A Beginner's Guide to Yorkies
 

Officially, I am picking up Fred on Friday night. That's only two days away! I was going to ask if all of you could help me with some advice about bringing home my first Yorkie ever!

What do I need?
What should I buy before he gets here?
What should I do when he gets here?
Should I potty train him RIGHT AWAY?

EeeK! I'm so excited, I'm losing my train of thought. I don't want to forget something vital for a new puppy. Should I buy pee-pee pads before he gets here as well?

So far I bought him a two cozy sweaters, baby blankets and a pet carrier (although he probably doesn't need that anytime soon). I also made a vet appointment on Saturday morning. The breeder said she was going to send home a can of food and a bag of dry food so I know what to buy. I was going to take him to PetsMart after the vet to buy him a collar and to take him out (to show off) :D but I won't keep him out for long because thats probably not good. He'll only be 9 weeks!

I'm so excited! Two more days! I will be sure to post pictures!

I need all the advice I can get! :rolleyes:

How fun!
 

Hey Natalie. How exciting. I know how you feel.
What do I need? a lot of patience ;)
What should I buy before he gets here? Pee pads, somewhere (a bed? pillow?) for him to sleep.
What should I do when he gets here? Let him sniff around and show him where the potty is first and foremost.
Should I potty train him RIGHT AWAY? I would say DEFINITELY

Good job making the vet appointment - very important.

Congratulations on your new baby. Can't wait to see more pictures of him.

Keep in mind that Yorkies can be stubborn when it comes to housetraining... still, they are sooooo worth it! :aimeeyork

I Bet You Are Excited, I Know I Was
I Would Get A Crate Or Carrier For The Drive Back Home, So They Can Be Safe, Yes To Pee Pee Pad, Teach Them Right Away Were To Go Potty And Wait For Collar, I Know Is So Exciting, I Order Doggie Sweater Before I Got Mine, By The Time I Got Him They Were Too Big They Usually Send You Home With Food, So You Can Spend At Least The First Day At Home Letting Sniff Around & Walk Around The House To Check Out His New Place, Also Show Them Were Their Food Is Going To Be, And I Know Is So Hard,but Teach Him Were His Bed Is To Go Nite Nite, I Made The Mistake To Let Him Sleep With Me, NOW HE CRIES IF I DON'T LET HIM SLEEP WITH ME, I WON'T MIND If He Wasen't So Small, I Spend All Night Worring If He Is Going To Fall Am I Goin To Squish Him, When He Gets Older He'll Definatly Be In Bed With Me, But For Now His Bed. Have lot's of patience and fun they are so cute, you'll find you self just sitting there watching them play.. good luck

dont do it
 

Please Please do not take your pup anywhere for several more weeks. I know that it is tempting to show him off, but he is not fully vacinated yet and there are all sorts of things for him to catch outside and from other folks handling him. Please wait until he is a little older and fully protected with his shots. I know that it is hard to do, but I know of folks who lost their dogs especially tiny young ones by not taking precautions and limiting access to their puppy.

Petco stocks the Nutri-Cal. Pickup some in the event of hypoglycemic episodes. It can be very dangerous in small pups!!

Yes.........you will need:

**a bed...something soft and cuddly and comfy

**pee-pee pads...have them out in a few places when you arrive home..show him the pads FIRST THING.....will likely forget but maybe.....

**food & water bowls...in a nice, quiet area..out of traffic or busy place

**a big stuffed toy...fun to play with or lay on

**a couple squeaky toys....something really tiny that he can hold

**a comb/brush...occ begin to groom to allow him to learn about the process

******a tube of Nutra-cal/Nutra Stat...for the likely episodes of hypoglycemia

**some baby wipes...for rear end clean ups.."runny clingers"

**an old shirt you have worn for days and days and not washed....he can have your scent...try to get some kind of blanket/rag from his mom, too.

**a crate or kennel...his place to sleep or go to feel safe/quiet...(you will need somewhere to confine him occasionally)

**a camera and several rolls of film....or digital memory space.....


NO!!!!!!!!!

Don't take him out anywhere soon.....especially pet-type store......I know you will want to show him off but until vaccinations are complete he is very vunerable to illness....something like parvo could kill such a fragile puppy.
(I did take Lil Bit for an occ ride in the car..just to get used to riding)...

