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03-13-2009, 12:42 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Long post, but please tell me that along with the excitement some of you also felt a bit intimidated and nervous when you got your first Yorkie. I have been anxiously waiting for the day (forever, it seems) and I've read everything I could but honestly, I'm a bit scared. I've never been the sole responsibility for any living creature (obviously we've never had children) and the responsibility for our puppy's well-being is scaring me to death! Reading on this site has been so enlightening in many ways but I still feel inadequate when I read of all the things that can happen. Just this week the posts I've read on grooming have alarmed me and the decision I thought I'd made is going to have to change due to more information. I had no clue groomers weren't licensed! How do you pick someone to groom? The latest thread I just saw was on being in heat. I haven't found answers to questions I have about that in books. I would like to know an average age (I'm assuming it varies like human females) but also how long it lasts, and what besides TLC do you need to do for your girl? (Cleanliness I understand.) I have nothing to compare it to except human females but I'm not sure that's the best comparison. Our puppy will be going back to our breeders while we take a scheduled two week vacation we had already planned pre-puppy. During that time, she's going to get spayed. I know I'll be a nervous wreck but I feel better knowing that she will have someone experienced taking care of her. Do I need to do anything special to prepare her for the surgery in terms of diet, etc? I'm almost scared to tell you all the things I'm concerned about since I'm afraid someone will say we have no business getting a puppy. Except for church, at least one of us will be with her 24/7 so I'm not worried about low blood sugar but so many other things! My husband thinks I spend too much time on this board trying to learn and absorb. He tries to keep assuring me that they are not as fragile as I'm imagining but I'm not convinced yet. I want our puppy to be a joyful part of our family and not the reason I have a nervous breakdown...LOL Did any of you have this apprehension and nervousness? I don't want to turn into one of those neurotic owners who drives the vet crazy but I'm thinking I may in spite of myself. My gosh, it even took an hour or so to decide on the type of garbage can I thought was safe enough...one that locks when not in use. I guess I'm seeing why childless middle-aged women don't have babies...LOL I just never realized what a whirlwind of insecurity this would cause. My word...I taught junior high for nearly 20 years and intermediate grades before that and I've never had this much anxiety! I think it's all because I know this living creature is going to be totally dependent on me (us) for its well-being. Oh, boy... I read a thread recently about Yorkies and snoring. I'm hoping ours does snore so I won't have to get up to see if she's breathing...LOL I know this is long but it's just another symptom of my nervousness. I talk and talk when I'm nervous. At least our breeder emailed me that our puppy is self-confident...apparently she's better prepared to be our puppy than we are (I am) to be her parent(s). Luckily my husband is more laid back but his main concern is that I will play with her too much....as if! I'll need those naps, too! |
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03-13-2009, 01:04 AM | #2 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Savage Garden
Posts: 1,147
| If your vacation is planned for soon, I doubt your puppy will come into heat by then since you say that's when she'll be spayed. Once spayed, she will no longer go into heat. If you are scheduling her spay for when she's about 5-6 months, chances are, you will be in the clear. We can always pray. Snoring is not always a good thing because of the reason/cause behind it. But snoring babies sure are cuties! My late shihtzu snored, and so did our family Tibetan Spaniel. I would have to say, my shihtzu was the loudest of the two. It was comforting to hear her snore and I would fall asleep to that like listening to a lullaby. And yes, that is a good indicator that they are indeed getting their rest and are alive and well. Congratulations to you on your pending new arrival. These little ones are definitely more like children than the dogs I've raised before. |
03-13-2009, 01:30 AM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chattanooga,TN & Tampa,FL
Posts: 247
| Hello, I have had Yorkies since 1976 at 1 time we had 2 puppies and an adult. You will be fine and do great, don't worry your Mommie instincts will kick in the minute see her. If you need to chat woith someone my reg. email is : sharonsuejackson@yahoo.com I will be happy to answer any questions you have. I am on here quite often too. Your puppy needs to be atleast 5-6 months old before she is spade.. putting them under anesthesia to young is dangerous. What is her age and weight if you know? We currently have brother/sister puppys that are 15 weeks old the girl is 3 lbs. the boy is 4. they won't be fixed until atlest 6-7 months. I dought you will have to worry about her coming into season/heat. If she does it's just alittle bloody discharge that can be cleaned off her easily with babywipes. They have diapers or panties can be worn with the pads put inside. nothing to worry about unless she will be with and intact male. To me it wasn't a big deal when my other female was in heat. She was fixed about 1 1/2 yrs. Anyway, I can probably answer most of your new mommie questions if you want to drop me a note. Hope this little bit of info helped.You will love every minute of being a Mommie and Daddy.. God Bless, Sharon |
03-13-2009, 01:49 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY USA
Posts: 1,749
| Step back take a deep breath and then enjoy your new puppy You will be fine, like anything if you keep thinking about it you will go nuts. Hubby correct they are not as fragile as you are imagining. You are already a good mommy learning about dog ownership. This is a special time so enjoy And after you get your new baby we would love to see photos!!
