How Long Can I Leave My Yorkie Alone?

Going further into detail where we last left off, it is essential to know that when dealing with a Yorkie, you should not leave them home alone between 4 to 6 hours being an adult, and no more than 2 to 3 hours until they reach 18 months old.There are many reasons as to why this is. Let us go over a few of them down below:

• They need to go to the bathroom: Just like we cannot expect ourselves to hold our pee in for multiple hours during the day, the same goes with Yorkies, especially puppies, who pee much more frequently than older dogs.
• Puppies are still growing: With that, your pup is still growing and needs to be fed more often throughout the day than an adult dog. The recommended feeding schedule should be 3 to 4 times a day.
• Yorkies need a lot of attention: Overall, these pups tend to cry due to being apprehensive of their owners not being around. They whine if they are left in a confined space, so making sure they are not isolated for this very reason is very important. Think about it this way: if we are left home alone for 8 hours or more a day, we will start feeling the same way.

What Happens When I Leave My Yorkie Alone Every Day?

When looking at the worst-case scenario, Yorkies tend to develop behavioral issues. Here are some signs to look out for if this is you.

• Chewing on clothes or furniture.
• Biting, which can be trained away at a young age.
• Scratching doors or other objects within the home.
• Barking and howling at random stuff or people.
• May run away from home.

All of these issues are a huge no-no, especially if they run away, but to keep them safe from that, make sure you place a tracking device on their collars to ensure this does not happen. We will go over what to do about the other issues in a minute.Depression In YorkiesAnother thing to keep in mind is that Yorkshire terriers become very stressed, anxious, or depressed if left at home alone all day. Dogs have stronger emotional states than we realize, hence why it is not wise to keep some dog breeds home alone for so long. Be mindful of any behavioral changes that they may have, such as:

• They are sleeping much more than they usually do. Adult Yorkshires sleep anywhere between 13 to 18 hours a day, mostly because they are bored, but it is not normal if they are still asleep once returning home.
• Eating a lot less or nothing at all. You can also try alternating foods and treats to see if this might help the issue as well.
• Weight loss because of little to no eating. However, because they only weigh 4 to 7 pounds, it is relatively hard to tell if they have lost mass or not.
• They no longer want to play or go on walks. This could also be a sign of sickness, so be mindful of this.

If any of these signs occur, a few ways to help your dog is by going to the veterinarian. If there is some other underlying issue, like a sickness that needs addressing, they can help with that as well. You can also spend more time with them when you are home, and do not indulge or over comfort them, as this may encourage the behavior to continue.

How To Train My Yorkie To Stay Home All Day

There are quite a few ways to train Yorkies to stay home. We cannot expect our animals to go with us everywhere, especially since many places do not allow pets in their vicinity due to allergies or other issues. Let us go through each one, and you can decide what is best for you and your family.

1. Provide a morning exercise: Yorkshires do not require many exercises, as they will do fine with roughly 30 minutes of it. Nevertheless, if you genuinely wish to do this with your pup every morning, a suggestion to do is give a 10 to 15 minute walk each morning before you have to leave for work, then another 10 to 15-minute stroll shortly after you come home from work.
2. Give fun activities throughout the day: Dogs get bored very quickly, so it would be best to provide enough stimulation throughout the day. Many toys allow your dog’s brain to think, such as dog puzzles and moving around toys. You can even go so far as to get a smart treat dispenser, which provides a camera that you can use to see and communicate with them throughout the day.
3. Avoid free reign over the home: Especially when they are first learning how to be home alone.
4. Leave and return: Practice by leaving the house for a few minutes with all of your belongings that you will usually take to work, then return. Do not make a massive fuss once you get back, as this will encourage the behavior. Your Yorkie will soon realize that they should not be acting out because of this.
5. Medications or natural remedies: If the anxiety is just so high you cannot control it on your own, providing some soothing medicines, CBD oil, or another natural supplement is perfect for helping them out in the long run.

What Do I Do With My Yorkie While At Work?

No one ever wants to leave their animals home for so long, especially if you know that they are compassionate, needy, or overall wind up getting destructive, as we learned above. However, there are some accommodations you can make for your animal, and here is a list of what we can do down below.

1. Visit them during the daytime: Having a visit is letting your fur baby know that you still care for them and they are not forgotten. Although this may not be possible for some people, attempt to have a family member, friend, or trusted neighbor to help with this. Especially to have them go potty and get some affection and attention during the day.
2. Doggy daycare: Yorkshires typically get along well with other dogs, but of course, if you were to do this, be mindful that this may not always be the case. However, if they love meeting new animals, then this would be a fantastic option for them.
3. Hire a pet minder or pet sitter: Aside from dog daycare, there are many other options. They will help with many things, but the most important one to keep in mind is that your Yorkie will not be alone throughout the day. Think of it as a nanny, but in dog form.
4. Leave them with friends or family: Odds are, someone that you know and trust stays home the majority of the day, whether it be to work-from-home or something else. Ask them if they would consider watching your dog while you are away from work.
5. Take them to work with you: Some jobs do allow this to happen, so ask your boss if this would be okay.
6. Provide another animal: This is not always ideal, as one is more assertive and the other is submissive, but if you try to provide them with a play buddy, it may just work out in your favor.

What To Do After Coming Home From Work

We have gone through many ways to help your Yorkshire terrier, but we still need to go through one quick yet essential part of the day: coming home from work. The most important thing you should know is that loving your animal is one of the best things to do.However, it is not wise to go out of the way and welcome them into your arms immediately after getting home, as this will continue to encourage this behavior. Instead, ignore them for a few minutes, then pet them calmly.Another quick thing to keep in mind is that since they have not had exercise until the morning, provide an evening stroll or play fetch on the lawn, as this will help their legs and energy build up all day.

Conclusion

Overall, Yorkies are excellent animals to have around. Still, it is not the wisest choice to leave them home alone for very long, as this will more than likely develop behavioral issues. Nevertheless, if you do what is suggested above, go with the confidence that they are going to be okay regardless of what happens!