Feeling guilty

I have an adorable10 month old Maltese named Curtis who is the love of my life! He is my first dog and I brought him home at 2 months of age. It took only 2 months to completely house train him and he has adapted to life here just fine. My question is this: I am a single woman who works full time. At my old office I was allowed to bring Curtis in with me at least 3 times a week. At my new job, I am not allowed to bring him in at all! I feel horrible leaving him alone in the apartment for up to 7-8 hours all day. Should I a) hire a sitter for at least an hour every day or b)get another Maltese to keep him company or c) stop worrying since he seems fine! Please advise!
Faith

• My Lucy is a little over a year old now. I have my own business and for the first 6 mo I had Lucy was home with her all the time. Then I got a client that wants me to work onsite 2 half days and one whole day per week. Of course, like you, I couldn't take Lucy and of course, like you, I was guilt ridden and worried about her. For the first couple of months, she cried and whined the whole time I got ready for work, which made matters even worse. However, she really adjusted to it and as far as I can tell, sleeps most of the day. I am lucky in that I can get home at lunch time and when I arrive she is waiting at the top of the stairs to get her belly scratched and give me a kiss before our walk. At night when I get home, she is at the window downstairs and as soon as she sees me comoing up the walk, she disappears. When I come in I always say "Where's Lucy." She "hides" in the living room until I come in then leaps out and races around the room, stopping only to get a hug and a kiss. This is her "game" and the lunch time and after work routine never ever varies. So, I kind of think she enjoys it. I know she is happier on the days I am home, although she seems sometimes to get annoyed with all the moving around and will still go to the closet to sleep.

  The upshot of all this is try it for awhile and I think you will see it works out okay. Lucy is the love of my life, too, and I swear that for the first few weeks I had to leave her I missed her so much and hated her crying about me going so much that I almost told my client to get another writer. But, we seem to be fine now. Good luck and give the baby lots of quality time when you're home.
  Cathy Brown

• I have two puppies and an older Maltese. It's amazing how they play together, and the older Maltese plays a bit, but mostly watches them. She's even more active now. I think two Maltese are so much company for each other. I have all three of mine in a playpen with a raised bed of canvas on one half, and the other half is a tray with newspapers and a grate on top of tray. It works out just great, and I can leave them all day with no worries.
  Bel and the M & M & M girls

• I can sympathize with what you are going through. When we first brought our baby (Muffy) home I wouldn't leave the house without one of us being home to watch her. Everyone laughs at me but when we first got her I really did hire a young neighbor to come in and play with her whenever we all had to go out.

  Five years later she stays home by herself until my children get home from school. In the evening and on weekends I still cannot bring myself to leave her unless someone volunteers to stay home with her. We've even weighed the priorities of each family members plans and the one with the shortest straw had to stay home :)

  I thought once my kids were teenagers most of those kinds of heart-tugging pains would go away (ha!). Personally I think Maltese have a way of reading us and if they know we feel guilty about leaving them - they push the button....and even though I feel guilty every day about leaving my baby I wouldn't trade her in for nuthin, my little muffin.

  So enjoy - don't worry - your baby will survive while you are out. You be the boss and she/he will respect you all the more. Best of luck
  Sue