Your best piece of advice?!
 

A little bit of history:

I just joined this site yesterday and after reading thru tons of threads and posts I feel like I don't really know all that much! I've had Sebi since he was a tiny baby..can't rem exactly but, I think he was around 7wks old. I had never had a yorkie before nor did I know a single thing about them besides the fact that they were small and adorable..I didn't know it was considered a bad thing to get them from a pet store and I didn't know what to look for in a breeder. A few months before Christmas last year I started looking for one (it was going to be my Christmas gift from my BF) I found tons of sites where puppies were between 2,500 - 5,000 that seemed ridiculous to me! So after searching for a while I found a site where breeders were listing their puppies and I found one in my area of Florida..we emailed back and forth for a couple days and decided to go see them (they had a liter of 5). The lady was very nice and she invited us into her home where we met mommy (5lbs) and daddy (4lbs) ..I picked out my puppy and my BF told them he'd be in contact. So Voila that's how I ended up with the love of my life! I have cared for him and given him unconditional love since day 1.

Now, I wanted to get some input from you all as far as...What I should know. Any random bits of advice would be awesome! I also have a few questions:

I have not changed his food since I got him...should I? He eats bil-jac small breed puppy. Should I occasionally give him soft food?

How often should I take him to the groomer?
Are there names for certain types of hair cuts?

He is CKC registered...is that accreditable?

Should I get him microchipped or will it hurt him since he's so small (3lbs)? I was told this by his breeder.

Umm that's all I can think of at the moment...I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I post this! Thanks ya'll!

How old is he now? Almost a year?

I think that if he likes his food and eats it fine, then why change it? I think after he turns a year old or a little older, you might switch to dog food instead of puppy food though.

If it's not the Canadian Kennel Club, it's my understanding that CKC really doesn't mean much. (Mine is CKC, too). I think just about anybody can register their dogs on paper with the CKC (the one that's not the Canadian Kennel Club).

I'm not sure about grooming - Mandie hasn't needed it yet

Definitely get him microchipped! Is he neutered? If not, you can get him chipped while he's getting neutered (if you plan on neutering)

Yes, definitely get him chipped. It's only a little pinch and will not cause too much pain. Think of it like getting your ears pierced with a piercing needle.

I second the neutering. Get it done all at once and he'll be fine. :)

For Zeus, he gets groomed once every 6-8 weeks, depending on the weather. 8 weeks in the winter and 6 in the summer.

Congrats on your baby, btw! Know you've had him for a while, but he'll always be your baby :)

CKC is kind of a fake registry. They will "register" anything as long as they get the money. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are able to bilk tons of money out of people who do not know anything about purebred dogs or registries. They also will scam a breeder out of a dog that is supposed to be a pet and then use it for breeding under the fake registry. The breeding of Yorkies and other toy breed dogs has become a huge scam business that is making some really nasty people some big money.

As for grooming....it's pretty much up to you what you want your dog to look like. Decide how much time you want to put into grooming. Long haired dogs need at least one good grooming a day. If it is done everyday on a consistent basis it should not take an awful long time. Use a good all natural shampoo and conditioner weekly or bi-weekly and you should have a nice smelling, nice looking dog. Some people prefer to keep their dog's fur short but they should still be combed consistently in order to keep the dog trained to accept grooming without a fight.

You might want to check out any groomer you decide you might want to take your dog to. There have been a lot of horror stories about grooming issues. Anyone can be a "groomer". It does not require a license or training so you want to be really careful to find a good, safe, experienced dog groomer. Many of them only know how to bathe and shave a dog. There have also been some injuries of dogs at these shops. Don't leave your dog alone there until you have been allowed to observe how they are treated a couple of times. The place like Pet Smart and PetCo train their own groomers. I would not consider leaving my dog in a chain store. Many people on YT groom their own dogs.

Your puppy should be on puppy food until it is a year old. I didn't notice how old yours is right now. If he is doing well on the food then probably you should keep him on what he is eating now. You might also want to consider reading more about pet foods. That is another unregulated area concerning pets.

There is a lot of information here on YT in the "sticky" areas and the library. There are a multitude of opinions on most subjects but I think most agree that these are darling little dogs that are different from other breeds in their own way. Training can be difficult at times but that is the terrier in them and their terrier attitude is one of the most endearing things about them. It can be challenging at times though.:rolleyes:

CKC is kind of a fake registry. They will "register" anything as long as they get the money. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are able to bilk tons of money out of people who do not know anything about purebred dogs or registries. They also will scam a breeder out of a dog that is supposed to be a pet and then use it for breeding under the fake registry. The breeding of Yorkies and other toy breed dogs has become a huge scam business that is making some really nasty people some big money.

