Am I bad pet owner? Doggie Dilemma?

i don't think you are a bad owner at all ... i foster chihuahuas and i know they can be quite clingy ... but really your chihuahua just needs some more focused training and maybe some more exercise and outside stimulation ... having you gone for such long days can be hard on a dog that does not have enough physical and mental stimulation (so before you leave the dog for a long day, walk the dog, run a bit, tire him out before leaving) ... you should consider taking the dog to training cles as that is beneficial for most dogs and owners ... i have a jack russell and she is very in my face if she has not had enough exercise ... so before i want to settle in to work (i work from home) i will take her and exercise her till tired, so when we are indoors she is not constantly looking at me for entertainment, she sleeps ... so you might consider a good walk before you want to work on your projects ... and when the dog wants up on your lap at the computer, never ever let her up unless YOU make the decision ... if she keeps trying to get up, no anger, no frustration, and as much patience you can muster, just keep putting the dog back in the bed ... you can also train a dog not to lick ... when she does it pull your hand away and act grossed out ... if she continues move the dog where she can not lick ... my first dog would lick so much it drove me so i trained my current dog not to lick ... and if she tries to push in on affection with the cat, i would push the dog away ... if it keeps coming back i would put it on the floor ... chihuahuas are a bit needy but i have also found with patience and expectations of better behaviour, at least the ones i have fostered, they all get it ... the only thing i can see you might work on is being more firm with the chihuahua ... and don't feel bad about being firm, because it is owners that are not firm that give me the opportunity to foster chihuahuas given up by their families ... your job as owner is to provide shelter, food, love, exercise ... it is not your job to give lovings 24/7 ... it is not your job to ignore your other pets ... it is your job to train your chihuahua to be the type of dog you can love and look forward to coming home to ... good luck ...