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11-14-2012, 07:21 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| Your best piece of advice?! A little bit of history: I just joined this site yesterday and after reading thru tons of threads and posts I feel like I don't really know all that much! I've had Sebi since he was a tiny baby..can't rem exactly but, I think he was around 7wks old. I had never had a yorkie before nor did I know a single thing about them besides the fact that they were small and adorable..I didn't know it was considered a bad thing to get them from a pet store and I didn't know what to look for in a breeder. A few months before Christmas last year I started looking for one (it was going to be my Christmas gift from my BF) I found tons of sites where puppies were between 2,500 - 5,000 that seemed ridiculous to me! So after searching for a while I found a site where breeders were listing their puppies and I found one in my area of Florida..we emailed back and forth for a couple days and decided to go see them (they had a liter of 5). The lady was very nice and she invited us into her home where we met mommy (5lbs) and daddy (4lbs) ..I picked out my puppy and my BF told them he'd be in contact. So Voila that's how I ended up with the love of my life! I have cared for him and given him unconditional love since day 1. Now, I wanted to get some input from you all as far as...What I should know. Any random bits of advice would be awesome! I also have a few questions: I have not changed his food since I got him...should I? He eats bil-jac small breed puppy. Should I occasionally give him soft food? How often should I take him to the groomer? Are there names for certain types of hair cuts? He is CKC registered...is that accreditable? Should I get him microchipped or will it hurt him since he's so small (3lbs)? I was told this by his breeder. Umm that's all I can think of at the moment...I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I post this! Thanks ya'll! |
Welcome Guest! | |
11-14-2012, 03:54 PM | #2 |
and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL
Posts: 7,842
| How old is he now? Almost a year? I think that if he likes his food and eats it fine, then why change it? I think after he turns a year old or a little older, you might switch to dog food instead of puppy food though. If it's not the Canadian Kennel Club, it's my understanding that CKC really doesn't mean much. (Mine is CKC, too). I think just about anybody can register their dogs on paper with the CKC (the one that's not the Canadian Kennel Club). I'm not sure about grooming - Mandie hasn't needed it yet Definitely get him microchipped! Is he neutered? If not, you can get him chipped while he's getting neutered (if you plan on neutering)
__________________ Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale |
11-14-2012, 04:12 PM | #3 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 6,982
| Yes, definitely get him chipped. It's only a little pinch and will not cause too much pain. Think of it like getting your ears pierced with a piercing needle. I second the neutering. Get it done all at once and he'll be fine. For Zeus, he gets groomed once every 6-8 weeks, depending on the weather. 8 weeks in the winter and 6 in the summer. Congrats on your baby, btw! Know you've had him for a while, but he'll always be your baby
__________________ Heather Zeus | Thalia |
11-14-2012, 04:27 PM | #4 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| CKC is kind of a fake registry. They will "register" anything as long as they get the money. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are able to bilk tons of money out of people who do not know anything about purebred dogs or registries. They also will scam a breeder out of a dog that is supposed to be a pet and then use it for breeding under the fake registry. The breeding of Yorkies and other toy breed dogs has become a huge scam business that is making some really nasty people some big money. As for grooming....it's pretty much up to you what you want your dog to look like. Decide how much time you want to put into grooming. Long haired dogs need at least one good grooming a day. If it is done everyday on a consistent basis it should not take an awful long time. Use a good all natural shampoo and conditioner weekly or bi-weekly and you should have a nice smelling, nice looking dog. Some people prefer to keep their dog's fur short but they should still be combed consistently in order to keep the dog trained to accept grooming without a fight. You might want to check out any groomer you decide you might want to take your dog to. There have been a lot of horror stories about grooming issues. Anyone can be a "groomer". It does not require a license or training so you want to be really careful to find a good, safe, experienced dog groomer. Many of them only know how to bathe and shave a dog. There have also been some injuries of dogs at these shops. Don't leave your dog alone there until you have been allowed to observe how they are treated a couple of times. The place like Pet Smart and PetCo train their own groomers. I would not consider leaving my dog in a chain store. Many people on YT groom their own dogs. Your puppy should be on puppy food until it is a year old. I didn't notice how old yours is right now. If he is doing well on the food then probably you should keep him on what he is eating now. You might also want to consider reading more about pet foods. That is another unregulated area concerning pets. There is a lot of information here on YT in the "sticky" areas and the library. There are a multitude of opinions on most subjects but I think most agree that these are darling little dogs that are different from other breeds in their own way. Training can be difficult at times but that is the terrier in them and their terrier attitude is one of the most endearing things about them. It can be challenging at times though. |