WOW that's not good! I was looking at my CKC paper and it's says purebred and it also has mom and dads name on it? Does that count for anything? This is a subject that I'm pretty clueless about...I guess if you aren't planning on breeding your dog then it wouldn't matter whether they were CKC or AKC?

As for grooming....it's pretty much up to you what you want your dog to look like. Decide how much time you want to put into grooming. Long haired dogs need at least one good grooming a day. If it is done everyday on a consistent basis it should not take an awful long time. Use a good all natural shampoo and conditioner weekly or bi-weekly and you should have a nice smelling, nice looking dog. Some people prefer to keep their dog's fur short but they should still be combed consistently in order to keep the dog trained to accept grooming without a fight.

Sebi does not like being groomed at all! He will fight with you and not give up until you leave him alone so it's hard for me to get his legs and neck...hes gotten a little matted so I think I'll take him to a groomer and get him a short cut. I'll have to make sure they understand what I mean when I say short cut though! The last time they ended up making him almost bald everywhere except his face!

You might want to check out any groomer you decide you might want to take your dog to. There have been a lot of horror stories about grooming issues. Anyone can be a "groomer". It does not require a license or training so you want to be really careful to find a good, safe, experienced dog groomer. Many of them only know how to bathe and shave a dog. There have also been some injuries of dogs at these shops. Don't leave your dog alone there until you have been allowed to observe how they are treated a couple of times. The place like Pet Smart and PetCo train their own groomers. I would not consider leaving my dog in a chain store. Many people on YT groom their own dogs.

Oh yea I've heard stories! The breeder I got him from asked me to never take him to a groomer..but, I'm not about to try and do it all myself I wouldn't want to hurt him! He won't be going back to the last place though so I'm currently searching for a new one!

Your puppy should be on puppy food until it is a year old. I didn't notice how old yours is right now. If he is doing well on the food then probably you should keep him on what he is eating now. You might also want to consider reading more about pet foods. That is another unregulated area concerning pets.


There is a lot of information here on YT in the "sticky" areas and the library. There are a multitude of opinions on most subjects but I think most agree that these are darling little dogs that are different from other breeds in their own way. Training can be difficult at times but that is the terrier in them and their terrier attitude is one of the most endearing things about them. It can be challenging at times though.:rolleyes:

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions :)

When you first started taking him to the groomer did you ask if you could watch? I would really like to be able to see exactly what they are doing to him but, most places just have like a front desk then they take them into the back.

And yes he'll always be my baby :) no matter how old he gets! He has my heart!

The breeder sounds odd to me...they told you never to get him microchipped or to take him to a groomer? I can't fathom why they would tell you that. That seems like really bad advice to me. But you've found us now! :)

No he is not neutered yet..So I think I will do those both together! Thanks for the advice!!

I was actually lucky with my groomer! I knew them prior to having Zeus through friends who've been going to her for many, many years. But you can ask, definitely. And use your gut. If you're uncomfortable and they won't help reassure you, go to someone else. Don't worry about hurting feelings - this is your baby you have to think about! :)

The breeder was actually super nice..we stayed there for hours getting to know her and her husband..they seemed to care a great deal about their animals. She did say not to use a groomer because she had heard way too many negative things and she didn't think I should take the chance...She showed me all of her grooming supplies and told me where I could get them.. I totally understand her intention but, I can barely style my own hair lol I wasn't about to do his! And as far as micrchipping.. I'm thinking she might have said not too because he was so tiny at that time..Surely a year later he's fine to have it done!

My Luci is tiny. She is almost 5 yrs old. When I took her in as re-home this past May she weighed 2 punds 14 oz and I had her Micro chipped when I had her spay done.

Oh my goodness..She is just too precious! If she can do it Sebi can do it :)

Okay my overall best of the best advice, is give your dog lots of love, tempered with consistent discipline, well structured and an interesting play and exercise life, add in some formal obedience training and you will have a perfect companion for life! Never SPOIL your dog. Feeding them so much they get fat, accepting bad behaviour (and this usually starts early and we call it "cute" puppy antics) then and bad behaviour later!

I tell my owners your dog is going to be a part of your life for 10/15 or more years. It is up to you to create a great relationship with them. It is so easy to take your dog everywhere if they are well behaved social creatures. I highly recommend crate training both cause it is safer to travel in the car with one, and for those times you might need to board or have your dog stay overnight at the vets. Xpens at home are fine, but they are not crates!

