Newbie!
 

Hi Everyone ~

I would like to introduce myself and Dixie. I have been lurking here for months, reading all the posts and learning so much from you all. Dixie is a 3 year old retired breeder that I adopted last Thursday. She is a solid 6lbs, but tiny. She is very shy with humans, though outgoing with my other dog. Even though she's so shy, cowers and tries not to get picked up, once I do have her in my arms she leans into me and looks at me with the sweetest eyes ever! Then she relaxes and falls asleep....SHE SNORES! and makes these little grunting noises like a newborn skin baby. I am totally in love! :luvu: She is used to a doggy door and I don't have one so how do I get her to let me know when she has to go potty? I've been taking her out every 2-3 hours and she's only had one accident so far. They shaved her coat (for convenience I guess). How long will it take to grow back a full coat? Can anyone give me any tips on growing a strong healthy coat quickly? lol I think she has a silk coat, but I'm not totally sure. The hair on her legs is a little longer and isn't matting at all and she is smooth to the touch and shiny. I hope she does have a silk coat because I want to keep her coat long. Who here has adopted a young adult? I would love to know what you did to make his/her transition as smooth as possible. I will try to attach the pictures I received of her. I haven't been able to take my own yet because my camera is on it's last legs. Thanks for letting me introduce ourselves.

Kim

You may could try hanging bells from the doorknob and taking her to the door for a time and holding her paws and ringing the bells with her, while you are asking if she wants to go potty. She might catch onto that. It's worth a try. That's what works at my house. Since she is three, I don't know if it will work for her. I do think it is worth a try.

Give her a multi-vitamin everyday, such as Pet-Tabs, which are available at pet supply stores. That way you will know that she is getting all of the vitamins and minerals she needs to be healthy, which will help her coat to be healthy, too.

There really is no way to make the coat grow faster. It will take several months probably, if not longer. That depends on how short it is now. You will just have to be patient and love her the way she is for awhile. It will grow, but not overnight. :)

I believe there is a video on this site, so you can see how the doorbell works:

http://poochie-pets.net/

I have a 6lb yorkie that is a small one also. I give my dogs missing link you sprinkle it on their food and its good for the coat and skin. It takes about 3 or 4 months for the coat to grow ut after a groom. Good luck I am letting my femaales hair grow out to. It will be worth the wait when it gets long.

Welcome to YT, I can't wait to see pics!

Welcome!!!! Eight years ago we adopted a five year old retired breeder. He was very nervous at first, but made the transition. Needless to say we spoiled him and that helped alot!!!!!! Keep us posted on how things are going!!!! :)

Thank you all for your welcomes and advice. I haven't been able to get on here too much lately because of all the preparation and shopping for the holidays plus getting Dixie acclimated to our household. She is starting to really come around and is getting very playful already. She loves to play ball outside. We're working on the potty training, she is doing very well. I am being consistant with her. She now seeks me out and follows me when I am not holding her. I am so glad that she is blossoming! The one thing that bothers me is that I think that she was debarked. She barked for the first time on Saturday and it sounded hoarse and whispery. I'm wondering if that's why she grunts and snorts the way she does. Would a vet be able to tell?

Here are some pictures of her.

Yes, a vet could tell you if she had been debarked. However, I can almost guarantee you that she has been from your description of the way she sounds. Otherwise, you would hear a normal bark.

By the way, she's a doll! :p

She looks like a doll! Bless you for adopting her! She looks a lot smaller than 6 pounds but could just be stocky. Another Kim! We've got lots here so WELCOME!

Welcome to you and Dixie ~ she is so sweet. Her personality sounds adorable.

You've been given great advise here and I'm glad you "stopped lurking" can "came on in". Glad to have you here!

Welcome to you and Dixie. I got Bonnie when she was 2 1/2, she had 1 litter and wasn't a good Mommy, so her breeder sold her to me. She was also doggy door trained and we do not have one...but I can tell if she needs to go out, because she will go to the door. She also uses a pee pad during the day when we are gone, but when we are home she goes outside.

She was also very skittish...in fact you could have been describing my Bonnie in your post. She will run from anyone that tries to pick her up. I have found that if we hold our hands out palm up and tell her to sit, she will then let you pick her up. Maybe this will work for Dixie also.