__________________ Ivy, Max, Reggie & Cheryl |
03-13-2009, 01:59 AM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: England,UK
Posts: 1,176
| Awww...don't worry, you are going to have such fun, and prepare to fall in love very quickly! Think of a slightly hyperactive toddler and you will be fine..(except that you can go out and leave your pup for a few hours!) I was curled up on the sofa last night, and Molly clambered up and perched happily on top of me...just like my daughter used to do when she was a toddler. I will never get tired of that warm and fuzzy feeling i get when molly curls up next to me and gives a big sigh of contentment....you will love it, and the good bits will far outweigh the worrying bits. Cant wait to see lots of piccies. |
03-13-2009, 02:51 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Thanks so much for your replies. I have been awake into the wee hours (5:30 am now) stressing about this. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know! The photo by my name is our little girl. Her name is Taffy...at least those are the last id tags I had made...LOL We are very fortunate that our puppy will be spayed under gas and not the regular anesthesia (sp?). I was really glad to hear that even though our girl will probably be 6 or 6.5 pounds at full maturity. The spaying will be about the time she is between 9 and 10 months. It's going to be a "wait and see" deal with her first heat, I think. I didn't quite understand if this will be done by laser or not. She did say that the sutures will eventually dissolve on their own. (That may be the norm as I've never heard anyone on here remark about a follow-up for stitches removal after being spayed.) I'm glad you compared her to a toddler...that's my favorite age of an infant. In fact, I don't even like to hold them until they can support their own neck. I am looking so forward to getting her when I'm not thinking about all I've read. I really think I should never have gone to the emergency section of the website but I check progress reports there at least once a day! One thing that continues to bother me though is the risk of letting her down in a general area, etc. (We'll be driving 7 hours home with her and I will be afraid to let her stretch and walk because of germs and diseases, etc.) These posts about parvo and other contagious stuff have really alarmed me. I don't even want her to walk on the floor in the vet's office in case there's been a contagious dog earlier in the day! I bought several of those cute toys that have a sound box that make an animal noise because I figured we would tire of the same squeak over and over. However, now I've removed those sound boxes so she wouldn't risk choking or such. I thought when we were closely supervising, I'd put them back in. Trouble is all the sound boxes look the same so I'll probably have the donkey oinking...LOL We tend to laugh alot around here so hopefully she will fit right in with her puppy mischief. There's one toy that goes off randomly with phrases like "Oh, boy" ... If it has a switch, we haven't been able to find it. We have laughed for the last month or so because we can't figure out what triggers it. Sometimes in the middle of the night it will sound off and we just burst out giggling. I doubt that our puppy will enjoy that ball nearly as much as we have! Thanks again for taking the time to respond. And Sharon, don't be surprised if I do email you with some wacky question. Last edited by TOY; 03-13-2009 at 02:55 AM. Reason: forgot to proof... |
03-13-2009, 02:57 AM | #7 |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD
Posts: 10,908
| I didn't have time to be nervous or think too much as Hot Rod was a total surprise. Hubby and I talked about possibly getting a dog when the time came (after our kitties) and lo and behold he appeared one day! I was a little bit scared because he was sooo small when we got him. He was 1.5 lbs at 15/16 weeks! He felt so fragile. One of the first nights we had him, he jumped off the sofa and kinda of hurt his leg-he held it up and I freaked. But he was okay. and I guarantee that you will have more separation anxiety when you go on vacation than the puppy will. lol. the best advice that I can offer is to find a good vet that you feel comfortable with, that will help put your mind at ease when it comes to any questions you have. Also, always write down your questions before your appointment to be sure you don't forget anything. Any good vet will have no problem taking the time to make sure you understand everything. Sit back and enjoy the ride, the best is yet to come. You'll do fine and they are more resilient than you think. Good luck! Would love to see pictures when she comes home. Have you picked out a name yet?