And I say from experience the more you put into to this relationship the more you will "get out of it".

Finally as a slogan....get Active with your dog... you and he will both be healthier for it :-)

I tell you the one most important thing I learned from experience. Do NOT feed your dog from the table. No processed foods - high fat foods. I've spent almost $20k in vet bills over 9 years for treatment of chronic pancreatitis because I was not making him eat his food like he should have been doing. He is 16 now and still chugging along, but I am better advised now.

Thank you!! I have been crate training him for the past few months..When we first got him I set up a little room in the house for him (huge extra walk in closet) and I put a baby gate up with his bed on one side and pee pad on the other..This did NOT work! He tore up my carpet, ripped the pee pad to shreds, and went potty all over. Since I have switched to the crate it's been great! He knows the min he comes out that it's time to go out and potty :) he has an accident every now and then but, we're working on it! A question for you...You said not to feed him so much he gets fat.. What is considered too much?

Great advice! I never knew they could be affected so much by "people food" ...I do give him a little taste once in a while :/ that ends this min. Thank you!

It kind of sounds like maybe your dog was not handled a lot when he was very young puppy since he is fighting you so much about grooming. Don't give up on the training though. Sit him on your lap and lightly comb him. You can't let him get matted between groomings. Try to make it a short grooming session. A spray conditioner may help get any mats out and help stop tangling.

Puppies like to stay active and terriers tend to be a bit fussy about being held still for very long when they are young but if you are persistent and consistent he will eventually get accustomed to it. A small treat at the end of the session will help make him more accepting.

As for your registration; since he is only a pet you can enjoy him anyway but be aware that people who use that "registry" are not honest and are using less than sound stock. It's best to find reputable breeders rather than reward people who degrade the breed with poor breeding practices.

It sounds like your breeder breeds to supplement her income. While she was super nice, I think most if not all of these types of breeders will be super nice bc they are trying to get you to buy one of their dogs. It's important to support the right kind of breeders, those who breed to improve the breed, not do the opposite. This is how so many of us come to have off standard yorkies, with luxating patellas (very common in yorkies, where the knee caps float around, and could result in lameness and/or surgery), health problems, dental problems (too short of muzzle, not enough room for teeth) etc. Also may be why this breeder let you take your baby home at 7 weeks. A lot of socialization is learned at this age up to 12 weeks.

However, since you have already owned him for almost a year, all the above does not really matter now. Just thought I would let you know, in case in the future you may want to add another.

As for advice, I strongly agree with the no table food, as in processed, high fat foods. They can get pancreatitis, which can be difficult to control and expensive to maintain. My Uni got pancreatitis from regular dog food. You just have to see what works and what doesn't. I know now she can't have lamb. Bil-Jac isn't that great of a food. There are a lot of grain free, corn free, organic, holistic, etc foods out there that are not very expensive that you may want to look into. Read the labels and avoid anything that has corn meal, by products, or vague names such as animal fat, what animal is it?

I would def get him neutered also. I'm guessing he's about a year old now, so I think it's time for his dental also, and to take out any retained baby teeth. Do all that while he's under, along with the microchip, and get his nails done all at once. make sure the vet explains how the chip works. You have to buy the chip from the vet, but still have to pay another fee to get it registered to you. We've been discussing chips recently and a lot of us were still pretty confused on how they work. Also neutering is not only the responsible thing to do, but also eliminates the risk of certain cancers.

Sorry for rambling. Hope some of it helped.

Oh, is he on any flea or heartworm preventative?

Forgot to say that healthy people food can be great treats and many of us give them. Such as tomato, melons, cucumbers, many types of fruits. But do not give onion, grapes, or raisins. Do not give any food that have been cooked with onion, such as giving a carrot that was in a soup that also had onion.

[QUOTE=capt_noonie;4057040]It sounds like your breeder breeds to supplement her income. While she was super nice, I think most if not all of these types of breeders will be super nice bc they are trying to get you to buy one of their dogs. It's important to support the right kind of breeders, those who breed to improve the breed, not do the opposite. This is how so many of us come to have off standard yorkies, with luxating patellas (very common in yorkies, where the knee caps float around, and could result in lameness and/or surgery), health problems, dental problems (too short of muzzle, not enough room for teeth) etc. Also may be why this breeder let you take your baby home at 7 weeks. A lot of socialization is learned at this age up to 12 weeks.

