How old is my Yorkie?
 

Hello,

I am new to this forum, well heck, I'm new to owning a Yorkie (any small dog for that matter!). I purchased a Yorkie puppy that was supposedly born on 9/07/09. I just purchased him last Sat. (12/12/09). There seems to be quite a discrepancy between the vet and breeder when it comes to the age of our puppy. It seemed as though the vet based her opinion on his canine teeth. Can anyone tell me based on the attached photo the age of this puppy? I need to know so that we don't have any shots/nuetering done at inappropriate times. Also, if the vet is wrong...I want a new vet.
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Linda/Pictures/Nikon%20Transfer/Tango/DSCN1475.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Linda/Pictures/Nikon%20Transfer/Tango/DSCN1475.JPG[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Linda/Pictures/Nikon%20Transfer/Tango/DSCN1475.JPG[/IMG]

First of all, :welcome4: to YT!

I'm no expert, but I believe a puppy's baby teeth normally start falling out around 4 months old. Your yorkie looks like his have already fallen out with the adult teeth emerging. Also, his canines appear large for puppy canines...so those may be his adult canines.

Also, although it's kind of hard to tell by the pic, it looks as though he's got some molars. Puppies don't get molars until around 6-8 months old. Count his teeth if you can. Puppies have 28 teeth and as adults they'll have 42.

Again, I'm no expert, so hopefully someone else can give you a more precise answer. What I DO know, however, is that regardless of his age, this little guy will give you immense joy and tons of love! My boy is a year old and he brings so much joy to my life. :)

My sister give me my Yorkie somebody found her on the stree so I didn't know anything about her and took her to the vet. She told me that when a dog is adult is kind difficult know the exact age it's an approximate mine it's around 2 years and her teeths looks like those ones. :yelrotflm

I have no idea how old your baby is, but I wanted so that I liked the photo of his choppers :)

I'm more confused!
 

Thanks Annette, Barney and Love,

Well, he has some molars but I only count @ 24 teeth?? w/ 2 coming in on upper right? Still some blank areas in front of molars on other sides. I find this interesting to say the least.

I got a response
 

Here is the response from the breeder when I emailed her telling her I would take action but want her to "do the right thing" first. She talks about his testicles. I'm no expert, but I don't see or feel any "swelling" "down there". Any truth to this? What would you do?

Wow Linda
Tango is just a baby and so is his sister that you saw .
I can not say anything else you but that he is just a baby .

He has baby hair too .
Never been trimmed by me. Except for the tips of his ears .


What else do you want me to say or to do?
This is a situation that time will prove but really , what do you want me to do ?
I have never had any reason to misrepresent a puppy and never will !
What kind of gain would i have by doing something like such? NONE !


i love the breed . My puppy owners are like family for me . On thankgiving we had 2 people that has our yorkies come over and have dinner with us . As their family is far away in canada and i bumped into them in the grocery store . As we talked , my aunt made sure to suggest the invitation and it was so nice !


Tango is a chubby yorkie baby ! He sure is and i even was kidding with you about since you did not want a very tiny one . But he is a baby !


Now, i am going to repeat my self , time will tell because he is growing up and yorkies usually have the biggest growth spur until 6 months old . After that it slows down a whole lot !
Another indication is the testicles .... A 6 month old puppy will have well developed testicles ! Tango does not have them developed yet !


What else do you want me to do linda?

Can you post a couple more photos of him such as ones of his face and body. From what I can see he seems younger to me and very cute. :)

He looks like a young pup to me. I would listen to the breeder as far as his age

Photos
 

Well, here are some pics. These don't show his tongue though.

Breeder
 

Her website is Yorkshire Terrier Breeder : - Home and her name is Hursula Oliviera in Beverly, MA

Latest news
 

She replied again and she explained how much turmoil she has been going through lately. After Tango's litter was born, she explained her father passed away. The day we picked him up, she had been at her vet due to another female having c-section. She pointed out the testicles didn't drop yet and he has puppy hair still??? The message was way too long to copy. I will say that she seemed to have a lot of knowledge. I don't know...she seems genuine. Then again, who knows???? His parents' papers were Brazilian. As it seems to go w/ Yorkies, a lot seem to let the pups go as pet quality only. So, I didn't see the need to press for AKC transfer. She is in Beverly, MA.

If his testicles havent dropped its probably because hes a young pup. My Chachis didnt drop untill 6 months old

Your pup looks exactly the age she stated. A chubby bit of a guy. His ears are still floppy, I suggest you take the hair off them completely to assist them in coming up.....His testicles not being down may be the reason for the pup not having his ears up. Also, being a bit larger than smaller Calcium is being used in other parts of his body. You may want to tape his ears to assist them in becoming erect. Goggle taping yorkie ears....losts of discriptive info.

His teeth, I have pups with Canine's that size. I have dogs that are completely done with their teething at 5 months and others at 7 months.

Testicles being underdeveloped and seated is normal in most yorkie males at a young age. I've had pups that the process is completed at 8 weeks of age and others that testicles didn't drop until they were 9 months of age.

I will say that this yorkie breed is very difficult to breed, some grow very rapidly and advance and others take a slower route.

Yes I agree with you too. That has been the case with some of my puppies too. Some seem to get teeth faster than others too. =o) I had a little girl once that her little four front teeth on the bottom were just surfacing at 12 weeks.

I would tend to trust the breeder.