Isn't it exciting waiting for a new baby. First, take the blanket with you don't know if its cold or warm where you are but if air is on in car they need some thing to snuggle into. If it is cold they need wrapped up to go outside. The others are right about taking him or her out before 16 weeks when he's had all his shots. also i don't know about your pet stores but our pet smart to my way of thinking is too pet friendly. They let the dogs use the floor. If your pet walks on that floor and a dog has worms or anything yours can catch it. A pee pad is what I start all my pups on but, be sure to have lots of treats and praise on hand a pup will do any thing for a treat. also invest in a water squirt bottle. If it is doing something you dont want squirt it and say NO. best way to teach a dog i ever saw. Some of mibne now all I got to do is pick the bottle up. ;) Nitri- cal, honey, or peanut butter for the low sugar that could happen. Comb, Brush, Shampoo etc . I'm sure you will do great.

Hi Natalie,
This is some of the info I give people who purchase a baby yorkie. This is info I find valuable, not everyone may agree with the info but if any of it helps you.....GREAT!
GOod Luck with FREDDIE!
HOUSING- I suggest you get a crate kennel to house your puppy in. Its a safe place for them for sleeping, eating, drinking, it aids in housetraining, and they like the security. When you cant be with your puppy it keeps them from getting into things they shouldnt. I use a crate that is for meduim size dogs, bedding on one end and papers or wee wee pad on the other. I also have their food and water in there. If you do not use a crate, you should section a safe place off that the puppy knows is theirs, it makes them feel secure..
FEEDING & HOUSEBREAKING - I use Eukanuba dry food for small breeds (puppy formula) and leave this available at all times for puppy. I offer treat food 3 times a day (canned) Any kind of quality puppy food will be fine. It is extremely important your puppy eats regularly, if when you get them home it is not uncommon for them to be a little depressed. Keep an eye on him/her if they do not eat HANDFEED them canned food, bits of ham, bits of beef, cheese anything they will eat. I wouldnt worry about spoiling them the first days, its more important they eat. Keep fresh water available at all times. After feeding puppy take them out in about ten minutes or put them on papers or wee pad, how ever you want them trained. Same with drinking. Housebreaking is what time you put into it. Consistency is very important. You may need to adjust the time to what you notice about your puppies potty habits. Such as taking them out more often, sooner then 10 minutes...etc. Try not to let them potty thru out the house because once they get that habit and that smell in areas, they will usually repeat this habit and its really hard to stop.
BATHING & PLAYING- Please do not bath your puppy for a few days after getting them home. Let them get used to their new surroundings then you may bath them. Please allow your puppy to get plenty of rest, they are still babies, this is when the crate comes in handy, this gives them a quiet place to rest and they feel its their "safe haven". If you do choice to use a crate I would use it from the start at night, that way they do not get spoiled and when it comes to sleeping at night they will adjust quickly, and the whining will not last long. Try to keep excitement, alot of company to a minimum for a week or so, yorkies can be nervous dogs and keeping stress to a minimum at first is a good precaution. Its also a good idea to keep taking them to other places to a minmum for a week or so. There is plenty of time to show off your new puppy.
HEALTH CONCERNS- Yorkies can be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and that is why it is so important to make sure they eat regularly. Symptoms of this is laying around, tremors, staggering gait, drooling, dazed look etc.... they may have all or just one symptom. If they begin to show any of these signs they need SUGAR! I recommend you buy at product called Nutrical which is sold at any pet food supply store. It is full of vitamins and is sugar based and will help your baby come out of thier attack.........if they dont get sugar they can go into coma and die. If you dont have nutrical on hand you can use table sugar.....wet your finger and dip it in sugar and wipe the sugar on the tongue of the puppy several times. You can use karo syrup also. You can also put a bit of sugar in their drinking water at all times for a helpful precaution. After an attack that day do this two or more times more to just keep their sugar up..If they begin having these attacks frequently or sugar does not take them out of it.....SEE A VET IMMEDIATELY. A test you may want to mention to your vet is a bile acid test if your puppy seems to be sick or hypoglycemic alot. It tests for liver functions.
Another problem a puppy can develop is diarrhea, due to the stress of leaving home. If your puppy develops diarrhea, especially with blood or mucus in it....get them to a vet immediately. Puppies dehydrate quickly and although I have not had any problems in my kennel with this.....stress can cause diarrhea or a problem to arise and its dangerous for the puppy.
Tests that a vet may or should run is giardia, coccidiosis, hge, testing the stool for any problems that may have been dormant. Your puppy will be vaccined and wormed before they leave here. Dont be afraid to ask a vet about these tests if a problem ever arises. It could mean the life of your puppy.
In the puppies I have sold only one had a random hypoglycemic attack and they were treated, seen by a vet and all liver tests were good. SO its not a problem I have had but it could always happen especially with tiny yorkies. I just wanted you to be aware so you are educated.

