Welcome to Yorkie Talk and congratulations on your puppy coming this week!
I preferred an xpen for my boys. Having an xpen and a crate is useful. Acclimating them to crates is good for when they have to go to the vet for spay/neuter or anything that requires staying for a few hours or overnight.
Potty training: choose whatever suits your situation best. For my boys, it is convenient to have them both pad and outdoor trained. They have a pad at all times in our home, but they are happy to go outdoors whenever possible.
Outdoor time for a 9 week old puppy should be limited until all puppy vaccinations are given, except for the rabies vacc which should be held until 5 - 6 months.
Food: keep your puppy on the food the breeder is feeding until he/she is acclimated to your home. Same with treats. Ask what your breeder is using. There is no one food or set of treats that works best for all dogs.
I prefer to avoid store bought treats and use fresh foods instead. Be sure to check out a list of foods that are toxic to dogs to avoid dangerous things. My boys like steamed chicken, a little plain Greek yogurt, a little Parmesan shredded cheese, a tiny bit of scrambled or boiled egg. Be careful to keep it in very small quantities, no seasonings, to avoid making your puppy sick.
Every dog is different -- my boys don't do well with fruits, for instance. There is a little bit of trial and error learning.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy  |