Yorkie alone...what do I do??!!
 

I seriously need advice, and probably should have gotten it sooner. Here's my situation.. my husband is usually home during most of the day with Tobey, but he just got a new job and is out if town for 2 weeks for training. I work full time days (9-5) and am in Cosmetology school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 5pm-9pm. Today is monday obviously and already I am freaking out and thinking I need to skip school all week. Tobey is not usually alone for more than about 5 hours. He is 10 months old and is potty trained to pads inside. He is really well trained and very behaved normally. Today he was alone for about 9 hours because I have a 45 minute commute. When I got home he had torn out his potty pads from the usual spot under a counter in our kitchen (where they are taped down on the corners with tape) and they were in the middle of the floor. Who knows where he pottied after they were ripped up!!! I tried to find out- feeling the rugs around the house because luckily we have all hardwood floors (and a small house). I was not surprised because he does this every once and awhile when he is mad(left alone for too long). I don't know any of my neighbors in Alton, Il because we moved recently.... we can't afford doggy day care because I am a social worker and my husband is in school full time...I dont' have friends he can stay with in the St. louis area, so I am at a loss....!!! I am going to talk with my boss tomorrow to see if i can split up a vacation day next week and stay home in the morning so I dont have to miss school...Does anyone have ideas??? Does anyone live in the St. louis area and would want to watch a wonderful little pup?? Please give me suggestions....

Are their any professional petsitters/dog walkers in your area? Call vets and see if they recommend anyone. They come midway through the day and give him some attention

Awe I am so sorry You are going though this I am sure someone on here is near you someplace.. I'll try looking around k :)

Thanks for the replies... the dog walker idea.. any idea how much it costs?? obviously Tobes is priceless to me but we really don't have a lot of money to spare.

I would secure him in one area of the house. He is too young to be trusted to have free run of the house all day alone. Gracie is 15 months and still has not earned those privileges. Can you baby gate him into the kitchen or a bathroom? If not, I would get an ex-pen (Petco or Petsmart have them), put it down on top of a vinyl shower curtain liner. Put his crate/bed, toys, pee pads, food and water in there. Voila. He has his own "room" where he can do what he wants all day long. When confined, he will probably sleep rather than look for things to get into. Gracie shredded her pee pads at first, but that did not last for long.

Have you found a vet where you live? If so, give them a call and ask if they would recommend anyone to do a walking service. I have found vets to be a wonderful resource for classes, groomers and advice. Do you know anyone in your cosmetology class who lives close to you and could recommend anyone?

I feel for you as I have just switched to some full days and there are days my Ziggy is home for 6 hours alone. I feel so guilty and think about him all day. He's used to me working mornings only.

Hope you can find an angel to help you out.

Charlene

my2boys lives kinda close to you you could send her a pm and ask if she could or maybe see if she can recomend a place.. I hope you can find some one...

Also Tink's Mom (Great Lady) has family there.
You could ask her.

The petsitter I've used before charges $16.00 per visit but I know that will vary from area to area and with each petsitter

google pet sitters in your area and that may help too.

Yorkie Alone
 

Have you thought about getting a second pup? I have not had one bit of trouble since I got Samson as a companion to Delilah over 9 months ago. And I don't feel so guilty when I have to be gone for many hours.

Is there a Senior Center near you? Might be a good source for people looking for something to do. Also, if you belong to a church, ask around there. It is very important to get a responsible, reliable person. Best of luck.

Check your groomer if they have a bulletin board that advertises pet service, or they may actually know of someone that can help you. Have you left "busy" toys for him to do during the day, it can deter him from being destructive.

I confine Georgia to a small area during the day while I'm at work. I have quite a commute (and I'm a fellow at the hospital...aka at someone else's mercy, and on someone else's schedule!) and a long work day. There are some days when Georgia is at home alone for 12 hours. I do feel HORRIBLE when that happens! But she seems to do just fine. She did recently take up the hobby of shredding her pee pads, but today she didn't do that, so maybe she stopped! Anyways, I do recommend confining your dog, and also getting a frame for the pee pads at PetSmart or somewhere like that, so they're more difficult to shred.

Thank goodness for my mom since she is no longer working, she is able to go to my apartment and let Kodak and Kamari out. I use to have leave Kodak at home which Is why I got Kamari to give him a playmate. He is no longer bored and they play each other to sleep.:thumbup: I had him 2 1/2 years before I got Kamari so I had to figure out ways for him to entertain hisself while I was at work. I bought toys that talk when he played with them, and I left out balls he could toss around and a teething bone etc. I left a small tv on the counter on the animal planet station. This way he could hear other animals on TV. I made his crate really comfortable with cat toys hanging from it and I put a real comfortable bed in it. I padded it with his favorite blankie and his favorite stuffed animal. I also put one of my socks in his crate so he could smell me while I was gone. I put up a $10 gate from walmart so he couldn't get pass his little area to pee anywhere else but in that area. I taped down some pads in one corner of the room and toys on the other side so he could distingush the two areas for play and peepee. I put his food and water close to his crate because they usually won't poop or pee where they eat and sleep. They have a ball that you can record your voice and when they play with it, it repeats things you normally say to your pup. Sorry for the long reply, :) and good luck to you. I couldn't afford & didn't trust anyone because my daughter worked after school to. But these things worked for us.:D

puppysit
 

i live in edwardsville,illinois and i am a yorkie breeder with 8 grown and 9 babies....i will doggie sit for free....just supply food and pee pads and call me at 618-659-1926 or 618-616-0502 my name is tricia and i hope this can help you out

yorkie lover here

you are so sweet to offer. you may try sending the OP a PM to let her know.. You are to sweet:)