I got my Yorkie!

[midwestgirl]

On Sunday I got my first Yorkie! He (Gizmo) is 1 pound and 15 ounces (as of yesterday's vet visit) and will be between 3.5 and 4lbs full-grown. He will be 3 months old tomorrow (Saturday). I got him from a very nice couple 30-minutes from me, who had puppies by "accident".

I've always had big dogs (labs, springers) and have a 5-year-old, 100lbs pound lab right now - his name is Kirby and he's our family dog that is very attached to my mom. Being in a wheelchair with limited abilities, I've wanted a small dog that is easier for me to pet and interact with - Kirby will only come to me if I have food.

Gizmo seems to be exactly what I wanted! From the minute we got in the car with him, he's been incredibly attached to me. He is perfectly content sitting in my lap or on my bed with me. I'm afraid he might be too attached to me, though. I let others in my house play and spend time with him, but if I'm in or near the room, he just wants to come running to me.

He is a very well-behaved puppy. Very calm and quiet. The first couple of days here he didn't make a sound, but he's slowly getting vocal - he'll bark or kinda growl if he is playful or really has to go potty. He knows he is to go potty outside - he does a little dance when he has to go or starts climbing on me in bed.

I'm a little concerned that he isn't getting very much activity. Kirby really does not like him and has tried to lunge at Gizmo a few times, so I cannot let Gizmo run around the house. I keep him in my room, unless Kirby is in another room with my mom, outside or riding in the car with my mom. Gizmo likes to hide under my chair, so I hesitate to let him be on the floor a lot, especially if I need to be moving around - but I know he cannot be on my bed all day either so we are getting better at being on the floor. If I put his fleece bed and toys on the floor across the room, he does not go under me as much.

I had him at the vet yesterday for his second set of shots. The vet said he has a soft spot on his head where his skull did not close all the way. It isn't very big but she said it wasn't normal. The vet said he also has an underbite. And one of his dew claws grew back. On his puppy book from the vet the breeder took him to, it says he has an Arhythmia. I guess I never saw that so when she brought it up, I was clueless. The vet listened to his heart and she thinks it is more of a "normal" Arhythmia, called Respiratory Sinus Arhythmia (?) where the heart beats different when inhaling. She does not think it will be a problem for him, but will keep an eye on it. His heart rate was 130. Otherwise everything was fine. We've been going to her for years, so I trust her.

Gizmo seems to sneeze a lot, but nothing discolored comes out. Sometimes I think his head and ears feel hot. He scratches at his neck and ears a lot, but I think it is just his collar bothering him.

One thing that has me a bit concerned is that he shakes when he inhales. I think he only does it when he is nervous but I'm not sure. I'm trying to observe when he does it and what might be making him nervous.

Oh, he LOVES girls but really isn't into guys... lol.

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, advice, tips, etc!

[eensor]

Gizmo sounds precious! Don't worry about him being attached to you! They usually have a favorite person and you want that to be you!

[Connie]

Congrats on your little Gizmo! I'm so happy for you and he sounds to be just what the doctor ordered! As far as Kirby, Labs are usually such sweeties, and I'll bet he'll eventually get used to Gizmo and they'll become close! The sneezing...my Maddie does that quite a bit...it's seems it's more when she's playing or excited. The shaking...Maddie used to do that a lot too...but she doesn't do it as often now...she is over 7 months old now. Your baby is a tiny one though, so you should probably have some nutrical on hand in case he should get low blood sugar. Check his gums and see if they are pink...if they are light or grayish, give him some nutrical. I'm still learning here, and I'm sure you'll get some good advice and tips from the experts. Wishing you much happiness with your new little guy!

[Gypsy Rose]

Your little Gizmo sounds a joy!! Over here (in Wales) we see many yorkies riding along in wheelchairs with their owners and they really seem to enjoy it and of course as I walk our two girls along I always stop to talk!
How I love the name Gizmo - it was the name of our darling boy whom we had for over 14 years and we loved him so much! We now have Gypsy Rose and Gizzie Chavi (Gizzie is a little girl but named in tribute to our Gizmo!).
That's good you trust your vet - an open fontanel is found on some of the small breeds and as far as I know, unless it is bad you just have to be extra careful. Enjoy your Gizmo...!!! Ana xx

[Yorkies*Forever]

Congradulations on your new baby. Connie is 100% right. He is tiny so you need to watch for a low blood sugar. As long as he is feed good food regularly and gets lots of sleep then he should be fine. Good food doesn't mean steak and potatoes, good food mean a good dog food Another common mistake is people get this cute new puppy and want to play with it all day long and forget that it is a new "baby" and babies sleep alot just like a new human baby. I learned about hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) the hard way. I was very lucky that he didn't die. No one ever told me of any such thing and my little girl had never had such a thing. I think that it had a lot to due with the stress of all the change too. 3 or 4 days after I got him I woke up to what looked like a dead puppy in his crate. He I known what to watch for it would have never happen. It never happened again, with any of my dogs and if it would have, I would have known what to do. As for Kirby, he needs to be watched closely with Gizmo. It sounds like he might be trying to play, but he can hurt him badly without meaning to. They need to interact together so they can be used to each other, but only under supervision until Gizmo is a little older and isn't as fragile.

