I work full time and plan to get a puppy. Help!?

Question

I've been reading everyone's input regarding paper/crate/potty training puppies. I've decided to get myself a yorkie pup (she'll be 10 wks old when I get her in about a month). I work a full time job. How do I manage this? I have no problem keeping her in a restricted area while I'm out, but how do I manage the training and the 8 hour work day? I desperately want to have her. Is it possible to accomplish this? I don't think it will be possible to let her out every two hours. Any ideas? Or do people like me not get puppies?

Answer 1

My boyfriend and I both work full time and have one dog and three cats that we adopted when they were all around 4-5 weeks old. It isn't difficult to train an animal to do what you want, you just have to have patience, especially since you will be gone 8-9 hours of the day.
The way we potty trained our puppy was
1.) she went out first thing in the morning as soon as we got up.
2.) She was pinned up in our kitchen so that if she made a mess, it would be easier cleanup while we were at work. we bought her a big pillow to sleep on, left her food and water, several toys and a puppy pad that she never used.
3.) she went out as soon as I got home (I got home first) and we played after she went to the bathroom to burn off some of her energy.
4.) we took her out every 3-4 hours until bedtime and tried to look for signs that she wanted to go out. (our dog NEVER barks unless someone knocks on the door, and very rarely ever whines, you would think she is a mute) We began to see the "searching" behavior where they will frantically sniff the floor in an attempt to find that "perfect" spot in which to go and we would quickly "do you want to go out?:" and put her leash on her and take her out. Everytime she would go outside for the first few weeks, we would praise her and give her a treat.
4.) when she would have an accident in the house and we caught it, we made her sit down in front of it and told her "NO" in a very strong voice while looking her in the eye. We then would put her in the kitchen again for about 20-30 min. and ignore her. (this is the only time she would whine b/c she loves attention and hates being ignored.)
if she had an accident that we didn't catch her doing, we simply had to clean it up and move along b/c dogs live in the "now" and will not understand why you are yelling at them for doing something they feel is natural. After a few weeks, we would increase the time inbetween walks by about 30-45 min. and if she had an accident, we knew it was too soon and would add 15 min. or so back. We now walk our dog 3 times a day. In the morning when we get up, in the afternoon when I come home, and at night right before bed. She is used to this routine and hasn't had an accident in the house in forever.

I hope our experiences can help you and I think that "people like you" deserve a pet as much as anyone else as long as you have the time to give it the love and attention it deserves. The dog will eventually settle into a routine no matter which training method you use. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I know how you feel, and not to be mean, but you really shouldn't be getting a puppy. They can't even fully control their bladder until their six months old and you definitely don't want her to soil her crate.

What you can do instead is either contact a Yorkie rescue and see if they have some already crate trained dogs (not puppies) that you might be able to adopt, or you can go to the shelter and find a 6-8 month old that is probably already crate trained.

Bottom line, you should get a DOG, not a puppy.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well since you have your puppy picked then that leaves out the correct breed.

You will need to invest in a few things.
1-large play pen (at petstores not human ones)
2-Potty pads and the holder now if it is going to stay a small breed then get the potty box/litter for dogs. Yes they have those out in the market.
3-toys, toys and more toys. Chew toys ,squeeky (noisy) toys, cuddle toy like a stuffed animal. This one you take to the breeder now and get the smell of mommy and siblings all over it.
4-Enroll in a puppy training class. This will aid in puppy socialization, bonding between you and your new buddy, as well as training your dog now, while it's the easiest to break bad behaviors before they get out of hand. The #1 reason dogs are abandoned or released to the local shelter, lack of training.
5-Read books on dogs and get a feel for what your in for so you know what to do when it happens.

When you get your dog make sure you will be home for a few days (like over the weekend). You will have a problem if you pick up your dog and then he/she has no one around. Then you WILL have abandonment issues to deal with. The first thing you do when you get home is your dog. No phone calls, no computer, no one but your new baby. Take him/her straight outside. Your dog is going to be so exceited it's going to piddle everywhere. This is normal and soon he/she will outgrow this.

You have to remember you have been gone all day, this is your time with your baby.

If you can have someone come by (like a trusted neighbor) and check in on your buddy, this will also insure yourr puppy is socializing with other folks other than you. This could cause anti-social human behaviour.

