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Safety issues for tiny dogs I am going to be getting a yorkie puppy soon. Most of our dogs in the past have been larger (mastiff/labs/setters) so I am wondering what do I need to do to keep a tiny puppy safe? |
Hmm... well, little dogs can escape easier it seems. Jackson, who is pretty sturdy at 15lbs, has found his way out of little gaps in fences, etc, that I never thought he'd get out of. So you've gotta be more cautious with fences, gates, and forms of containment. They can be considered prey for big birds like hawks, etc, and you also gotta watch out for coyotes, foxes, etc. Depending on HOW small, they can be pretty fragile, and bones can break easier than a bigger dog. So watch out for jumping/off couches, etc. Although Jackson is a huge jumper and has yet to cause any problems but it's definitely something to look out for. I'm sure others will chime in. :) But welcome to YT and the world of Yorkies! |
Welcome to YT! :wavey: Congrats on your new yorkie baby! I recommend getting either an expen or a puppy playpen to keep your little one in when he/she can't be watched closely. Also, do not allow your baby to jump on or off furniture...steps are highly recommended. The best advice I can give is to keep a very good eye on your little one. Good luck!:thumbup: |
Stairs for sure will be a problem so gate off the stairs when they are really small and young. Learn the Yorkie shuffle. Why? cause they are mostly under your feet lol.... When you start moving, shuffle your feet don't pick them up, until you are sure the little tyke is not underfoot. Watch closing doors! make sure pup is not in doorway Use harness not collar for walking on the leash Know the signs of hypoglycemia I'll leave it to others to post more. Welcome and best of luck with your new pup |
Hold tight Be very, very carefully when holding them. They are extremely wiggly and can get dropped very easily. I don't know how to describe it but get a grip that sort of gets a front leg involved. If you have any kids make them sit on the floor when they hold them. Can't stress that too much. |
Put all electrical cords out of reach. Cover electrical outlets with baby safety plugs. Some Yorkies are like toddlers and will open cabinets. Put all toxic houseplants out of reach and make sure leaves or flower petals cannot fall to the floor. Look around your home at everything within the pup's reach. Books and magazines are potential chew toys. :p Razors in the bath are dangerous. |
Recliners: They love to go underneath. They can get caught and smashed. We've shoved a regular size pillow underneath. When my babies were younger, I also put pillows behind/beside my couch and loveseat also. Both are recliners also, but it stopped them from going back there to potty. |
Here are two sites that are filled with information about safety and all sorts of information to help you raise a healthy yorkie puppy: Yorkshire Terriers - Yorkie Puppies - Breeder Information - Training - San Diego Alex's Yorkie Care Frequently Asked Questions Bluebelle was explaining that a yorkie should be carried with a forefinger and your thumb wrapped around the front leg. Many yorkies have died from jumping out of people's arms. |
Dinky will find ANYTHING on the ground and try to eat it. We are very tidy, clean, no kids at home anymore, and somehow he finds something. Also, they cannot be outside unattended. Hawks, foxes, big dogs, cats. Also, harness not collar. |
[QUOTE=gemy;3393907]Stairs for sure will be a problem so gate off the stairs when they are really small and young. Learn the Yorkie shuffle. Why? cause they are mostly under your feet lol.... When you start moving, shuffle your feet don't pick them up, until you are sure the little tyke is not underfoot. I love it---Yorkie shuffle:p |
These are excellent advice. I would like to add that if you decide to carry your Yorkie in a carrier ALWAYS attach the inner leash to their harness, unless the carrier is closed up and there is no way for the Yorkie to get out. There were a few instances where I had the carrier top opened, and my yorkie Tatiana leaped out unexpectedly (someone bumped me from behind, and startled her, and she jumped out of the carrier. Another time, she sniffed the roasted chicken on the counter, and took a flying leap out my front-pack carrier at the chicken.) Thank goodness for each instance, I attached the inner leash on her harness, so she dangled safely outside of the carrier, above the ground. If she hit the ground, I think Tatiana would have been hurt. |
I have a bell on my little one. If he's not sitting next to me, I hear *jingle jingle jingle* which I find kinda cute. But I know if the jingling stops for a minute, someone is doing something naughty. He can't understand sometimes how he always gets caught. |
Hello!! You got some great advice. Xpen or Pack N Play is a great idea, you wouldnt believe what these little guys are capable of getting into when you do not have your eyes on them! Harness for walking, and a collar for the name tag, etc. ( I keep a collar on Pnit all day even when I am not home, I take it off at night only) I have heard many stories of Pets getting out and not having a id tag on. Puppy Proof your house, these little guys are vaccums! Lots of little things are choking hazards. Even when giving treats small bites are always best! Watch where you step, they are always under your feet. Don't leave them on the couch or bed alone.. Watch out for animals that would love to make your little guy a snack,Never leave him outside alone, These little guys are prey to most birds! Trust me a hawk almost got my Pnut last summer!! And he wasnt alone..Very Scary! That's all I can think of right now, but you have some really good pointers and you are in the best place to get all the advice you need!! Congrats on getting a baby soon! He or she will be a blessing! |
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Very good point! |
If you take medications open them over the sink so theres no chance of them falling on the floor and being quickly eaten by your dog |
To add to the comment on jumping. Harley is highly athletic and EVEN if you intend on doing sport with them, the should not jump for over a year, their muscles and bones haven't locked into proper place because they are growing when they little. When you think all the cords are safe, let the pup out and watch closely, maybe even video camera... when you think it's safe, they'll still find something. They can get under everything, so consider blocking off the bottom of furniture. our bed had to be blocked off, not because it was a safety thing, but because we'd call him, and he'd go hide under the bed, so we could never catch him Good luck, congrats and enjoy... I also recommend the yorkie shuffle. you'll learn quickly to sense their presence so you don't step on them. |
First off Welcome to Yorkie talk. I think everyone has covered most hazards, the only one I can think of is, Once your little ones are able to get up on the back of chairs and couches be careful that they do not fall off. My couch is in front of my living room window. When I go out,they sit and wait for me to return. When I first rescued Julie Anna, everytime I pulled up in the car she would get so excited she would jump around and fall right off the back of the sofa. To the floor she would fall. I could her her hit the window sill then the floor. I would open the door and the poor baby would come walking out from behind the couch. I immediately went and got an old king size comforter and put it on the floor behind the couch. I put foam on the window sill, that way if she fell again she at least did not hit the sill and the floor.She only fell off of there one more time before she learned no to jump around up there. Poor baby. Good luck on your new baby. |
Just thought of another thing STAIRS, Harley is really good at stairs so we always let him do stairs, well that wasn't the problem. When we were on vacation he got so hyper that he ran and leaped and didn't realize he was near stairs, and fell down the whole flight. I was nearly in tears, but he was fine. it was a carpeted stair case, but he no longer is allowed at the top of stairs on his own. We still let him go up (and follow behind him) |
These are all really great suggestions! What we have had to be careful with, was kids toys! Children's toys have so many small pieces, and Tucker always wants to play with his sisters.... Very easily can be choking hazards! Good Luck! Carrie, & Tucker |
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