Some disreputable breeders have been known to say that a puppy is OLDER than what it really is, just to make the buyer think that it will grow to be a very small adult. Like, say, telling the buyer that the 2 pound pup is 4 months old, when it is really 2 or 3 months old, so the buyer would naturally think that they are going to end up with a very small adult.

But I don't have any idea what she would have to gain by saying that the pup is younger than it's actual birth date.

Just wanted to welcome you to YT and tell you that he is just adorable!!

I am sure you will love it here :)

:thumbup: I agree. You can easily see in the pictures that he is a pup.

I agree with everyone else now that I've seen his pics...he's definitely a pup. And boy is he cute! I love his floppy ears!

What a cute puppy. He looks just like my Alfie, who is 13 weeks today.

A question...
 

Thank you everyone! I sooooo much appreciate your thoughts and opinions! This is a great forum.

One more question...One of the questions brought up here is his molars??? He as one molar at the very back on all four sides?

Personally, I think he is more like 14 wks., but obviously, if he is older I would need to know. Neutering is my greatest concern.

He does act very puppy-like. Flat-out passed-out to hyper-biting mode then passes out again. He sleeps alot! - But what about the molars?

I need him to eat more. He was chubbier than he is now. When we got him he was 4 lbs., but now that he's lost some belly, I'm not sure. I asked the breeder if the food she gave me was in fact the food he was eating and still need to hear from her.

I have to read more too about the potty training w/ Yorkies. I keep him in our kitchen when I can't watch him, but unless I'm there coaching him he doesn't go on the pads. Even when I do coach him, he misses a lot too. Oh boy! This is more difficult that puppies I've had in the past! This, too, shall pass. LOL

Thank you again...God Bless!

Good luck, they are so rewarding. I am just so smitten with my yorkie ans although we have only had him 3 weeks, it feels like we have always had him. We took him to pets at home (big pet shop chain in UK) and so many people wanted to snuggle him, he didn't leave my arms though.

Puppies do sleep alot, not to worry.

Don't worry, he's now more active and losing that baby fat........remember how small he really is......and how small his tummy is, as long as he's eating, that's good news. The food your breeder sent home with you is more than likely the food he was on.....if it wasn't, your new pup would be having major diarreah from the food change. If you plan to make food changes, do so very slowly, yorkie digestive tracts are their downfall.

Your pup is young.....don't expect miracles....but, do keep him confined until he gets it......My pups go home piddle pad trained, but when they are moved to a new location they need to be retrained where their toilet is.

As far as nuetering him, the decision is yours and your vets. Your vet making sure that he checks his growth platelets before nuetering.

Thanks Mardelin!

You always seem to have your ways to express your valuable knowledge about this breed and educate people about them!
This is one of the biggest babies we've ever had ! "chubby bit of a guy for good !!!! " ... but we love him anyways....
i am still puzzled by this ladies vet trying to convince her he is older than he is. As someone else here mentioned:"But I don't have any idea what she would have to gain by saying that the pup is younger than it's actual birth date."?

I referred her to come into YT and learn a study and ask for advice on the breed that is new for her and i am so glad i did it ! I am sure she will find reliable advice here ! i am glad that she was welcomed into this community and can share , learn and make friends with other yorkie owners.

I told her i am available any time to help with any questions but once anything like this arrives it is very good to have other people to confirm some things i said just to let her be assured .

She mentioned here about her vet. She is from my state but a totally different area. I hope she will find advice on that too.

Anyways , Thanks a lot , as always !
XOXO

The size of the pup has no concern for me....since my line produces big pups that grow up front and then stop. Although, I have girl pup right now that is absolutely scarying me......At this point I may have a 35 cup coffee maker. Her mother and father are on the average size of the spectrum. Mom 5 1/2 pounds dad 6 pounds, should weigh 4 1/2 to 5......but, I keep him a bit heavier since he goes off food when a girl is in Season. So, you never can tell what they are going to produce.

I do know that new puppy owners do tend to get a bit anxious and need reassurance, very normal.......

I did suggest she shave the pups hears all the way down on both sides and tape them Cookie Rogan's web site has some great illustration on how to.

Thanks again Mardelin !
Your recommendations and in puts were exactly like i had already given to her.
As we all have many firsts with yorkies this is the first time i hear a vet say that about a puppy age...
But they are a very nice family and will get the hang of it !
I also recommended her do the tape on the ears, i have a picture of him with ears up just days before she picked him up, but his sister became an expert on removing my tape,,,, and as she mentioned i had a long day so i forgot to show it to her while they were here.

Same happens to my boy, when he breeds he loses weight ! Do not want to eat ... just lovin.....

Thanks again !
XOXO

You know some vets are just general practictioners and do not specialize in Toys or in yorkies. Therefore not understanding breed specific.....

I know my kids drag each other around by the tape between their ears.......sometimes they get a bit over zealous and you'll hear squeeling. Until those testicles are down and teething has stopped, ears are just going to have to be shaved and tapped. 5 days tapped 2 days down.

I just have to say that he is one cute, cute, cute puppy! I love the belly pic! Hmmmm, kinda makes me want a baby around here.;)

I'll leave the answers to your other questions to the experts, they are taking good care of you.

Attachment 302822

This is his face with ears up just before she picked him up.

She will have some decisions to make about her vet . But i am far away and will not put my nose into it as i know very little about her area.

XOXO

Yes, but you are her breeder. I know that my new families always come to me first for help. It's a relationship that will go on for the rest of that puppy's life........They should have complete faith and trust in you.