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01-11-2008, 09:20 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago
Posts: 24
| Should I put my new baby on a feeding schedule? Everyone is giving me advice on my new baby girl that I'm bringing home on the 19th. My co-workers whom have dogs are telling me that I should put my yorkie on a feeding schedule. When I bring her home she'll be about 1lb and 5oz at 8 weeks. Shouldn't she have food available at all times? My co-workers are telling me that if she eats whenever she wants to then she'll never learn how to hold her bowels. I'm afraid that if she doesn't have access to food that maybe her blood sugar will drop. With her being just a baby, should I let her have access to food? Will this affect her learning how to hold her bowels for potty training purposes? Or, should I put her on a feeding schedule, as long as she eats 3x's a day? I need help here, I'm trying to figure this out before I bring her home. I'm getting so nervous, I have no idea what I'm doing here. |
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01-11-2008, 09:26 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 11,003
| 8 weeks is too young to bring a toy breed puppy home. 12 weeks is the age reputable breeders let their puppies go & the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (YTCA) states that a yorkie puppy should leave no earlier than 12 weeks in their code of ethics. An 8 week old puppy, especially a tiny one, is at a high risk for becoming hypoglycemic (especially with the stress of moving to a new home). If you do bring her home at 8 weeks, you need to free feed or feed small meals 4-5 times a day. You must make sure she eats regularly. You also need to keep nutrical or karo syrup on hand in case she doesn't eat well and starts to show signs of hypoglycemia. I highly recommend you ask that your breeder keep the puppy for another month..not only should it be safer for her to come home at that time, but from 8-12 weeks puppies learn so much about socialization, proper behavior, and bite inhibition from its mom and siblings.
__________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue. |
01-11-2008, 10:19 PM | #3 |
My Angels Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 2,260
| I leave the food out for the dogs and puppies to eat whenever they want. Yorkies are usually such picky eaters that you have to let me have the option of eating when it appeals to them. I have puppies right now that are almost 8 weeks old and they arent eating well enough at this point that I would even think of letting them go to their new homes yet. Is your new puppy weaned and eating pretty good on her own already? |
01-12-2008, 05:04 AM | #4 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Palatka, Florida
Posts: 6,523
| Welcome to YT!! |
01-12-2008, 06:54 AM | #5 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 699
| I think 8 weeks is too early too. That being said, I free feed mine, I tried feeding him 3-4x per day, put he was too picky and I free feed now. He's a little over 4 months and I have'nt had any problems with potty training as a result. You just have to take them out all the time and not stress out about accidents |
01-12-2008, 06:57 AM | #6 |
Owned by Tumi & Gracie Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC
Posts: 2,321
| IMO, 8 weeks is still too young to bring home..and they have to be fed at least 3 times a day when they are that small..why is your breeder letting you take her home that young? Can you tell her to keep the baby until she's like 12 weeks old?
__________________ PROUD MOMMY OF MS.TUMI,MS.TSUBI AND MS.GRACIE! I LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!! PROUD MEMBER OF THE CRAZY CLUB! |
01-12-2008, 07:02 AM | #7 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| I would free feed a pup that young and small
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
01-12-2008, 09:06 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cape Cod Ma
Posts: 1,855
| I say free feed, but I have a 13 week old puppy that never stops eating... we had to go to the ER vet because she ate so much she wound up with bloat which is life threatening!!!! She eats so well I worry about over feeding her. i had to ask the vet how much... how often. I don't think you will have this problem cause most yorkies seem to be picky eaters but just thought I would share what we went through cause it was a night mare!
__________________ Brooke (Chewy's and Sadie's Mom) visit us on dogster dogster.com/dogs/700047 |
01-12-2008, 03:38 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago
Posts: 24
| Thanks a ton everyone, you guys have helped me to decide that I'm going to free feed my new baby girl |
01-12-2008, 04:20 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 11,003
| did you think about leaving her with the breeder longer? I know it's hard to wait for a puppy when you want it so much, but it would really be the best thing for the puppy to stay with the breeder a few more weeks
__________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue. |
01-12-2008, 05:25 PM | #11 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seneca, SC
Posts: 2,837
| I got my first yorkie before she was 7 weeks, she was eating well, and always did good for me, and I was also home all day with her..I would free feed..I free feed mine, even the 5 mo old one(got her at 11 weeks), and she only poops twice a day..good luck on your baby girl... |
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