Lucky Lee of Ansan South Korea, born May 2nd 2013

[burndog]

Hello there!

My name is Burndog, and I'd like to introduce my lovely little Yorkie pup, Lucky! She's 7 weeks old, and I bought her yesterday from a lovely woman in Sanbon, South Korea.

So far, Lucky has been great! She's only missed her pee pad twice, and both times were on her first night...so I'm really happy with that. She's very bright and happy, but gets VERY whiny when I'm not in her fenced off half of the room. I've chosen to ignore her whining...and so far that generally causes her to get bored and take a nap...but it hasn't really reduced the amount of whining. Still...it's a marathon and not a sprint!

She's my first Yorkie, and I'm really happy with her. My only concern is my apartment...it's two stories and the staircase is REALLY steep...so I don't know what to do long term. Whilst I'm sure that when she finishes chewing, she can have full run of downstairs, I don't think I can ever give her full run of upstairs, simply because she'd probably fall down the stairs. So I guess I'll have to leave her downstairs, and then bring her up for bed (I bought her two beds and pee pad thingies because I thought that this might be the way of the future.

Anyways...I've found these forums a wonderful resource already,and I hope that we can be decent and worthwhile members of the site. I couldn't work out how to post a photo here...so I will put it in the photo thread.

[rubymoon2072]

she is very young to leave her mother which is probably why she is a bit more needy in the attention area. i understand different countries different ways of going about things...i would not ignore her but cuddle and love on her. you may want to research what a pup learns from her mom in those vital weeks between 7 and 12 to see if you can help add to the lessons a mom would teach her baby. just a thought.

i would just gate the stairs to the second floor off and yes i agree to keep her on one level as she could fall and hurt herself if your not home. congrats on your new bundle of love and welcome to yt.

[Nancy1999]

Hi and welcome to Yorkietalk! In the states, most good breeders won't sell a Yorkie before 12 weeks, because they are very vulnerable between that period, after they stop nursing. Learn about hypoglycemia and the symptoms to look for. Dog Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Steps can be a real problem and I suggest you carry up and down for the next few months. I even kept a gate at the top of steps because I was afraid my pup would fall. Carpeted steps are a little easier and they give the dog something to grip onto.

[Ldyrev1]

Hi and welcome to YT! I know you will love it here, so many wonderful people here willing to share from their own knowledge and experiences.

Sounds like you are already in love with that baby, it doesn't take long that's for sure!

You have also already been given some really important information. I would also add that hypoglycemia is a real problem with yorkie's this young. I speak from personal experience on this issue. I know that Princess Sophie (9 weeks of age) would not have even made it to our home the day we picked her up without the good advice I received from others on this site.

I'm so excited for you. You must feel wonderful being the caretaker of your new pup. Congrats and please do post picts when you can. Welcome!!

[Verbena]

Hello and welcome to YT. Congrats !I would keep an eye on her for Hypoglycemia. There is a product called Nurtical. It is wonderful to keep on. I would get your pup an ex pen Iris makes a nice one. To keep you little one confined when she is alone or you can not keep an eye on her. They get in so much trouble lol

[mimimomo]

I know in some parts of different country's they let the pups go early, but 7 weeks is very young...is that the norm in Korea? I'm Korean btw. Make sure she's eating well & often & good thing that she's fenced off. It will make potty training easier & she won't spend all her energy & calories by roaming around thus making her crash & get hypoglycemic.
About the stairs, we live in a condo which is just like an apt w/steep stairs & my guys do fine, they fly up & down the stairs. I would gate off the stairs so she doesn't have access to it. If I'm upstairs, they all follow me & I gate off the access to go down & vise versa. I also have their pee areas in the bathrooms (upstairs & down) since we don't have a yard. GL w/your new pup & looking forward to more pics & fun stories!

[Tinker'sMommy]

Congrats on your new baby, I also got my Tinker in South Korea, she was very young but I was able keep her healthy you've come to a great website filled with helpful info and caring, helpful people

[burndog]

Hello again!

Thanks for all of your lovely replies! Who knew that the internet could be such a friendly (and incredibly helpful) place?

She is young...and that does worry me. They sell puppies from 4-7 weeks here as a rule...which I agree is wrong...but I was lucky that the woman selling Lucky was able to agree to keep her two more weeks than she wanted to! It's frustrating, but in Korea people want a toy and the concept of what's best for the dog, is not considered as widely as it should be. Having said that, I was at least able to buy Lucky from a home 'breeder' (there are no real Yorkie 'breeders' over here) rather than a puppy mill...so it's a better start than most!

As far as Lucky goes...she's doing great. I can't really complain. I'm following the advice I rceived, and yesterday made her space big enough for me to sit or lie down with her...so I can be cose to her while she chews her puppy toys...or I can pat her and try to teach her to bite her toys and not my feet! She's learning these things...and more...but she continues to whine the second I move away. I am hoping that time will cure her of this idea...and am fllowing the advice given and simply being near her when she seems lik she needs it. She's responding well...and going potty in the right place (even with the enlarged space).

