How Long Can Yorkies Be Left Alone?
Yorkies are known for being social dogs. They like to be around other dogs and humans and you may have heard that they do not do well when left alone for a long period of time. If you own a Yorkie, you may wonder how long you can keep them alone in your home.
A Yorkie puppy can spend between two to three hours at home alone while an adult Yorkie can handle up to six hours alone. Making alternative plans if you need to be away from the home longer can help, especially if you need to leave the Yorkie alone each day. Yorkies are social animals and do not like to spend all that time on their own.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the things that you should consider when it comes to how long you can leave your Yorkie alone and some of the best steps to prevent any problems.
How Long Can I Leave My Yorkie Alone?
If you are not able to stay at home with your Yorkie because of a job or other obligations, you may be curious about how long you can leave your Yorkie home alone without you. You may be worried because you have heard in the past that leaving your Yorkie on their own can make them feel depressed and will make them feel separation anxiety.
There are several factors that will determine how long your Yorkie is able to stay home alone. This will include the character of the dog, how old they are, and if they seem to get nervous or struggle with being alone. However, compared to some other dog breeds, it is not a good idea to leave the Yorkie alone for too long.
It is best to not let your Yorkie stay home alone for two long. An adult Yorkie, which is any Yorkie older than 18 months, should not be left alone for more than 6 hours during the day. And puppies will need to see someone else during the day more often. With a baby puppy, you should not let them stay alone for more than two or three hours.
If you need to be gone for longer periods of time than this (what about that 8 hour workday plus travel?), then you may need to think about other methods you can use to help your Yorkie feel more comfortable and to ensure that they are not alone for too long. This could include having someone stop by and play with the Yorkie in the middle of the day or stopping by yourself if possible.
Why Can’t My Yorkie Stay Home Alone?
There are several reasons why your Yorkie is not able to stay home all day without someone else there for them. Your Yorkie is a very social animal, so they like to have that contact with another person. This means that they are not going to do well if they feel isolated and are left at home by themselves for longer periods of time.
Your Yorkie may not like it the first few times that you leave them alone, even if you only go for a few minutes. Some can get scared as well. The good news is that with some practice, you will be able to help them adjust to this and they won’t feel as scared any longer. You should start this out slowly though. Do not go out for ten hours the first time and expect them to be good during that time. Start with short bursts, such as twenty minutes, and then build up so you can go out for longer without the Yorkie getting overly excited.
Once you come home, you should spend some time with your Yorkie. Take them on a walk, give them attention, and play some games with them. They like to be social and you just left them alone for some length of time. When you come home, your Yorkie will want to spend time with you and have some fun. Let them have that and it can make your leaving a little bit better.
Keep in mind that the age of your Yorkie is going to make a difference in how long you can keep the Yorkie home alone. A dog who is more than a year old will do better if you leave them alone for a few hours compared to a puppy. The puppy will grow into this though so just give them some time and be patient along the way.
How Will My Yorkie React If I Leave Them Home Alone?
The way that your Yorkie reacts when you leave them alone at home will depend on the individual Yorkie. Some are really good at being left alone and may take a nap and play with some of their toys. Others are going to feel lost and confused because you are not there, especially if you were always there for a long time and then suddenly started leaving. Others will get anxious and upset because they are left alone.
Some Yorkies will get stressed out when their owners leave them alone. They may bark all the time, do some damage in the home, scratch at the doors, bite furniture, and cause some other issues that you will not like when you come home. The best way to avoid this is to limit how much the dog is able to roam around the home while you are gone.
This is where crate training can come into play. This will allow you a chance to give your Yorkie their own place to relax and feel comfortable while limiting their movement around the home. This can reduce the chance that your Yorkie will feel as upset because they have a chance to go someplace they feel comfortable, and they are confined to one area so they can’t destroy the whole house.
What If I need to Leave My Yorkie At Home?
It would be nice to spend all day at home with your Yorkie, but if you have a job or other obligations, then you will not be able to spend all day at home. With a busy life, it is impossible to be home all the time and it is a little illogical to never leave the home at all because of the dog.
You can make some plans to help your Yorkie not feel like they are abandoned when you leave them at home alone. For example, provide them with some toys that will help them not feel stressed out and can keep them from being bored. You can experiment with a few different types of toys to see what they seem to like the best. If you go out everyday, then just add these to the rotation of toys. If you only leave for long times on occasion, hide these toys away and only use them when you will not be home.
Another option is to bring in some of the cool gadgets. One is a Furbo, which is a cool treat dispensing gadget. You will be able to connect your smartphone with the HD camera. Through the camera, you will be able to monitor your pet and see how they are doing. You can even use the free app attached to it to throw out a treat to your Yorkie when you are not at home.
Keeping your dog in one area of the home is a great way to help them feel more comfortable and not feel like they are alone all day. This can prevent other damages in your home. And if you are going to be gone for a long time, then you may want to consider having someone else stop by and check on your Yorkie and give them some love.
What if I Need to Leave My Yorkie at Home for More Than 8 Hours?
With most jobs, you will need to spend eight or hours away from home to get the job done. Leaving your Yorkie home for this much time can be a bad thing for the dog. It can make them feel depressed, anxious, and stressed out. You may notice that there are changes in their sleeping habits, they eat less, and they experience weight loss.
If you must leave your Yorkie alone for longer periods of time, then it is a good idea to consider alternatives. Come home for lunch or have another caregiver or family member stop by to spend time with the Yorkie. Consider a dog daycare for your puppy so they can have someone else around to play with during the day.
Keeping Your Yorkie Social
Since your Yorkie is a social dog, they do not want to spend a lot of time during the day on their own. This does not make them happy and can lead to depression and anxiety. Keeping your outings shorter and making other plans will help your Yorkie get the attention and socialization that they need.