This version is a bit abbreviated due to the space allowance. The full version is available for free on
our website. Again, we welcome you to print, highlight and use this document to insure the safety and happiness of you and your new Yorkie. However, please do not redistribute without permission.
The Supplies You Need (Guide part I)
Before you bring your puppy home, be sure you have the following supplies:
1. Small bag of recommended food. (We will provide you with the exact mix of your puppy’s diet as sometimes we make our own “formula” using two different protein levels) Don’t worry, we will explain it all.
2. Tube of Nutra Cal for Puppies (pet’s mart) administered in doses of 2cc each day after breakfast for at least 3 months. This is a high calorie supplement to head off hypoglycemia and give your puppy lots of energy as it grows.
3. Small stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls.
4. Identification tags & collar. Your puppy will come micro-chipped.
5. A home and travel crate that's airline approved and will accommodate your Yorkie’s adult size. (You only need one crate) This crate will serve as your Yorkie’s new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and a sense of security during these stressful times. If your puppy is being shipped, he / she will arrive in a hard crate.
6. Stain remover for accidental soiling. I recommend Nature’s Miracle
7. 1 stiff bristle Brush and 1 fine tooth comb. Daily combing is important to keep coat in shape and only takes a few minutes.
8. Dog shampoo (tearless), toothbrush and paste.
9. High-quality, safe chew toys to ease teething.
10. Flea, tick and parasite controls. We recommend Advantix-Multi available from us in 6 month packs.
11. Nail clippers.
12. Treats
Making a Home Safe
** Make sure ALL electrical cords are out of reach**
• Keep breakable objects out of reach.
• Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs.
• Safely store household chemicals.
• Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese yew, oleander and English ivy among others.
• In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored.
• If you own a pool or hot tub, check the cover or the surrounding fence to be sure they're in good condition.
• If you provide your puppy with an outdoor kennel, place it in an area that provides sun and shelter in the pen; be sure the kennel is large enough to comfortably accommodate your Yorkie’s adult size.
• There are several foods off limits to Yorkies. We advise you keep the kitchen off limits as well as the bathroom. Remember, if you drop an aspirin, your puppy will eat it…. Medicines can be deadly.
The First Days at Home
The ideal time to bring home a new puppy is when the house is quiet. Discourage friends from stopping by and don't allow overnight guests. First establish a daily routine and follow these steps:
Step 1: Before bringing him in the house, take him to the area in your yard that will serve as his "bathroom" and spend a few minutes there. If he goes, praise him. If not, proceed into the house but be sure to take him to this spot each time he needs to use the bathroom.
Step 2: Take him to the room that accommodates his crate—this restricted area will serve as his new "den" for several days. Put bedding and chew toys in the crate, leave the door open and line the area outside of the crate with newspaper, in case of an accident. Let him investigate the crate and the room. If he chews or urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it from the crate.
Step 3: Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating to his new den.
This will help forge a sense of pack and establish you as the pack leader.
Special Puppy Concerns
Treat your puppy the same way you would your own infant: with patience, constant supervision and a gentle touch. The way you interact with your puppy at this age is critical to his socialization.
Use these tips:
• Don't bring home a puppy prior to vacation, we will always hold onto your puppy if your vacation is near. He needs to be acclimated to your normal, daily routine without any interruptions for at least a few weeks if not more.
• Supervise your puppy at all times and interact with him regularly.
• Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, take him outside immediately.
• A young puppy has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least every three hours.
• Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste or scold him. He won't understand, and may learn to go to the bathroom when you're out of sight.
• Praise your puppy every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
• Feed your puppy a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food.
Meeting Resident Pets
Keep resident pets separated from your new puppy for a few days. After your new puppy is used to his new den area, put an expandable pet gate in the doorway or put your puppy in his crate. Give your resident pet access to the area. Let pets smell and touch each other through the crate or pet gate. Do this several times over the next few days. After that, give the resident pet access to the den area with your new puppy out of his crate. Supervise their meeting and go back to through-the-gate/crate meetings if trouble arises.
Feeding Your Puppy
• Proper nutrition for your Yorkshire Terrier is the key to helping him live a long, healthy life. The energy requirements of a puppy can be nearly twice that of an adult dog, and a puppy may not have the stomach capacity to eat enough food to meet his needs unless the food is specifically formulated to do so. It is imperative that your puppy is fed a proper diet consisting of an excellent quality puppy food. DO NOT USE A FOOD CONTAINING CORN as one of the 1st 5 ingredients…
Puppies experience their most rapid period of growth during the first six months of life. Use only a puppy formula for the 1st year. Overfeeding and weight gain can actually contribute to developmental bone problems. This makes managing food intake very important. Research has shown that puppies are at increased risk for developmental bone problems if they are overfed.
Yorkie puppy nutrition
Small-breed puppies have unique needs due to their small mouths, small stomachs and their growth spurt to adult size in a short period of time. That's why it's important to pack a lot of nutrition and energy into a small amount of food.
Feeding Instructions
Your new dog's first meals at home are very important. We are providing a few days of food for him / her. Please continue feeding this food until you run out. If you want to change his diet to another premium food, gradually move him from the old food to the new formula. Avoid intestinal upsets by using the following steps: **Changing food can be very upsetting to your Yorkie’s digestive system. Watch for lack of interest in the new food, weight loss, and diarrhea or constipation. If these occur, consult your vet immediately.
Day 1 - 3: Fill your dog's bowl with 75% of his old food and 25% of the new formula. Give your puppy 2cc of Nura Cal
Day 4 - 6: Mix the old food and the new premium formula in a 50/50 ratio.
Day 7 – 10: Feed your dog a mixture that's 75% new premium formula and 25% old formula.
Day 11: Feed 100% of the new premium formula.
Feeding Tips
Use the following guidelines to feed your new puppy properly:
• To determine each serving size, start with the daily amount recommended by the feeding guidelines on the pet food label and divide that number by the number of times a day (usually 3 times) you plan to feed your puppy.
• Serve the food at room temperature and remove the bowl within 30 minutes after he's done eating unless you are unable to feed 3 x per day. Prior to leaving, put a half serving of food in his food bowl to sustain him while you are gone throughout the day.
• After four months, you can feed a puppy twice daily on a regular schedule.
• Always provide your dog with clean, fresh water.
• Do Not feed table food / People food…. I only recommend a few types of treats…. Cheerios Cereal being our favorite or peanut butter teddy bears from Petco’s treat bar.
The Switch to Adult Food for small and large yorkies
A Yorkie reaches adult weight between 6 and 12 months. You can probably begin feeding adult dog food at 10 months although I make recommendations individually as the puppy matures. Please do not hesitate to contact us. Remember, we are a life line for you and your puppy throughout his / her lifetime. Never be afraid to call no matter the time or day. Your dog may not welcome the change at first, but don’t worry. Follow the exact same directions for changing the food discussed above.
**This is a combination of our unique experiences with training and working with dogs over a lifetime as well as basic information provided by Eukanuba, Royal Canine, and Diamond Pet foods. Please do not reproduce this without express written permission.
Southeast Texas Yorkies All rights reserved Copyright 2008