[Stitches29]

Congratulations on your new baby. I too am a new mom of 10 week old Maggie. This is my first Yorkie, and I'm learning every day. I started out crate training. I would get up all through the night to take her out, when she cried. Then about the 4th night, she slept all night. Well, I thought she did. A couple of days ago, I was in the process of washing her blankies. I noticed that they were wet. She had been tinkling in her crate. She only has about an 10" square to sleep in. I was shocked. I now leave her crate door open at night and put down a tinkle pad, just in case. I always get up myself anyway about 2am, so now I take her out also. It is working great. So far the tinkle pad is staying dry. I did however order the Wizdog. I will be using that when the weather is very bad. Her crate is in the kitchen with a baby gate, (which she learned how to climb, now it has slick panels) her toys, food and water. She only goes there when we are mowing the lawn or taking a shower. She has a playpen (from Petsmart) outside. You must watch out for hawks. Hubby made a shade cloth top for our playpen. We use a retractable leash at all times too. She likes it when we release the button so she can run like lighting for 16 feet. Don't forget the Nutrical or Nutristat. Maggie gets hers in the morning and also before night/night. Usually when they get to be 4 months old, you won't need it anymore. Never hurts to have it on hand though. If your decide he/she is not going to eat at all, then try scrambled egg, cottage cheese, boiled chicken breast, rice. Don't let them go 8 hours without eating something. Maggie did pull that one on me. I was a short order cook for a few days. Now, I grind up her dry Iam's puppy food and mix it with about a teaspoon of Gerber baby chicken or anything above. For additional moisture, I use 50/50 diluted Goat's milk. I tried using warm water, but she would turn her nose up. Regular milk is too hard on their tummys. I tried that too. She would have wet burps. Like I say, I'm learning too. Somethings works for some and some for others. The best thing to do is to stay with the general principles and raise your baby the best way a parent can. Even with human children, they are all nourished basically the same, but raised completely different. They both require a lot of love, and in return you will also be loved.