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03-13-2009, 03:27 AM | #8 |
Living My Yorkie Dream Donating Member | I agree with one of the other posters......sit back and take a breath. Everything will be fine! I know that some of the things you are reading about the yorkie breed can sound scary, but many of them are what CAN happen, but likely won't. Deal with things AS they happen and try not to dwell on the "what ifs". All you can do is be prepared & it sounds like you are. I was just plain excited about my first yorkie......my main fear(s) was of him being rocked on by our rocking chair or stepped on by one of us. I've got 3 yorkies now and that is probably still what makes me most nervous. I know I would never do it, but when I see hubby with the recliner part of the chair up...and one of the dogs underneath it, I shudder at the thought of him slamming the recliner part down on them....unknowingly, of course. Gosh, as I type this I'm thinking....."I'm probably just giving you one more thing to be nervous about!" Sorry, not trying to that at all. Enjoy your new baby. Love him, feed him, keep him safe and warm, and he (AND YOU) will be fine. You've done lots of research & that's great, but don't let all that you've read deter you from being able to experiance every bit of the joy this new little puppy will bring into your life. Congrats............can't wait to see pictures!
__________________ Last edited by luckylady; 03-13-2009 at 03:29 AM. |
03-13-2009, 04:05 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | I am a worrier so every time I get a new one I am a nervous wreck, but as soon as they are in my arms I start to calm down. Just follow your instincts and any questions just come here. I have had my last 2 yorkies come into heat before I could get them spayed and both came into heat at 8 months. It's better to have them spayed before their heat cycle but it was not terrrible for them, just a little uncomfortable, and really neither were messy. As far as putting her on the ground on the way home, I wouldn't put her on the ground. You could put a wee wee pad down and place her on it to go. Also make sure she is on a leash as they can run pretty fast. When I got my first Yorkie long time ago, people said be prepared to be up all night with him. I was, he slept all night and I was up all night making sure he was breathing!!lol Godd luck you will do fine!!
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03-13-2009, 04:45 AM | #10 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | I'd try not to overworry, you'll just end up stressing yourself out way too much! Enjoy your pup, and if you have bumps along the way, thats what we are here for Your pup might be healthy as can be, and here's hoping you dont run into medical issues I didnt realize how much work my pup would be when i got her! And about the time she came home, my toddler started climbing!! Its like having two toddlers in the house, but they are working together, and learning. I swear at times they work against me (Yesterday the two of them shredded toilet paper in the hallway! I caught both red handed ) Anywho, enjoy your new furbaby! You can never love em too much!
__________________ Mama to Maci!! RIP Macy & Thom |
03-13-2009, 05:08 AM | #11 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Listen to your husband. They aren't that fragile. You do have some concerns that you should have though. The pup should "not" be let on the floor at the vet's office until at least 2 weeks after completing puppy shots and even then, some people don't. No groomer until 2 weeks after either. There are good groomers out there but there are enough not-so-good ones for me to want to avoid it entirely. Learning to groom yourself can save a lot of money and limit stress. If you find a good vet, they'll get used to the calls. She may goes through one heat if you are spaying at 9-10 months. Just get a diaper for her unless you want your furniture stained. there are charts online about heat stages and durations. If she comes into heat right before her spay, I'd postpone it. I would never allow a long surgery to be done with anything but gas (Isoflurane or Sevoflurane) to maintain. Short procedures (a few minutes max) may be able to be done with something like Propofol but in general...gas or new vet. After 7.5 years, if Ellie is sleeping with her nose in a blanket, I still move her head. She does snore sometimes and it is soooo cute. When Ellie first came home, I knew nothing but it all worked out.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
03-13-2009, 07:00 AM | #12 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Sometimes this website can be a little intimidating. It definitely made me a little worried before getting Jackson. But you have to remember... majority of the time, people come to the forum with problems to search for answers. So that's why it may seem like every Yorkie is going to have issues & problems, etc. Do you know what I mean? I kept going back and forth with "Am I doing the right thing?" and "Did I pick the right breed?" and "Can I handle this?!" I was a little nervous when I started reading up on liver shunts, potty training issues, barking issues, how fragile they are, etc. But, it ended up (for the better for me anyways) that Jackson is almost 10 pounds at 5 months old! He is not fragile at all and can rough around easily with kids and other dogs. He can jump on and off my bed so easily and the couches. He can run around outside. He's probably the best dog I've ever had. He's so smart and learns so quickly. He's almost fully potty trained at 5 months old. I taught him sit, stay, come, down, shake, high-five and he can almost play dead when I say "bang bang!" He's such a bundle of joy who sleeps with me every night. Just don't worry so much Go with the flow. You will be VERY happy with your decision!