I'm going to keep her upstairs until she's a few months old (except for walks and things when she's had her shots) as that's where the open plan living room/bedroom are, so it's where I spend 99% of my home time. Much better to have her nearby I think...even if she does wake me three or four times a night to complain that she's not on the bed!

I want to get her a companion puppy with a beating heart...and some Nutrical as recommended below...as wel as some treats to help with training her. Does anyone know of a good website with reasonable rates for shipping to Korea?

THanks so much. You guys are helping me to help her, and that's a really lovely thing to do. I thank God that I found this forum, and I hope that I can be as great an owner as Lucky deserves.

Thanks again evryone!

[burndog]

An update on Lucky Lee...who will be celebrating her 8 week birthday tomorrow! I was able to locate Nutrical on a local website and should have some by Friday. Thanks so much for that tip...I certainly hope that she will be ok.

I said I was looking for a 'companion puppy' with a heartbeat...what I meant was a "Snuggle Puppy"! I found their website and ordered one...$70 to get one to Korea...but it will be worth every penny if it helps her to relax at night time. She woke up at 4 o'clock this morning and whimpered and barked. When she stopped I got in and played with her for a bit...and she tired out...but I was wide awake!!

If she doesn't calm down during the night after the Snuggle Puppy comes, I may move her sleeping quarters out of my bedroom. I think that having m nearby, with my snoring, moving about and general ability to distract her, is having a negative effect on her ability to concentrate on just sleeping.

She HAD potty trained herself...but last night and this morning she decided to un-potty train herself and pee and poop on the floor! I knew that it was too good to be true! I did expect potty training to be a challenge...so in a way...it's nothing more than I expected!

In a week...she will be 9 weeks...and hopefully sleeping well...Nutrical-ed...and on her way to pooping in the right place! Not much more that I can ask for at this stage. Looking forward to the day when i can take her out for walks to burn off some of her energy!

[shannonNJ]

Congrats on your baby. You've been given great advice!

I would also recommend putting an old tshirt of yours in her bed with the snuggle puppy or confined area. It will have your smell on it and it will comfort her when you aren't around (especially at night). My Jack drags my tshirt out of his crate and into his bed in the dining room when he doesn't want to nap in his crate. lol. He loves having it around.

Also, if there is any particular place she likes to relieve herself when it isn't on the puppy pads, place a pad there and lots and lots of praise and treats when she does go on her pads.

Jack is now 16 weeks and so far, he's been accident free for a week and a half. It took a while for him to get the hang of where it is appropriate for him to go potty, but now, even he is proud of himself when he goes on his puppy pads lol.

I also found, the more tricks he learned, the easier it was for him to be potty trained. His obedience was definitely influential.

You seem very attentive and loving and I'm confident that your little girl is in the right hands! Good luck!

[burndog]

Originally Posted by shannonNJ

Congrats on your baby. You've been given great advice!

I would also recommend putting an old tshirt of yours in her bed with the snuggle puppy or confined area. It will have your smell on it and it will comfort her when you aren't around (especially at night). My Jack drags my tshirt out of his crate and into his bed in the dining room when he doesn't want to nap in his crate. lol. He loves having it around.

Also, if there is any particular place she likes to relieve herself when it isn't on the puppy pads, place a pad there and lots and lots of praise and treats when she does go on her pads.

Jack is now 16 weeks and so far, he's been accident free for a week and a half. It took a while for him to get the hang of where it is appropriate for him to go potty, but now, even he is proud of himself when he goes on his puppy pads lol.

I also found, the more tricks he learned, the easier it was for him to be potty trained. His obedience was definitely influential.

You seem very attentive and loving and I'm confident that your little girl is in the right hands! Good luck!

Thanks so much for your lovely message!

She had a much better night last night in terms of sleep (at least one of us did!) and woke up an hour later (but she was ready to sleep at 9.15 so I'm not surprised that she was still an early bird!) at 5 a.m. I got up at 5 and cleaned her puppy pads (good girl!) and gave her a little pat and a chat (she woke me...but through play rather than whining...so I was very happy with her).

She didn't sleep in her bed last night...but slept in the bowl under her water bottle...it was totally dry...but I think that there's something about the shape that she liked. Not sure.

I'm going to go for a run tonight (not with Lucky...she's too small) and I'll give her the shirt once it's dry (summer here is VERY hot and humid). I'll also pop out and buy a clock...so that tonight she has those two to keep her company until the Snuggle Puppy arrives.

At this stage...I think that Lucky is doing great...and her silly old owner just needs to relax a little and try and learn how he can help her be the best dog she can be. So far I've been worried and stressed the whole time...which is bad...BUT...I've managed to lose 2kgs since Sunday so it's not all bad news! So...my new mantra is to try and relax...and if something isn't working for the pup (such as sleeping upstairs)...then I just need to try to find an arrangement that will help her (getting a clock, moving her downstairs, moving me downstairs etc). I guess it's trial and error...and there's no quick fixes.

Thanks again for your response...every piece of advice is MORE than welcome!