Feeding Question

[OurLittleLady]

How long should I have food available through the night. I am free feeding Lady (7 weeks) and have her in a pack n play beside my bed with open crate, pee pad and food and water. She did great last night and even though she whined a few times she willingly stayed in her open crate and only came out to pee. During the day I offer her food every couple of hours but just left it available through the night and she didn't eat any until around 6 am. So I'm just wondering how long she would need food available through the night

[OurLittleLady]

Also I just got a pic from the lady we bought her from and food she gave us was not specific puppy food. It was blue buffalo small breed chicken and oatmeal. We bought a different blue buffalo puppy food, I still have the plenty of the other food so should I mix them? She usually only eats like four or five pieces at a time but I know the puppy food is best for her. Anything else I should be feeding her?

[bjh]

As you probably already know your baby was a bit to young to be taken from her mother and siblings but with lots of tender love and care I am sure she will do just fine. Here in Texas it is against the law to sell pups before they are 8 weeks old. You will find a wide range of answers to your question. I have raised yorkies for over 17 years and I have always free fed my yorkies. They always have dry food available and twice a day they get dry food mixed with a little canned food.

As to answering you question, yes, you need to mix the two different foods and change her over slowly. How much does your puppy currently weigh? For my tinier pups I like to grind the dry food in a blender a little, they really like it that way. Also you can soak a little food in warm water for a variety. I would recommend you have food available for her during the night until she is much older. Each dog is different to there is no set rule that would apply to all dogs.

[OurLittleLady]

I know she is young to be taken from her mother. But what's done is done in that regard. I would rather her be with me where I know she is well cared for then end up somewhere that doesn't have the time to care for her. She is about a pound and a half. 1.9 a week ago so I'm sure a bit more now. I have been mixing with water to soften but maybe should grind. Also 7 weeks is the law in Virginia where I am.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by OurLittleLady

I know she is young to be taken from her mother. But what's done is done in that regard. I would rather her be with me where I know she is well cared for then end up somewhere that doesn't have the time to care for her. She is about a pound and a half. 1.9 a week ago so I'm sure a bit more now. I have been mixing with water to soften but maybe should grind. Also 7 weeks is the law in Virginia where I am.

I saw her picture in your other thread. She is precious. I know you will do your best to take care of her. Have you had a small dog before? There is so much involved in caring for them. I wish you the best of luck with her.

[OurLittleLady]

I have had a small dog but it's been years. I've been in baby mode lol but my last baby will be 3 in 2 weeks so I'm ready to take on a new kind of baby. I am a stay at home, homeschooling mom so I'm usually always home my kids have been gone most of the week at camps or grandmas house so we had a few days for lady to adjust without kids and have slowly introduced her as they come home, 3 down 3 to go lol!

[bjh]

You will certainly have your hands full watching a tiny pup with a three year old toddler in the house. How old are your other children? It can get challenging. I hope all goes well.

[kreuer]

When I got Lexi, my son was a little over 3 (he is 3 1/2 now) and it was a little challenging at first, but he loves her and she loves him. I just had to implement some new rules in the house like no running in the living room or jumping onto the couch like he liked to do. His biggest problem was letting her sleep. He would always want to wake her up to play, so he got in trouble with that a few times. I think if you know your children can handle it, you should be fine. Good luck!

[OurLittleLady]

My oldest is 15, 14, 10, 8, 6, 3 my 3 year old is not a typical 3 year old. He is very, very mild mannered. Usually when people comment on how well behaved he is I tell them I paid my dues with the 5 before. We also have a fairly large house and have designated puppy areas. I don't plan to leave her unattended with a 3 year old anyway

[bjh]

Wow, you certainly have your hands full. I think yorkies make wonderful family pets. Do you have other pets in your household? You know yorkies are addictive so be careful.

[OurLittleLady]

Just a little Parrotlet named Tula I have noticed that most yorkie owners have more then one lol! So far we're smitten with this precious little angel!

[Lovetodream88]

Poor baby should still be with his mom. I would leave food out all the time but also make sure he is eating every couple of hours. I also would not leave him alone for more then a hour because he is at high risk to have a hypoglycemic episode. Also make sure you are keeping him warm and not taking him outside or to places where other dogs or wildlife as been. If he was give shots before 8 weeks they are useless so you will need to start his puppy shots at 8 weeks. I would also make sure you have the information of an emergency vet on hand incase anything happens.

[Lovetodream88]

Also I would sign up for pet insurance that covers genetic issues ASAP because sense this wasn't a reputable breeder I'm sure she did not do genetic testing so your pup could end up having genetic illness and they can be very expensive.

[valeriejsmyth]

I got my pup at 7 weeks old and he is doing great. He is 11 weeks old now and I just changed his food because he wasn't really eating it from the breeder which is why he was so small when I got him. He gained eight oz in the first 8 days I had him. I switched him to blue Buffalo freedom for puppies. I use a tablespoon wet and mix 1/4 cup dry food with a little water and put in frig in a sealed container. This is good for the whole day (3 meals). Take a small bit out and warm for 10 sec in microwave to take chill off. I never had to integrate his food because blue is very gentle. Just watch is stools and you will be fine. I like to mix the wet in because when they are teething the dry is too hard to chew. Mine is 11 weeks now and he just lost all the middle teeth upper/lowers and couldn't really chew kibbles. I leave only dry in his cage at night in case he gets hungry. Just top them off in the last meal, an it will be fine, Mine is fed at 430 am, noon, and 6 at night no hypoglycemic episodes. I leave the dry down just so when he starts to eat it - it will be an indication he is ready to change to the dry. Don't allow any nibbling of any kind with his teeth, Make sure he has lots of soft toys and soft nyla bones to chew on. When he starts nibbling give him a toy and hold it. They are jaws until the teething is done. No biting, repeat constantly when they start. Everyone must do this in order for it to work. Good luck and enjoy your baby.

[matese]

Before I had yorkies, I had dwarf parrots, When I got my firsy yorkie at 8 weeks old she was fine with the birds, when she was about 5 months old she would sit under the birds case salivating, lol, I had the birds wings clipped, before the yorkie I would let the bird out when I came home from work, it would sit on top of its cage, or climb off it and walk on the floor. This all had to stop when I got the yorkie, the pup wanted that bird. When the bird passed away there were no more birds for me. Advising to watch your yorkie around your bird.