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 03-13-2009 at 07:04 AM. |
03-13-2009, 06:33 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Thanks, guys! Your responses have improved my nerves tremendously! I'm willing to learn "almost" anything I can to help her. (I'm still not sure I can get the nerve to do the nails. I don't handle the sight of blood very well.) And...any time I've held scissors near my own hair, I have created a total catastrophe...the last time was a night before school pictures and I decided I wanted bangs. What a mess...best described as a cowlick sticking straight out at the top of my forehead. It didn't help things that I was the teacher...LOL Although retired now, I was in education long enough to realize that in most situations, experience trumps book learning. This site (warning you now) will become my "go to" for help. I so appreciate your help. Crystal, I so admire your insight and experience that your comment about when you first got Ellie May has boosted my spirit immensely. There are just so many things about a toy breed that are so foreign to my experience as a child with outside dogs. I do know from past experiences though that being afraid of making a mistake can cause them at times. We have a church friend who is a local vet with an outstanding reputation so I feel confident in that regard. Additionally, our breeder says our little girl is a big eater so I'm hoping that getting her to eat will continue to be easy. When I allow myself to step back and see it objectively, I think we are as prepared as we can be so I just need to take a deep breath and enjoy the anticipation, I guess. I just hope she never learns what a sucker I am for puppy-dog eyes and whimpering. If she does, I'm toast. Last edited by TOY; 03-13-2009 at 06:36 PM. Reason: spelling |
03-13-2009, 07:37 PM | #14 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chattanooga,TN & Tampa,FL
Posts: 247
| Hi Again, You might want to take a blanket and a sweater/shirt for her to wear home. The breeder will probably have one that has her scent on it to make the fist few nights easier. You m ight want to put the crate in your bedroom at night just until she is familar with the house. Yorkies have Hair not fur so they get chilled easier. If they have a little shirt on and a blankie to cuddle in they will be happy. I got mine from the baby dept. from Walmart/Target and of course they are pink, now I need blue for my little boy.. you can find clothes on line,I shop at, spoiledpups.com, barkingdogclothes.com,petsmart.com, Walmart and Target and smalldogmall.com. Just enter in small dog clothes and you will see lots of links. some are very reasonable. Hope this helps.. Enjoy your baby.. OH YEA! ONLY USE A HARNESSES.. the best are the step in kind, you can get them online or any pet stores. Someone on YT makes them, just look around.... TTFN, Sharon |
03-13-2009, 08:30 PM | #15 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Thanks, Sharon. I know our breeder packs their suitcase with a blanket and toys along with all papers and food for several days. I have a couple of blankets and some lengths of fleece to tie for hand-made blankets. (They are still unmade...LOL) I am having to restrain myself from claiming a baby blanket I bought to pack in a cousin's diaper bag. It is the softest blanket I have ever touched and I keep telling myseslf it's for a gift. Hmmm...I guess time will tell but the Yorkie is arriving before the human baby...LOL I was unsure of the clothes on the trip to get her since I don't think our breeder dresses hers. (I am packing some disposable diapers just in case along with disposable pee pads. Planning on using the washable ones at home...I'm married to a retired environmentalist...LOL) The harness vests/dresses are going to be my clothing of choice, I think. She'll have a collar for bell alert and id purposes. I haven't decided yet whether to take her collar on the trip to get her. I don't want to overwhelm her from the get-go but I do want her in the safety harness and secured car seat for safety since we will be traveling for so long. Thanks ever so much, TOY |
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