[red98vett]

I will NEVER forget the day Chanel came into my life ....then Cheri....

CONGRATULATIONS on your new puppy !!! This is the beginning of a beautiful bond with your new puppy and you are going to LOVE being a yorkie mom.

[bettyeanne]

Welcome and congratulations on your little Gizmo!! Two things our breeder told us that we have found to be so true: Yorkies are "velcro dogs" ... and it won't take you long to learn the "Yorkie Shuffle" when you have a tiny little 1.5 lb. furball trying to cling to you 24/7!!!

[lv2ridequads]

I agree with Connie and yorkiesforever. I also found out the hard way. A week after we got my puppy Toby he went hypoglycemic. I was freaking out and rushed him to the emergency vet. they kept him over night to monitor him. They said everything was fine and he could go home. They told us to make sure he was eating really good and to give him nutrical a couple of times a day and we did. 3 days later it happened again. I was also one of those people that woke up and thought I had a dead dog in his creat. We rushed him back to the vet and they did all sorts of tests on him. They told me he had Coccidia and gave me some meds for it. Well its been a week and a half and he is wanting to eat all the time and he has gotten really hyper and we dont have to give him the nutrical anymore. When we got him he weighed 1 lb 4 oz at 10 weeks old. at 11 1/2 weeks old he weighed 1 lb even. and now at 13 weeks he weighs 1 lb 6 oz. So he is a very tiny one also. But i love him and wouldnt trade him for anything. Good luck with Gizmo he sounds like such a good boy.

[whispersmom2]

[SIZE=2] AWWWW! How sweet he sounds. And, he is probably a healthy boy who just needs time to adjust. I read these posts and no one mentioned the open fontanel your baby has. It seems to be more common in tinies and some close, some don't. But, have your vet check him regularly and be very cautious about allowing anything or anybody hitting or pushing on the area. He can get hurt in playing with a big dog, but they sure love to play with their doggy buddies.As for the Arryhtmia-they are so common in toy breeds and if they are not symptomatic, they are fine. Very few toys DON'T have an irregular heartbeat. Just sit with your hand on his chest and betcha you can feel it on most of our Yorkies.
Everytime I open my purse and search for something that always seems to be in the bottom, I have to move a tube of Nutristat out of the way. I have had people watch me, look and ask why do I carry toothpaste in my purse..so get a purse that is large enough for your things with extra room for a metal comb, bottle of water and Nutri-stat or nutri-cal.. AND, welcome to the wonderful world of Yorkies!! I do feel sorry for the Lab--in a few weeks he is gonna think you have brought this tiny "thingy" home just to torment him. Seriously, they will become very close buddies.[/SIZE]

[midwestgirl]

Thanks for the responses!

The vet did mention low blood sugar and to keep food out all-day until Gizmo is bigger. I forgot she even mentioned low blood sugar - thanks for reminding me!

I worry that he doesn't eat and drink enough, from not being able to be on the floor all-day, but starting today I'm going to keep him off the bed more. Now with unlimited access to his food and water, I really gotta watch for signs of wanting to go potty. How often do your Yorkies go potty?

Gizmo's breeder had a few big dogs and a cat, so he really wants to go play with Kirby - Kirby just does not want to play with him. I feel bad for Kirby, but the vet said to give him time and he'll get over Gizmo. Gizmo does like to chase our cat!

[chachi]

Congratulations on Gizmo your new arrival. Puppys are so much fun!!

[whispersmom2]

As for the question about how often they potty--I swear it depends on when you have just cleaned the floor, or company is sitting down to eat or drink OR right where you are putting your foot cause you need to stand in that spot to do something. If you do it 10 times a day, they know it!!!!! Seriously, mine go in the morning as soona s they get up then an hour or so after breakfast then in the evenimng and at bedtime. BUT, remember, I have several different ages to train so your baby will be different. Just try to learn how hw prepares to go-circle around, run back and forth and in one of mine, watch when he looks like he is gonna climb the wall. Poops standing on his back legs mostly. Peeing-well, I just keep a clean bucket of water with Downy fabric softener and a sponge mop handy..Sad but true

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Congratulations on Gizmo! He sounds so wonderful. As a person in a wheel chair you might consider making Gizmo a service animals and then he can go "absolutely anywhere" with you, restaurants, motels, movie theaters. You name it. My dogs are service animals and it you send me a private message I will tell you how. It's real easy!!

[Esme's Mommy]

Congratulations on your new baby!!! He sounds wonderful! Esme was that EXACT weight when we brought her home one day shy of 12 weeks. Enjoy your baby, they grow so fast!
Mari

[Maddie-Rudy-Mom]

Welcome to yorkie talk. Your little Gizmo sounds like a doll. He is lucky to have such a caring mom. Congrats.