11-15-2012, 08:36 AM | #5 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| CKC is kind of a fake registry. They will "register" anything as long as they get the money. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are able to bilk tons of money out of people who do not know anything about purebred dogs or registries. They also will scam a breeder out of a dog that is supposed to be a pet and then use it for breeding under the fake registry. The breeding of Yorkies and other toy breed dogs has become a huge scam business that is making some really nasty people some big money. WOW that's not good! I was looking at my CKC paper and it's says purebred and it also has mom and dads name on it? Does that count for anything? This is a subject that I'm pretty clueless about...I guess if you aren't planning on breeding your dog then it wouldn't matter whether they were CKC or AKC? As for grooming....it's pretty much up to you what you want your dog to look like. Decide how much time you want to put into grooming. Long haired dogs need at least one good grooming a day. If it is done everyday on a consistent basis it should not take an awful long time. Use a good all natural shampoo and conditioner weekly or bi-weekly and you should have a nice smelling, nice looking dog. Some people prefer to keep their dog's fur short but they should still be combed consistently in order to keep the dog trained to accept grooming without a fight. Sebi does not like being groomed at all! He will fight with you and not give up until you leave him alone so it's hard for me to get his legs and neck...hes gotten a little matted so I think I'll take him to a groomer and get him a short cut. I'll have to make sure they understand what I mean when I say short cut though! The last time they ended up making him almost bald everywhere except his face! You might want to check out any groomer you decide you might want to take your dog to. There have been a lot of horror stories about grooming issues. Anyone can be a "groomer". It does not require a license or training so you want to be really careful to find a good, safe, experienced dog groomer. Many of them only know how to bathe and shave a dog. There have also been some injuries of dogs at these shops. Don't leave your dog alone there until you have been allowed to observe how they are treated a couple of times. The place like Pet Smart and PetCo train their own groomers. I would not consider leaving my dog in a chain store. Many people on YT groom their own dogs. Oh yea I've heard stories! The breeder I got him from asked me to never take him to a groomer..but, I'm not about to try and do it all myself I wouldn't want to hurt him! He won't be going back to the last place though so I'm currently searching for a new one! Your puppy should be on puppy food until it is a year old. I didn't notice how old yours is right now. If he is doing well on the food then probably you should keep him on what he is eating now. You might also want to consider reading more about pet foods. That is another unregulated area concerning pets. There is a lot of information here on YT in the "sticky" areas and the library. There are a multitude of opinions on most subjects but I think most agree that these are darling little dogs that are different from other breeds in their own way. Training can be difficult at times but that is the terrier in them and their terrier attitude is one of the most endearing things about them. It can be challenging at times though. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions |
11-15-2012, 08:52 AM | #6 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| Quote:
And yes he'll always be my baby no matter how old he gets! He has my heart! | |
11-15-2012, 08:53 AM | #7 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 6,982
| The breeder sounds odd to me...they told you never to get him microchipped or to take him to a groomer? I can't fathom why they would tell you that. That seems like really bad advice to me. But you've found us now!
__________________ Heather Zeus | Thalia |
11-15-2012, 08:55 AM | #8 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| Quote:
No he is not neutered yet..So I think I will do those both together! Thanks for the advice!! | |
11-15-2012, 08:57 AM | #9 | |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 6,982
| Quote:
__________________ Heather Zeus | Thalia | |
11-15-2012, 09:06 AM | #10 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| Quote:
The breeder was actually super nice..we stayed there for hours getting to know her and her husband..they seemed to care a great deal about their animals. She did say not to use a groomer because she had heard way too many negative things and she didn't think I should take the chance...She showed me all of her grooming supplies and told me where I could get them.. I totally understand her intention but, I can barely style my own hair lol I wasn't about to do his! And as far as micrchipping.. I'm thinking she might have said not too because he was so tiny at that time..Surely a year later he's fine to have it done! | |
11-15-2012, 09:17 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| My Luci is tiny. She is almost 5 yrs old. When I took her in as re-home this past May she weighed 2 punds 14 oz and I had her Micro chipped when I had her spay done.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] |
11-15-2012, 09:24 AM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
| |
11-15-2012, 12:32 PM | #13 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Okay my overall best of the best advice, is give your dog lots of love, tempered with consistent discipline, well structured and an interesting play and exercise life, add in some formal obedience training and you will have a perfect companion for life! Never SPOIL your dog. Feeding them so much they get fat, accepting bad behaviour (and this usually starts early and we call it "cute" puppy antics) then and bad behaviour later! I tell my owners your dog is going to be a part of your life for 10/15 or more years. It is up to you to create a great relationship with them. It is so easy to take your dog everywhere if they are well behaved social creatures. I highly recommend crate training both cause it is safer to travel in the car with one, and for those times you might need to board or have your dog stay overnight at the vets. Xpens at home are fine, but they are not crates! And I say from experience the more you put into to this relationship the more you will "get out of it". Finally as a slogan....get Active with your dog... you and he will both be healthier for it :-)
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
11-15-2012, 12:45 PM | #14 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Duluth, GA
Posts: 568
| I tell you the one most important thing I learned from experience. Do NOT feed your dog from the table. No processed foods - high fat foods. I've spent almost $20k in vet bills over 9 years for treatment of chronic pancreatitis because I was not making him eat his food like he should have been doing. He is 16 now and still chugging along, but I am better advised now.
__________________ _______________________________________ Proud Mommy to Presley (RIP), Ripley Skye . and Chloe Belle RIP my beautiful boy, Presley. 8/96 to 1/14 |
11-15-2012, 12:57 PM | #15 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Florida
Posts: 61
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