I think I took on too much...I don't think I can keep both of pups

[greenlove]

I feel like a TERRIBLE person. I love yorkies, I really do. I absolutely love both of my boys. I wanted only one yorkie but when I saw both sitting in the pet store (been there a whole week). It tore my heart out. I had to get both because I couldn't imagine the other one all alone. I really shouldn't have done that though.

I am struggling to train them. They don't want to play with me or be groomed or work on training. They just want to play and fight with each other. Romeo is very calm (he has a bad knee) and wants to do training (he is housetrained, good at grooming and is quickly learning how to sit, stay, etc). Marley is more baby-ish and wants to play, play, play. He is pretty good about housetraining (not 100% yet) but HATES grooming and he just never is calm. The kids adore him because of his playfullness, but it is overwhelming me.

I am home almost all day because I go to school and take mostly online classes. I have two young daughters (5 and 8) as well. My youngest has Aspergers and can be a handful. We just pulled her out of preschool on Friday due to some major issues. So, now I have to homeschool her and it will take more energy. I feel between school, kids and my business, I am running low on energy. I need a calm, down-to-earth dog that fits my personality better.

My husband and I decided that we need to re-home little Marley (the tiniest of the two) because he is more active and he doesn't have any health problems like his brother. It is so hard for me and I feel terrible. Now, I am trying to figure out how to find a good home for him and that is super tough too. I should have followed my original plan and only get one.

I just had to get that out. I feel so guilty but I also know my limits. I am crossing my fingers that I find a good home for him (I just have him listed on our local kijiji site).

[yorkieusa]

Sweetie, you know your limits and you've reached them. It is sad to separate them, but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. I would just be very careful that he goes to a good home with a fenced yard - people who would be able to afford to take proper care of him.

[MyLilReese]

Awwwww, I feel your pain, but you have to do what is best for you. You seem to have your plate full...God bless you sweetie. You will find a good home for him, and maybe it will be with someone close by, and they can still be able to have playdates.

[JeanieK]

I am so sorry that you are having troubles. Your puppies were purchased from a pet store and came from a puppy mill, so they were never properly socialized.

It is a lot to take on a new puppy with small children.

However I fear that if you get rid of one, there will be new problems with the other one, constant crying for example

I wish you would give it more time, nd try some other methods of training. How old arethey? What health issues does the one have? What methjod have you tried for training.

I would use and x pen with a crate in it and a pee pad.

I would only take them out when they are being played with and closely supervised by an adult.

I would give them lots of love and attention so they learn to love people. if you get rid of one the other will be most likely spend a lot of time crying for attention.

These babies were most likely taken from their mother at 5 to 6 weeks of age and having each other is all they know. if you feel you need to rehome, I would rehome them both.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

I am so sorry that you are having troubles. Your puppies were purchased from a pet store and came from a puppy mill, so they were never properly socialized.

It is a lot to take on a new puppy with small children.

However I fear that if you get rid of one, there will be new problems with the other one, constant crying for example

I wish you would give it more time, nd try some other methods of training. How old arethey? What health issues does the one have? What methjod have you tried for training.

I would use and x pen with a crate in it and a pee pad.

I would only take them out when they are being played with and closely supervised by an adult.

I would give them lots of love and attention so they learn to love people. if you get rid of one the other will be most likely spend a lot of time crying for attention.

These babies were most likely taken from their mother at 5 to 6 weeks of age and having each other is all they know. if you feel you need to rehome, I would rehome them both.

That was my first thought - to give it more time. I know anytime you have puppies that it can be so overwhelming sometimes, even when you have just one.

[Ladymom]

I know it's a difficult decision to make, but it sounds like it was a good one for your family.

Getting two puppies at the same time isn't recommended anyway. They both need individual socialization and training so they bond properly to you, not each other, and grow up without issues like separation anxiety. Housebreaking two puppies can be very difficult, too.

Also, since the puppies are from pet stores/puppy mills, they both may have genetic health conditions that may not show up for years. It can be extremely costly to have just one puppy mill puppy, let alone two.

Here are a couple articles that may make you feel better about your decision.

Two Puppies or One? - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

Think twice before getting 2 puppies - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

[TwoforFun]

I agree with the comment about rehoming both. I still think you should reconsider and buy an x-pen to have them in. Have some one professionaly train them to get you from that burden. Some people will actually prefer to go train at your house. I know it's allot but it can be over in a few months when their fully train. Give them a puppy cut so you won't worry about the grooming.

[megansmomma]

I can see that you really are in over your head and I also believe you are making the right decision to give up Marley. Unfortunelty, making impulse purchases in pet shops is a very common thing and you were not immune. Fortunely, you have come to the realization that keeping both Marley and Romeo plus your school, business and children are just too much for you at this time. The one things that does concern me is placing your ad on Kijiji. It is not a very good choice when it come to rehoming your puppy escpecailly since he is not nuetered. I am hoping that you will reconsider how you rehome him and chose a different form of advertisement or possibly surrendering him to a rescue. A rescue would be able to keep him in their care until he is old enough for nuetering. I would hate to think he could possibly end up in not reputable hands. Since you do not have any expereince rehoming a puppy this too can become an overwhelming task. If you would like send me a PM and I would be willing to help find a rescue in your area that would be willing to help you.

