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I have been blessed to have a new member to our family. That’s right a Yorkie. She is just absolutely adorable and I love her already. She has only been with us for 5 days. A co-worker remembered me saying that I have always wanted a Yorkshire Terrier and her daughter was given one but unfortunately it wasn’t working out with her family and she offered me her if I provide a good home. I already have a domestic male cat, and a border collie – Shepard male 2-year-old dog. I was concerned with how it would work out because she is so tiny 5.5 lbs. And Buddy is about 50 pounds he is VERY SWEET, but clumsy and loves to play I am concerned that he will hurt her, but not on purpose. So far I have been keeping my eye closely on the two of them and they are coming together slowly but surely. Buddy just wants to play with her 24/7.

I do know that Layla (my yorkie) is much different than Buddy. She always wants to be held and pampered and she is very protective of me. I don’t mind her distemper at all.

MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS WHEN I AM AT WORK WHAT TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD I MAKE FOR HER WHEN I AM AWAY FROM HOME? Buddy is crate trained and enjoys being in her crate when I am away. Layla just cries if I leave the room. If I put her in her crate she cries basically if I am not right there with her she crys. Yesterday when I went to work I put her in the bathroom with toys, newspaper and her crate door open. She cried and cried and scratched at the door and took some of the wood off the door.

I don’t know what I should do when I go off to work. What is the best way to handle this? And is there anything else that I need to know?
I am taking her to the vet for all her shots and a check up on Monday.

>>I have been blessed to have a new member to our family. That’s right a Yorkie. She is just absolutely adorable and I love her already. She has only been with us for 5 days. A co-worker remembered me saying that I have always wanted a Yorkshire Terrier and her daughter was given one but unfortunately it wasn’t working out with her family and she offered me her if I provide a good home. I already have a domestic male cat, and a border collie – Shepard male 2-year-old dog. I was concerned with how it would work out because she is so tiny 5.5 lbs. And Buddy is about 50 pounds he is VERY SWEET, but clumsy and loves to play I am concerned that he will hurt her, but not on purpose. So far I have been keeping my eye closely on the two of them and they are coming together slowly but surely. Buddy just wants to play with her 24/7.
>>
>>I do know that Layla (my yorkie) is much different than Buddy. She always wants to be held and pampered and she is very protective of me. I don’t mind her distemper at all.
>>
>>MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS WHEN I AM AT WORK WHAT TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD I MAKE FOR HER WHEN I AM AWAY FROM HOME? Buddy is crate trained and enjoys being in her crate when I am away. Layla just cries if I leave the room. If I put her in her crate she cries basically if I am not right there with her she crys. Yesterday when I went to work I put her in the bathroom with toys, newspaper and her crate door open. She cried and cried and scratched at the door and took some of the wood off the door.
>>
>>I don’t know what I should do when I go off to work. What is the best way to handle this? And is there anything else that I need to know?
>>I am taking her to the vet for all her shots and a check up on Monday.
>>
>>

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A small room can be great, or a portable exercise pen. If you use a small room, don't close the door. That leads to a dog developing the habit of clawing up doors and the flooring at the base of doors. Use a baby gate instead, so she can see out.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thank you so much for your advice. So you don’t recommend crate training my Yorkie like I do my other dog? If I put her in a small room with a baby gate should I lay paper down? Do I leave food in there? Is there anything else I need to know?
Thanks so much I look forward to hearing from you soon.

>>Thank you so much for your advice. So you don’t recommend crate training my Yorkie like I do my other dog? If I put her in a small room with a baby gate should I lay paper down? Do I leave food in there? Is there anything else I need to know?
>>Thanks so much I look forward to hearing from you soon.
>>
>>

Crate training is important, but you don't want to leave a dog in there longer than the dog can hold it--that leads to all sorts of problems including a "dirty dog," potential infections, a dog who can no longer tolerate a crate, separation anxiety, etc. So do the crate training when you can get back to her quickly enough that she will have a positive experience and no stress. Other times, the small room or portable exercise pen creates less problems.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47