My Yorkie is still at the breeders while we wait for the calendar to reach April. The things I have learned have been through this site and the books I've read. (That's the disclaimer before I address some of your concerns...LOL)
I would be concerned leaving my puppy in a darkened room for most of the day primarily because I think the lack of mental stimulation would not be good. You could leave a radio on and even a light. Plus, you can probably find a baby gate at a yard sale or thrift store much cheaper than buying a new one.
From what I've read, Yorkies tend to have dental issues as they age. I am under the impression that good dental care needs to begin while they are still puppies. If you do an internet search, you will be able to find demos of how to brush a puppy's/dog's teeth. There are these nubby "thimbles" or doggy toothbrushes/toothpastes. However, even the washcloth that you mentioned is better than nothing at all. From all that I have seen, the preferred method appears to be circular motions on their teeth. (I would encourage you to do this if only with water and a cloth since gum disease is often a problem as they age.)
I saw that someone has mentioned Cheerios as a treat. I understand that behavior modification works well with this breed and that you can cash in on their desire to please to help you successfully train. Again, there are some good clips on the internet showing some basic training.
Sounds to me like you are doing well. I would strongly encourage you to start taking care of the teeth though. The bacteria is probably part of what is causing the odor, as well as the teething. It may be that you will need to get some baby teeth pulled eventually and supposedly that can help the bad breath problem, too. |