[greenlove]

They are 15 weeks old. Romeo has a knee issue (it slips) but the vet said it is too early to tell if he will need surgery. He also had an ear infection and ear mites when we got him (its treated now). Marley is perfectly healthy. We do have a pen with the crate and potty pad inside. We also have a potty pad in the house. We live in an apartment with no fenced yard so we are housetraining inside. As for training, we have tried using treats (but they have sensitive bellies and the vet didn't recommend it), verbal praise, and schedules. When they are seperated, they are wonderful. They both try hard and want praise. The issue is when they are together. I can't get them focused. The fighting is also horrific. They fight so bad that the neighbor asked if something was wrong because they were ripping each others legs. They do that constantly. The vet said it was normal though. I haven't looked into getting a trainer, I will look into it.

I am a bit worried about how Romeo will react without his brother. I know I can make it work and I understand I should give it more time. I just worry that the kids will become even more attached and it will be even harder. I will admit that I have no real puppy experience (except short-term care of puppies when I was a foster home for the shelter) and no small-dog experience. I am learning and willing to learn. I am not rich, but I have the money to care for them both (even for surgeries, etc). I did an impulse buy and I regret that. I just hate to see animals caged. It breaks my heart.

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I am going to talk to my husband tonight and see what we should do. I do agree that Kijiji isn't great, I just didn't know of any other options.

[Nancy1999]

I'm so sorry you are having problems, this is just one of the reasons I'm against dogs being sold in pet store. Pet stores as well as breeders who sell for profit, aren't interested in placing a dog in a home where he fits, they are only interested in selling a dog. A good breeder probably would have refused to sell you a Yorkie, because of the ages of your children. I have had lots of different dogs, and experience in training, and I can tell you that Yorkies are much more difficult to train than other breeds. They also don't seem as eager to please as other breeds, and this can present a challenge to people with limited training skills. The yorkie is a smart dog, and stubborn as well, and I think they are best suited in homes, with a calm stable environment. There are so many breeds that are great with children, and they are docile and calm, yet eager to please. I'm not sure rehoming just one will solve the problem either. Good luck with your decision, but I hope in the rehoming you don't present the dog as easy to train and great with children. You have a responsibility to find him a permanent home, even if you have to lose money. At 4 months old, you have no idea what he'll be like with children. Joey liked kids at 4 months, but he hates them now. Didn't the pet store have any type of guarantee? A good breeder would have taken the dog back, for any reason. Please don't take this as me judging you or thinking you are a bad person, but it sounds like you have so much going on in your life right now, the yorkie is perfect for a person who wants more going on in their lives, like the empty nester.

[TwoforFun]

Both my girls fight furiosly. One is 2.8lbs and the other one is close to 7lbs. I do have to watch them closely but otherwise they love to play fight. There dogs. When they play with you do they bite down hard? if so teach them not to. If they don't bite then it should be ok for them to play. Some train them not to bite at all I just train mine not to bite down.
There like kids they will get on your nerves. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[BanditSocks2]

It seems like you're making the best decision for all involved. There are many rescue groups if you can't find a home you trust, I wouldn't worry too much about them being separated at this young age. Good luck with what must be an incredibly difficult decision.

On a sidenote, I saw you mentioned your daughter having aspergers and you having to pull her from pre-school. If it's a public school they are required by law to provide her with the instruction and intervention she needs, and you can call IEP advocates to fight for her rights...if that's the issue.

[greenlove]

BanditSocks2 - Thanks for the advice. She did have an IEP but for some reason she became fearful of school, had constant accidents, wouldn't participate in anything, cried and didn't want to go, and said they are mean. We are keeping her in therapy and we are trying to get her involved in the autistic center but we won't make her go back to the classroom. I don't know what happened (she won't tell me), but it broke my heart to see it. I finally had enough. Thanks though!

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by greenlove

BanditSocks2 - Thanks for the advice. She did have an IEP but for some reason she became fearful of school, had constant accidents, wouldn't participate in anything, cried and didn't want to go, and said they are mean. We are keeping her in therapy and we are trying to get her involved in the autistic center but we won't make her go back to the classroom. I don't know what happened (she won't tell me), but it broke my heart to see it. I finally had enough. Thanks though!

Well as a single working mother with a demanding job and active teen-ager; I fully understand being over your head.

I felt as you do now when we got our first dog, Ringo, a Westie. Westie's are high-energy; independent and stubborn. Those first few weeks, I berated myself for taking on such a puppy with my plate already full.

The puppy months were hard. But he did mature, and quit chewing, peeing in the house, and tearing up everything. He still needs long walks to calm him down.

He is now a dignified almost 4 year-old and we made it through. I wasn't the perfect dog Mom and he wasn't the perfect dog . . but with a little time and patience and KNOWING that you are NOT going to be able to interact with them 24/7 (few of us can); I believe that you can make it work If you want to.

No, they might not be perfectly trained to obey your every command. You don't have that kind of time. NO, they might not get walked every single day because you don't have that kind of time.

But you might have enough time to be a 'good enough' (not perfect) owner for both your boys.

Good Luck whatever you decide. Either way, I believe BOTH pups will adjust.

[ellabee]

what would the difference be between separating siblings at 15 weeks, and separating them at 12 weeks (which is when breeders let them go)? wouldn't they cry for their siblings in either situation? and then adjust eventually?

good luck in your decision, please follow your instincts and your heart. i believe that the information on here is so valuable, but i also know at the end of the day the decisions I make (even though they are much more informed!) are still mine alone to make.

just in terms of your feeling bad about separating these guys, I am about to get a puppy from a breeder and I know I am separating him or her from the sibling group and their momma, but I also know that in the long run thats okay to do.