pay attention!!

Like others said, if you do give him up - it doesn't have to be to someone elderly. Anyone who can devote time to him would be a good choice and sometimes younger folks have more energy, especially for walks.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

would never ever ever ever leave my lexi behind... id stay with her if i had to..
sorry, but thats the way i feel....for me it would be like giving my child away.
no way jose , no thank you..

We leave our Bella home during the day and she seems to be doing just fine. That was one of my concerns when I first got her because I felt really guilty leaving her alone for so many hours. I even considered rehoming her, but I couldn't bring myself to doing it.
My neighbor does come to check on her and let her out for a bit during the day. She is confined to the kitchen (tile) and has access to a small patio area where she can go potty.

Overall she seems to have adjusted (it's been 2 months) and I love coming home to her and her kisses! :)


I think your dog will adapt, but you should do whatever you think is best.

Roxy and TJ stay home together while I am at work. They are home together for approx. 9-12 hrs. They are fine. When we are all home togther, I spend every minute of mine time with them... and hey still love me to dealth. As I do them. I COULD NEVER GIVE THEM AWAY. They are my LIFE, without them I would have a HUGE void in my life, but that just me (and my husband too, he loves them soooooooooo much).

Best of Luck! :)

Wow. IF this were me - I couldn't do it :( BUT....please don't base your decision on potty training issues. I Agree with Livingdustmops - think about what's best for HIM.

The training issues should not be the reason you decide to rehome him. If you think he's going to spend all his time alone then I would base your decision on how much time is actually going to be spent with him. Yorkies are very social dogs. If you think you can offer him the attention he deserves - then I would def try to take him.

I have not read the other comments here. But here are my 2 cents.
1. Lots of people leave their dog home while they work and it seems to work out fine in lots of cases. You know your dog, will he absolutely freak out or can he adjust?
2. Your yorkie can not be blamed for not being potty trained if he is unneutered and left to run the house. If it is potty training problems that make you want to leave him, why not put a belly band on him.

tough choice
 

I know your points for being rid of him, but I personally wouldn't, first of all the new place will be new smells , he hasn't marked it up yet or made potty scent smells in it, it just may be your chance to train him properly.I had a heck of a time training Moe, i thought he would never stop going in the house.I had to stick to the crate training strictly, and bought him a belly band, pluss i started him out with his paper by the back door, which is the door he goes out to potty, so if ever he does have a mistake its on the paper nearest where he should go.I made a game of going poopy on the paper and outside, Yay!! and lots of praise, they want to please us, and pick up on the praise if your very annimated about it.Id say keep him, if it don't work out I saw one of our fellow YT said to pm her, I am sure there is a relocation program where your going if it don't work out, but the best thing is to try and make it work first, as babies do learn, whatever it is you teach them.Good Luck.

This has got to be a really hard decision to make, but I wonder what your hubby is willing to do so you can keep him...Please do not think I am being critical of him but I am being as honest as I would be if y'all were standing right here in front of me discussing this. Your baby needs to be confined to an area where there is NO carpet and where his access to the rest of the house is limited...Hubby will have to help in this training. If your "baby" is a climber, then you will need a LARGE crate. If he will stay in an Xpen in the kitchen, that would be a solution to your problem. It sounds as if a doggy door is not an option but I don't suggest them anyway....these little Yorks get into trouble when they can get outside-stolen, hurt, or lost are but a few. If hubby thinks that he cannot help with the training, then I think the best thing to do would be to re-home him...maybe the hubby too but I really mean the "baby". LOL
Tammy 8333 sounds like a real option. If you decide to re-home him, please know that if he is placed in a great home where he is with a human all day, he will be FINE!! I know, because I have taken older Yorkies several times. I have also re-homed some older ones and they do equally well. BTW, I am 69 and elderly..LOL, and I would think long and hard before placing a youngster in my home....Especially an active, need-to-be-trained Yorkie...
If I have offended you r your hubby, that was ot my intention. I simly want what is best for your baby as you do...

just wanted to say thank for the reference Whispers.

if things dont work out just let me know. i am home all day every day. i have little girl who is almost 4 and remmie is 4 1/2 months. i have all hardwood floors so carpet is not an issue. My mother and me have care credit for any medical emergenices, and my hubby wants to puchase pet health insurance.

I do some hope you can keep your pup, because they are such a joy. But please remember,i am here in richmond. i would be honored to take over in the his care if you needed me too!!

i dont know what i could afford to pay FOR him, but he would definetly be taken care. i also volunteer at a dog rescue group here in richmond "AARF".
If i ever do go back to work it would be part time and my family comes first (pets included)
when i go out of town they are taken to my mothers not a boarding facility.


AGAIN I HOPE THINGS WORK OUT, MORE THAN ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!1
also if you are interested in this, may i see some pics?