[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by MJsBella

I have been referring to the site since I brought Bella home last week.

I have not had a puppy in over 30 years, so this has been an experience.

Bella is Morkie. Her Daddy (named Baby Face Oliver ~ doesn't that sound like a fighter!) He Mommy a Maltese (name Fancy Pants Maggie)

Bella is beautiful and has such a GREAT personality. She was also very sick when I bought her and thankfully have a friend that is a vet and she is doing fantastic!

I have some questions ~ I hope you don't mind. (I am having new mommy anxiety!) I apologize for the long post. I am just unsure of so many things!

1. Bella always goes potty when I take her outside and sits by the door when she is done (and is done running around like crazy) ~ but she will give no indication when she has to go. So I am just taking her out every couple hours or so. If I don't take her out...she will pee/poop on the floor. How should I get her to let me know she needs to go out or will that just come with time. So far we have only had 3 accidents since I got her so I am happy about that, but I know we would have a lot more if I did not watch her like a hawk!

2. Bella eats normally 2x a day (sometimes she eats 3x) I don't pick up her bowls I leave her food sit out. She seems to eat when we get to my office, sometimes at noon and she eats when we get back home. Should I remove her food between or does it matter? I would say she eats a total of 1/3 cup of RC food/day.

3. How often can she have a bath? My husband thinks she needs one once a week?

4. Bella has a penned area she sleeps in at night. The first few nights she was so good...no crying. (probably too sick to make a fuss) Then she went a couple of nights and cried and cried. I ignored her. Now seems to have settled in a little last night and goes out about 3:30 am when my husband gets up and then I let her sleep with me. I don't want her to pee in my bed or I would let her sleep with me all the time. My 2 little Grandson's are staying over and I know they will want her to sleep with them. Do I let her and just run the risk of her peeing on the floor at night or do I make her sleep in her penned area?

Thanks again for any advice...I just want Bella to have the best life she can have (and I keep my sanity )

I use doorbells. Mine rings bells anytime she wants outside. You can look at a video:

Poochie-Bells Video

You can make your own bells using the same principle with a ribbon and large bells made like what you see in the pictures.

Some people do fine free-feeding them. I do scheduled feeding so I know when she will go potty.

I've always given baths once a week and sometimes more often if she really needed it.

Mine has always slept with me, but she has stairs so she can get up and down as needed. Be very careful that she doesn't try to jump off a bed or even fall out and end up with a broken leg or worse.