Welcome LolaG03 and G-Daisy!! I found a tiny little harness was invaluable for yorkies squirm right out of those collars. It was adjustable and grew along with him! I still use harnesses instead of collars, for I have read collars can cause neck injuries.
I had to put my yorkie in his kennel (the cage)in the basement for a couple of nights for he whimpered quite a bit. He was safe. (Was fed and had a small bowl of water in the cage). There were papers in the cage, too. Nothing worse than an exhausted new pet owner trying to get new baby to sleep!!
It might be a good idea to keep her up a bit toward evening. Maybe some slow walks, light brushing. If allowed to sleep all day, why sleep at night???
I refused to give any of my dogs socks or any type of leather to chew EVER. How do they know if that sock on the floor is a chew toy or a brand new pair?? Don't get me started on friends that lost the toes of their favorite pumps due to puppies thinking it was just another LEATHER chewy. I tried to tell her. NO LEATHER. NO SOCKS. NO CLOTHING AT ALL TIED IN KNOTS!!
My pups (they are 7, 7 and 10years) still sleep safe and sound locked in their kennels. They are not allowed on furniture or beds, for sometimes they throw up and ruin feather comforters and pillows. Trust me, I know this!!
Please, no people food. No dairy. No cookies unless organic doggy cookies. And watch the amount. Two little cookies to us look like crumbs - but to a toy, its a bag full!
Puppies squirm like crazy. I once had a friend pick up my month old and it squirmed right out of her hands...luckily on a soft chair - but it could have been disaster!! Sit on the floor when holding baby until you get used to her squirms. They wiggle alot.
They sometimes get "under foot." I have found my baby in closets, cabinets, etc after a frantic search of the house, the yard, etc!! Learn to always look at the floor when walking maybe. I also had a problem with my little one going UNDER the gate to make a get away to the neighbors. Scarey. We had to put chicken wire on iron gate.
No more Houdini Yorkie now.
Fresh water all day. Perhaps close off areas you don't want used as potty areas. I paper trained all three dogs and if I am gone for extended periods (five hours or more), they will go on papers (I have the newspapers on absorbent pads on the basement floor in laundry room). I am so happy I did, too.
I do leave the radio on if I leave the house. I believe they just sense someone is around...can't find them...but they can hear them talking.
After years of vaccinating my three for every known bug under the sun, my bichon nearly died after a series. Right after the rabies, too. He began to throw up and show signs of convulsions. God, I was scared. He can no longer have ANY shots. So he CANNOT go to dog parks, stores, groomers must come here in a mobile truck.
But I am considering NOT giving the dogs any shots until I have Titers checked. If they don't need all that medicine, why give it? I had to bring the yorkie in three separate times for his shots for they are TOO strong for such a small dog. Now? Only rabies. I will have them tested for heartworm but I will look into alternative for meds. I do feel the meds were just too much.
I treat my yard with GARLIC to keep fleas and ticks down and this year we didn't have ONE! YAY!!! I fertilize with organic chicken doo doo and will not let them on the lawn for 48 hours. I am cautious.
Do NOT let puppy drink from puddles during walks...terrible poisons, lepto and who knows! can be in there.
My dogs only get organic. Grain free. Sometimes raw. Organic treats made for dogs.
My worst time was in 08 when all three found some squirrel poison my neighbor was using. It was carried into my yard, I think by a squirrel. ALmost lost my yorkie. He had to be on iv fluids for three days. In and out of the vets. Meds. Special foods. God, it was awful. $1500 just in hospital bills for the three! But they are all better. Have to keep an eye on them all the time. I never thought to look around the yard for poison peanut butter blobs - so they found them! They were sooo sick. Now, I have to check the yard because neighbors feed birds crackers, taco shells, bread and birdies drop the stuff in my yard...bichon is allergic to flour/grains!!! arrgghhh.
They are just like little kids. It's a big commitment, but it pays off. They will love you just for walking in the door!! Congratulations. Sorry I kept on and on! It's just I keep remembering things somewhat important.
