Update

[Christine3837]

I haven't been on for a while because luckily Monty hasn't had any problems. He is now a whopping 16 lbs (according to my Nintendo Wii lol) and if memory serves, I think he was about 3.5 lbs when we first got him. We took his crate apart (which he never liked) because he is now sleeping out of his crate and allowed to freely roam the house EVEN WHEN WE LEAVE HIM HOME ALONE! This is a big deal for me!
I've been spending A LOT of time with the little guy because for the past couple months I am proud to say that I am finished with law school and have been LOCKED up in my house studying for the NY and NJ State Bar Exams. He's the only thing keeping me sane and I am going to miss him SO much when I actually have to leave the house.
Which bring me to the point of my post...
When I actualy DO re-enter society, am I supposed to just leave him home alone for the entire day? Since I've gotten him he's only had to be home alone for a maximum of 4 hours. I live in Queens, NY on the 6th floor of an apartment building. His wee wee pad is kept outside on a covered balcony. I figured I could install a doggy door so he could go in and out to pee freely. I don't know...this is my first dog and it seems weird to leave him home alone for so long. I wonder what he'll do all day.

[Bailey]

Hi Christine...first congrats on law school....and good luck with your exams.....I can sort of relate to what you will be going thru with Monty since when we got Bailey my daughter was inbetween semisters at Stony Brook and Bailey wasn't left alone more than 3-4 hrs..with the run of the house....and trained to go outside to do her business...when my daughter started classes again last August...we had a problem on Mondays...when Bailey would be left alone for 6-7 hrs...the first Monday we put her back in a crate..which we hadn't done for months...it was a disaster....she was probably scared...pooped in the crate and got it all over herself....we then got pee pee pads and still gave her the run of the house....after a few weeks she got the hang of using them....now she is almost a year old.....her 1st birthday is 2/27.....and we leave her alone sometimes for 8-9 hrs and although we still put the pee pee pads down when we go out she now can hold it until we return.....so I would think Monty will also adapt to your new schedule....since as we all know shorkies are just the smartest dogs 

[Christine3837]

They are the smartest dogs. I am so afraid of leaving him in the crate for that exact same reason. Also, he can't possibly be happy or comfortable in there for a whole 8 or 9 hours. When you leave him out does he poop on the wee wee pad too? Monty is great with only having accidents on the "emergency" we wee pad we leave by the balcony door but one time he couldn't hold his poop. He pooed on the inside wee wee pad then decided to pick it up and place it in the middle of my cream colored living room rug. Lately he's been taking a liking to bed so god knows what little treats he may leave there. Bailey holds it all day? I don't know how long Monty is capable of holding it because when I'm home and he scratches or growls at the balcony door, I just let him right out. He usually goes about every 4 hours if he can. Sometimes he does like to just go outside to look at traffic, and he only pees because he knows he's not allowed back in until he does.

Oh, and thank you for the kind words. The bar is in ONE week and I am dreadfully nervous ahhhh!

[Bailey]

When we first started leaving her for a long time...she would use the wee wee pad or try to to poop on...most times it would wind up right next to the pad...she's not left alone for 8 hours much...at the most once a week....and now she has been holding it while we are out....she is just about a year old....so that may have something to do with it....when we first started leaving her for 6-8 hrs she was 6 months old....and would use the wee wee pads once to pee and poop while we were gone....
Even when we are home now...she goes pee and poop when we get up...anywhere from 7-10am....then pees again anywhere from 12-3pm and goes out again around 6-7pm to pee and poop after eating....then once more to pee at 10-11pm

[Kim]

Congrats and good luck on your bar exam Christine!

For Max, the longest we've ever left him in his crate was 9 hours. And he did not have any accidents. He was however very energetic the moment we let him out. But it is probably better to leave them out if you aren't worried about them chewing on things. At least they have the freedom to walk around and stuff.

[Ann]

Hi christine
Toby and I are very proud of you. Good on you for doing law I'm sure it's not easy so yes very proud of you.
Good luck with passing!!! but I'm sure you will be fine. 

[Mai Tai]

Christine, I hope you do well on the Bar exams.  Let us know how it goes.  As for leaving Monty alone, I think installing a doggy door would be ideal if you can swing it, just so long as it is not a security hazard.  We leave Mai Tai alone with the run of most of the house, (NOT the kids' bedrooms where there are too many tempting chews for him like slippers, barbies, etc.) for about 3 to 4 hours at a time.  He has never held pee or poop longer than 6 at home, but then again, he has never had the opportunity, as someone is usually here.  My sister recently got a job and has to leave her cockapoo home 8 hrs three days a week and was concerned she would not hold it either, but lo and behold, she does.  This is an 8 year old dog too who was never left alone for more than 4 hours either, so I do believe Monty will adapt.  Now if only I could say the same for my little Mo who won't hold pee for longer than about 3 hours, and WON"T use a pee pad.  Fun fun fun.

Best of luck to you.