Hope you have fun with your new puppy!!! Kindness- the squirt bottle tip is great. I've never heard of that one before. Thanks for a new tip for all new yorkie owners!!!

Yes the squirt bottle is a great idea!

Natalie, it seems like you've been waiting forever for Fred!! And that's just me! I've read many of your posts and have been waiting along with you. The time is finally here. The advice you've received so far is right on the money! And you've also gotten invaluable advice from a couple of breeders on the forum. Lucky you! :smile: I think you are ready. The only thing I would add is to be prepared to spend the ENTIRE WEEKEND with Fred! Not only do you need to because he will be frightened having just left his mom and litter, but you'll want to. I remember the first few days with Bo and it was snuggle, snuggle, snuggle!! I wrapped Bo in a Turbi-twist (a towel for drying hair), and he loved it. Now, this doesn't mean you should hold him ALL day long. He has to get used to his new kennel. Just hold him till he falls asleep and then gently put him in there (believe me, you'll have to force yourself!) :tinyheart Cherish :tinyheart these first days with Fred 'cause they don't last long. Bo is 4 1/2 months now and the only time he wants to snuggle is if he's sleepy and even then doesn't usually want to be held. They are so precious and love to be babied at first. The other advice I would have is if you have any small children in your household you may want to prepare them in advance. Tell them that you are the puppy's "mommy" and they must ask if they want to hold him (and I would limit that, you don't want him squeezed or dropped!) Help them to understand that the puppy needs snuggling and rest and almost all of that from mommy! Good luck and enjoy. Post pix when you have a chance!! Be prepared to have your life as you knew it (and your heart) taken from you! And you wouldn't have it any other way!! Bo sends puppy love!! :Puppy:

Yay! You must be so excited! :) I don't really have any more to add - you've been given excellent advice! I bet you just can't wait!

THANK YOU GUYS SOO MUCH!

That's so helpful. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to take him out in public. Just like a baby, never take a newborn out into the open! Thanks for the warning though, I'm glad I posted and asked before I did anything stupid and regretted it! :(

I'll probably end up wrapping him up in a blanket because I'm sure he'll be nervous. It won't be his first car ride though, so hopefully everything will be okay! I am oh-so excited. I'm gonna go out today after work and buy him a crate and a water and food bowl. I'll write down the Nutrical as well.

Luvdorkyyorkies, squirting a little waterbowl is such a great idea! My friend trained her chiuahua with a little watergun and everytime she would point at him, he'd back away and stop whatever he was doing and hid under the chair. Thanks for all your help! I'm going to watch out for him real careful. It's a good thing I'm picking him up during the weekend as well so I could spend the whole weekend getting him acquianted with the house and his crate and pee areas are. I'll be sure to ask the breeder what his pee schedule is like.

I'm a full-timer at work as well, but my boyfriend goes to school at 9 and comes back at noon so I think things should be okay.

Maybe I could set the eating schedule to before my boyfriend leaves to school, which is 8:30 and then when he gets home at 12:30 and dinner when I come home at 6:00.

I hope I'll be a good yorkiemommy! :rolleyes:
It's just great to know I can count on you guys to answer my questions, regardless how ignorant they are! :D

Natalie:

I've seen where new yorkie owners post and are concerned because their yorkie doesn't seem to eat when they arrive home. Some decrease in eating is expected. Five or six pieces of kibble may be all your lil' one may desire at once.

Most will probably advise you to leave food available at all times while your baby is a wee little one.

:)

Jealous
 

Natalie, I'm sooooo jealous that you are picking up your little one in 2 days!!! I think our pups were born on or around the same day (Jan. 1st) and I can't pick my baby up until a week from friday (March 11th). I'm so impatient right now. I can't wait to read your posts after you get him so I know what I'm in for! Congratulations!

LOL........thanks Natalie.....I like that idea too!...........but I cant take credit for that one! THat was KINDNESS post.