Answer 4

When I got my dog she was 13 weeks old. I work full-time and it was rough taking care of a puppy and working. I locked her in the laundry room while I was at work. At lunch I would go home everyday and let her outside to go potty. I would clean up the mess she made in the laundry room and put her back in there. Her crate was in the laundry room but the door was off and their was a bed in there for her. I did this for 4 months until she was old enough to "hold it" for half the day (I seriously jumped up and down when she finally held it for a full 4 hours). I then moved her crate into the living room and left her in it all day. I would fill a Kong up with peanut butter and kibble and give that to her when I put her in there. She only had two accidents and then was fine. I still keep her crated when I am at work and she doesn't mind at all. In fact she runs in there when I am getting ready to leave...she knows she is going to get a treat!

Good luck. Working singles CAN get a puppy and it DOES work. BTW if you can't go home at lunch you can always hire a pet sitter to come in and let your puppy out. From time to time I call on a friend (who has a key to my house) to come over and let my dog out when I am having a long day.

Answer 5

I did this and it was not easy. If I had it to do over again I would still get my puppy but I would find a friend or neighbor to let them dog out during the day if possible. Otherwise you can train it to use a puppy pad...the problem is breaking of using it when they are old enough to hold it all.

But don't give up - even working moms can be great dog moms!

Answer 6

If you're this stressed out just thinking about adopting a puppy, then, No. you shouldn't get one. You simply don't have time to devote to the needs of a baby - which is what a puppy is - a baby dog.

You might consider adopting an adult dog instead - because that's what puppies grow up to be anyway.

Adult dogs usually come potty trained
Adult dogs are at their full size - no surprises here.
Adult dogs are usually spayed/neutered already
Adult dogs usually have all their shots.

The shelter is full of them.

Answer 7

What on earth is the difference between full blooded and pure bred?? I KNOW that full blood is a totally incorrect term but usually people mean pure bred when they use this. Run a mile from these people as they are talking out their butts. What you need to be concerned about when buying a GR is if there a history of (or tests done for) in the lines of the pups Cancer Idiopathic Epilepsy Inherited Heart Disease Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) Elbow Dysplasia Swallowing Disorders Allergies, Hot Spots, Skin Problems Immune-related Problems prcd-PRA (eye disorder) Pigmentary Uveitis (PU) Other Inherited Eye Disease Thyroid Abnormalities Canine von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) Other Genetic Problems Only when they can answer these questions openly and with genuine knowledge are they breeders worth your time.

Answer 8

well....your not going to like my answer. But its thr truth, however I have some suggestions.

You really can't leave a puppy for 8hrs a day, your going to have a horrible time trying to potty train her, she needs human interaction especially at a young age.

We currently have 2 dogs, a 5yr pit and a 14wk lab, we got the lab at 8wks and fiancee and I both work full time as well. He works close to home so he has 45mins mid day to let them outside, feed lunch, and play. Plus we have slightly different scheduals, so I leave the house at 7, but he doesnt leave until 8:30, I get home at 4:30 he doesnt get home until 6:30.

So for us it works, because she really isnt in her crate tooo long.

At the bare minimum she needs to atleast have someone let her out of her crate to potty at lunch, and feed her lunch. Puppies need to eat 3x a day.

Maybe you could pay a neighbor, or find a dog walker. Or a friend that lives nearby. But if you can't find someone to let her out 1-2 times a day while your at work it really isnt fair to the puppy.

EDIT:: im all for giving her a morning walk, but biking/jogging/rollarblading is WAYY too much for a 10wk yorki!! A walk in the morning, when you get home from work, and before bedtime would be great for her. We walk our 14wk lab 1mi around 11:30pm and she will sleep until 5-6

Answer 9

PLEASE do not have her alone for all that time. Maybe there is a neighbor kid who can come in after school? It sounds like you could be a good dog owner, but you will have to get creative about how to do it. I'm a single owner, but I have managed to get creative.

There is another option...adopting an older dog. Puppies can be brats, and demand ALOT of time and energy. Adopting an older dog (one that is calmer) could be a good medium. Along with all the other pluses of having an older dog.

Answer 10

You don't sound like you should be getting a puppy...
Do you have any unemployed friends or someone that can take care of her? Crate training is fine, but for more than 8 hours (including nights, I'm assuming), 5 days a week is excessive. She'll be miserable and lonely.