Thank you for this...when we first started to look for a yorkie I had no idea about good vs. bad breeders, potential health probs, etc...I know now that it takes much more research than simply going out to the first person you find and purchasing a dog.

However, since you have already owned him for almost a year, all the above does not really matter now. Just thought I would let you know, in case in the future you may want to add another.

Sebi is my one and only for now but, I've been considering getting one for my mom since we have all moved out and she's alone most of the time.

As for advice, I strongly agree with the no table food, as in processed, high fat foods. They can get pancreatitis, which can be difficult to control and expensive to maintain. My Uni got pancreatitis from regular dog food. You just have to see what works and what doesn't. I know now she can't have lamb. Bil-Jac isn't that great of a food. There are a lot of grain free, corn free, organic, holistic, etc foods out there that are not very expensive that you may want to look into. Read the labels and avoid anything that has corn meal, by products, or vague names such as animal fat, what animal is it?

Would you mind recommending a few brands? Bil-Jac is what the breeder had been giving them and she said that's what she feeds all her dogs so I just went with it. I assumed she knew her stuff (and I sure didn't) so I trusted her.

I would def get him neutered also. I'm guessing he's about a year old now, so I think it's time for his dental also, and to take out any retained baby teeth. Do all that while he's under, along with the microchip, and get his nails done all at once. make sure the vet explains how the chip works. You have to buy the chip from the vet, but still have to pay another fee to get it registered to you. We've been discussing chips recently and a lot of us were still pretty confused on how they work. Also neutering is not only the responsible thing to do, but also eliminates the risk of certain cancers.

Yes he is almost one..Dec 24th is his birthday. I plan to get him neutered within the next few months and he also has 2 teeth that will be taken out at that time. Sebi just had surg last week for a dislocated hip and the ER vet suggested I do these things at the same time as the FHO but, the specialist I took him to did not recommend I do that.

Sorry for rambling. Hope some of it helped.

I love rambling lol ..I appreciate you so much for taking time to help me out!!

Oh, is he on any flea or heartworm preventative?

Yes he is on heartgard and frontline...and he is up to date on all of his vaccinations. I'm doing my best :)

[quote=Sebi_143;4057363]If you are interested, check out this site on what they have to say about Bil Jac. While not the worst food out there, there are def better ones. And not too much more, and why not? Our yorkies deserve the best! :) Bil-Jac Dog Food | Review and Rating Poke around the site and see what you can learn about food, but take it with a grain of salt. This is just one site's opinion on food. However, I think most would agree that any food with any type of by products in it is not good. Corn is really debatable but I give a grain free diet. Just something to look into. Blue Buffalo, Innova, Acana, Fromm are all pretty popular around YT.

May I ask how did he dislocate his hip? Was it an accident with a jump or fall or something? I've been told by vets not to have too many procedures at one time, to not keep them under for too long.

Going to "the dog food advisor" will at least give you information in order to make a more accurate assessment of what you are feeding. "By products" is code for things that would ordinarily end up on the floor of the slaughter house. Since it comes from the body it is still called "beef", "lamb" etc.
Many people are taking their dogs off of foods that contain large amounts of grain. If you look at the ingredient list on the back of most kibble it will have some ingredients that most people cannot even identify as well as many synthetic vitamins. Why all the vitamins? Well, if you look into it you will find out. Buying the best food you can afford will help keep your dog healthy and help avoid expensive vet bills later in life.

Pet food production in this country is unregulated although they like to call it "self regulated." Labeling is also questionable since they do not have to put all the ingredients on the label. A few years back a big manufacturer of pet food was importing "fillers" from China that were killing pets.

Just be cautious. Sometimes the smaller companies have better quality than the bigger ones. Everyone has their own opinion about pet food so I will not recommend one unless asked. I do think with the proper information more and more pet owners will be able to make more educated choices for their animals.

[quote=capt_noonie;4057644]I started a thread about it a few days ago....I still feel a bit ashamed to tell people the story since it could have been prevented had I been watching. My daughter had a sleepover for her birthday and had several little girls over...they were all playing and running around the house and of course Sebi wants to be with sissy everywhere she goes. They thought it'd be fun to all pile up on her twin bed and one of the girls fell off and landed on him :cry8: he's so small he didn't stand a chance...I just thank god it wasn't worse.

Oh poor guy. Well at least you did the right thing by getting him surgery he needed. There's been times we've seen something like this and the person just comes on here to ask for free advice of what to do to help with pain, instead of taking the dog to the vet.

feed no treats that are from china, chester got his chip when he was neutered and no hot dogs or ham or anything high in fat, they can get pancreatitis