I'm going nuts just thinking about it! Friday is just two days away, and I keep thinking that after I get off of work, technically it'd be one day away and then .. ahh!
I've been waiting for this moment forever! I've been waiting 3 weeks for him! :D

Thanks again for everyone and their advice. You guys are AWESOME! I'm so glad I joined this forum. But now my boyfriend thinks I'm obsesssed. But it's okay. As long as my baby boy doesn't think so! haha :p

:eek: I think i've heard "your obessed nicole" at least once a day for the past 2 weeks. we get our puppy THIS saturday i spend a lot of the time on yorkie talk reading posts, gathering ideas, and preparing for his arrival. i'm on spring break as of now so i have a lot of time on my hands :cool: . but i'm with you on the obessed thing. I'd like to think of it as 'overally excited' ;) and why shouldn't i be excited i have been waiting for his arrival since january 10th :)

congratulations

Everyone's given great advice Natalie, I just wanted to say congrats and I hope everything runs smoothly with little Fred. You'll be a great yorkiemum!

Thank you! I appreciate it all!

MissNicole, how awesome is it that you're getting your pup this weekend as well! I bet you're about as excited as I am, if not even more (in your prospective!). What have you gotten ready so far?

My Spring Break doesn't start until the 11th! You're so lucky! :p

Hey, Natalie!!!!!!!!

I forgot to tell you the most IMPORTANT THING to get before you pick up Fred.......... GET SOME SLEEP!!!!!!!

You are going to give up some sleep "for sure" for a few days!!!!!!!!

And I find it absolutely ADORABLE that you think waiting for 3 weeks has been "forever"........ "Oh, the impatience of youth!"

(please don't be offended......I'm much older and remember what waiting "forever" felt like.......now 3 weeks is a flash in the pan!!!)

Do get some quality sleep......(and I know you won't....because you will wake up 3-4 times tonight thinking about Fred and probably wake up every hour Thursday night into Friday).....

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Well mostly I've been doing ALOT of reading on the breed. I'm always running to my family with new ideas that I get mostly from YT ;) . We've gotten him a travel crate and 2 carriers :) just because I like handbags :cool: We've got the longest list of names, lol and currently seeking a local vet. I made an appt with a friend of mine for a check up who works in a vet office, but have not yet schedule an appt for this 3rd vaccination. We cleared out an area for him to stay and also in the process of making it most comfortable for him. We'll see what he likes when he gets here :) . I have a friend who works at a pet store near us and he's decided to supply us with a lot of help with him and even a discount on merchandise in his store :D

Miss Nicole, I'm really happy for you. Enjoy your baby!!!

It's tomorrow! And MissNicole has 2 more days! Oh boy, are we excited or what?!

I've been anticipating tomorrow so much that I went to sleep at 9:30PM yesterday so that Friday could come quicker! Hopefully today will pass and tomorrow night will just come around! I'll be so antsy at work tomorrow because when I get off, that's when I'll be picking up my baby boy!

I still need to get around to buying him the neccessities! Eeek! :rolleyes:

Advice
 

Congrats on your new baby. Its so exciting and scary at first. Enjoy him while hes little they grow up so fast. Some advice on potty training. The best place to buy pee pee pads for cheap is Walmart you can buy a pack of 50 for $12.00, and believe as they get older you will go through these like water. Keep the potty pad in one place only if you put them all over the puppy is going to think he can go everywhere. If he pees on it leave it there so he will come back to it when he needs to go again. As for pooping leave like a little stain that why if he has to go again he will go back because he smells it. And throw them away when they get really dirty. It may sound gross keeping a dirty pad but believe me it may take a while but he will eventually get the hint. My puppy liked it when he would get a reward after he went potty like a animal cookie from PETCO. And if you do take your puppy out don't put him on the floor because its possible that other dogs have walked there & he still does not have all his shots. keep in your arms till he has all his shots. And most of all enjoy him with lots of love.

Attention: Those getting their babies this week-end!
 

If your friends & family think you are "obsessed" now .... just wait until you bring those babies home!!! :) I won't even attempt to add any advice to all the good advice you already have received ... I will tell you that for several days you will find it very difficult to put your baby down and you will just sit and stare!!! Heck, we still sit and stare at Toto!!! I am sooo happy for you both!! Can't wait to hear your first "reports"!!! ;)

I'll get Fred in less than 24 hours! This countdown seems even more important than that of New Year's Eve! :rolleyes:

GET SOME SLEEP!!!!!!!!!

I know I will be up doing my once or twice nightly stroll around the house....(don't ask me why I do this...my mom used to talk about waking up alot and I thought she was crazy!!)......
.....I'll be sure to think about you because I KNOW you will be awake, too!!!!!!!!!

The breeder took pictures of him for me earlier!
This is what I'll be picking up in less than 21 hours! YAYYYY! I'm so freaking excited, I feel like I'm about to wet my pants! :p


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