Yorkie Mom-to-Be with care ??
 

I will be getting my (8 to 9 week old) yorkie puppy in a few days. I'm getting conflicting information on feeding and training the puppy. I plan on crate training the puppy.What I have been told and read regarding crate training recommends a crate just big enough for the puppy/dog to walk in, turn around, and lay down in. The puppy is to be taken out doors shortly after eating. The wanted behavior is reinforced with praise and reward. I have also read that yorkie puppies should be feed 3 times a day and yorkie adults twice a day. The breeder recommends keeping food, water, and a pee pad in the crate with the puppy. She states that the puppy should have free access to food and water. I have the ability to come home at lunchtime every day. I thought the solution would be to feed/potty train in the morning before work, lunchtime, and after work. The breeder told me she thought that was still too long of a time spand for the puppy to be without food. Any thoughts? or Advice?:animal36

8-9 weeks is a bit young to bring home a pup. I would free feed or feed four times a day (maybe three but I would be concerned about hypoglycemia). A few weeks later feeding three times a day should be fine. You can feed Yorkie adults 2-4 times a day (2 or 3 times is average). You could also free feed forever as long as your dog doesn't overeat.

Welcome to YT:)

I think the puppy is acctually 9 to 10 weeks old (Dec. 18th).
Do you think establishing a feeding/potty schedule four times a day (before work, lunchtime, early evening, and before bedtime) and then decreasing the frequency as the puppy gets older is appropriate.
I'm affraid that the puppy will be confused or learn bad habits by using a pee pad in the crate and then switching to crate training later.

i free feed when i am home, i have crate trained Ziggy. I dont use pads, i want him to go outside , he does not pee or poop in the crate now. ive had him for about 3 weeks. he does not over eat. i take him out about every 2 3 hours, and yes i reward when he does his business.

I would probably free feed til at least 12-16 weeks. You wouldn't want to come home to a shaky pup. Then you could feed on whatever schedule you choose or continue to free feed.

If you want to crate train later, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to put a pee pad in the crate. That might send mixed messages.

Something that could work for you is getting a very small crate and keeping the door open. Then around the crate put an xpen. So in the xpen would be a pee pad, food, water and crate. That way the dog isn't eliminating in the crate, so you might be able to use it for training later. Did I explain that okay?:)

And I think if you ultimately want to train your pup to go outside, it is best to start that way. Pee pads could confuse it but if it works best for you then use them.

:thumbup: well said !

Welcome to YT!! :)

I have an 8 month old yorkie puppy that I got at 8 weeks and I have a 7 1/2 year old yorkie and I keep food out for them all the time and I have not had any problem with them gaining too much weight. I also have cats and I have found that they also eat some of the cat food from time to tim. I also come home at lunch and take them out but they have access to food all the time.

Welcome!
 

Hi! I have a Yorkie who will be 14 wks on Sat. She was 8 wks old when I got her. To be honest I would have prefered waiting to take her home but the person I got her from insisted we take her...and her litter-mates were also sent to their new homes at that time. She was so tiny - I was sooo nervous. I was greatful to find this site with all the amazing advice!

The best advice I have gotten here is to get an x-pen. We originally put our puppy in our large master bathroom with pee-pads. I strongly believed that 8 wks old is too young/small to be put in a crate for long periods of time and we are at school/work all day. I also felt that it was important to free feed until she is older/bigger. This situation worked ok except that she would go potty on the pee-pads but also others spots too.

So we got an x-pen and put it in that bathroom and it has worked wonderfully! The pen is big enough for her bed (a pink couch), her food/water, her pee-pads and her crate (which we leave open). Since limiting her area to the x-pen she has consistently gone on the pee-pad with no accidents. I feel comfortable knowing she is happy and safe all day in the pen with plenty of food/water, toys and a place to go potty whenever she needs to.

After work/school we take her out of the pen and play with her. We never leave her unsupervised. When enough time has passed that we think she may need to go potty or when we see any signs she has to go, then we take her back to the pen. She goes potty and we give her a small treat with lots of praise. This has been working really well for us!

This is an amazing place to get such great advice. It has helped us so very much!

The xpen sounds like a great idea with your puppy being able to access to their food, water, bed, and pee pad all the time. It helps especially when your not home, they can go whenever they want to and not have to hold it.

:) Thank You All !!! for your responses and great advice!! I have decided to take all your advice. I plan on getting an x-pen, putting her bed in the crate (leave the door open), and place her food and potty pad outside the crate in x-pen.:aimeeyork