What is a long amount time, that is, that they shouldn't be left alone? I work 8 hours days but spend most of my time at home on the weekends and come straight home from work. And when it was a puppy I was going to take lunchbreaks to come home too. Would this be enough attention? I think if that was ok, this would be a great breed for my family! Thanks for any input!

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My shichon is almost 6 months old and he is left from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm (7 hours) Monday thru Friday when I am at work and kids are in school...He is fine.....We always try to bring him everywhere we go and my kids and I spend a lot of time with him when we are home because we just adore him. He is a little love-bug and the best dog we have ever had!

I have a 6 month old Schichon. I also work for 8 to 10 hours a day. I do come home at lunch to let her out of her kennel to potty and play fetch for a few minutes. On the days that I haven't made it home at lunch, she has done just fine, as long as spend alot of time with her in the evenings. If I have to go the office on the weekends, I just take her with me, and she loves it.

Sounds like you haven't got the puppy yet? This would be a dog breed for you if you keep in mind that this is a real "people loving" social breed who does not do well if alone for long periods of time and also does not need much outside exercise time. Therefore if you get your puppy used to a routine right from the start it can work out well. The schedule would include bathroom break first thing in the morning, breakfast, 10 minute play, bathroom again, crate (then you go to work), come home at lunch to do bathroom, lunch, play, bathroom before crate again and work for you, then same at dinner time. If you have trouble coming home at lunch you can actually hire a dog company ( easy to find online) to do the lunchtime visit for you. Keep in mind that a puppy's bladder can last with this ratio: for each month of age, he/she can hold its bladder one hour - for example: 2 months old can hold it at the most for 2 hours. By the way, you can now buy beautiful crates that are like small tents of canvas with screen windows and door (can collapse too for travel) so it is very comfortable and a perfect place for puppy to love as a rest place - I bought mine at Pet Value. Good Luck!

Our Shichon is 10 weeks old and she is doing great. I get up at 5:30 and put her out. Then she goes right before I leave for work. My daughter is nearby so she comes home at lunchtime to let her out and play for a little. Then she is ready when I get home at 5:30. And boy is she ready to play! She is as happy as any puppy can be.