Hello and looking for advice
 

Hello everyone. I am hoping that some of you knowledgeable lot may be able to give me some advice and suggestions about a little yorkie I have just re-homed.


I have never had a yorkie and stumbled across this forum whilst looking for some information about the breed.


A little background info - two weeks ago I was asked if I wanted a yorkie. I didn't but made the mistake of looking into the car where she was being kept. I have never seen such a dejected looking animal ever. She was clean and not matted but she was utterly withdrawn and appeared to have just given up on life.


Now one thing I know is that you should never take on a dog out of pity, right?! But I couldn't help myself. I have a little terrier already and said that I would take the dog on trial for a week to see if she could get on with my dog.


I was told that the reason that she was so miserable was because she was in season and the first week she was really unhappy. I concentrated on providing her with a calm secure environment without overwhelming her with too much attention or stimulation. When she showed a little interest, I gave her a gentle fuss but otherwise I left her to adjust to her surroundings.


My little terrier was great with her. She is only a year older and wanted to mother her. By the end of the first week both dogs were sleeping entwined in their beds.


I have now had her for 2 weeks and I think she will not be going anywhere. She is coming to the end of her season (just finished the third week) and is a lot more alert and happy.


The saddest thing about this little mite is that she has already had a litter of puppies from her first season at 6 months. I don't know how many she had but she was still living with some of them and other dogs as well.


I will be getting her spayed as soon as she is a little stronger and fitter. She is a scrawny thing and does not have much muscle tone. Although she is a 'pedigree' she does not look particularly well bred to me and I would be highly surprised if she had any papers or her parents were health tested.


I would be very grateful if anyone could give me some advice on the physical and mental consequences on having pups so early, so that I know some potential issues to be alert to.


I am trying to provide her with good quality food and am building up her exercise so that with the lots of sleep she is having, her body can hopefully build up strength but any other suggestions would be helpful.


Many thanks for reading and any advice would be welcome. Sorry for lack of photos!

God Bless You for saving that dog!

Welcome to YT! Glad you found us.
I don't know much about breeding, but there are many here who do so stay around.

Welcome to Yt, and bless you for saving that lil girl. Such a pity anyone would allow a 6 month old baby to have pups. I have no advise for you, but others will be along soon that perhaps may be able give you some insight.

Well done for taking her in. Ithink you have saved her just in the nick of time, and that you are doing all the right things. As with some of my rescues all they need is time. Time with love, companionship, exercise and good food will work wonders. You have found another lifelong friend...be happy :love:

Good morning and welcome! :)

Again - no advice, but bless you for taking in this little one, Harry and I wish you all many, many happy years together :)

Hi and welcome to YT, this is a great site to learn about yorkies. Bless you for taking in this little sweetie and changing her life! What have you named her?

You seem to be doing a lot of the right things for her. I would take her into the vet soonest, and get a full blood panel done on her and a thorough physical examination. Also look into getting pet insurance, there could likely be health issues appearing down the road. And make sure to tell the vet she was bred at six months old. Do you have her prior medical history? You want to know if she had any difficulties during labour, or with nursing. You also want a complete record of her shots.


Gals can be moody during heat, each gal can respond differently, but usually will have some emotional swings over their 21 days. Often times they can be quite affectionate and needy the first week, then switch to more aloof and snappy.


Just remember to protect her from mating. THat means she is never left un-attended by you. If you have no intact males in the house that is great. If you take her to the vet while she is in heat, take her in in a carrier (for her safety and yours).

Many thanks for all your replies and the lovely welcome. Gemy. thank you for the advice and suggestions. I know nothing about her history other than when she had a litter and I suspect that there will only be minimal medical history. I think she was just used to make money and her health/care came second.


I don't think she was badly treated as such - I think the owners were more feckless than malicious, but certainly in my view, it was cruel to breed from her, even if it may have been by accident.


I have registered with a vet and have an appointment booked for later in the week. I have been VERY careful with her in season. Late night walks away from others and of course no off the lead play.


She is improving and blossoming daily. I have not let her or my other terrier onto the sofas or beds. I am sure I will in the future but I thought it was kinder to her to give her some boundaries and rules so that she could feel a sense of security instead of her feeling she had any sort of responsibility for her new 'pack' and home. I don't have crates but they do have beds which they swop and share.


I am astonished by how much she sleeps. I am hoping it is restorative for her. I am also astonished and saddened by how un puppy like she is. My 2 year old is a typical terrier - always on the go, being 'busy' and wanting to look into everything. I am hoping that as her season ends and she feels more secure, she will become more playful because she seems more like a little old girl than a youngster. I am staying with a friend who has a huge secure garden and she is still happier curled up on the rug near me, than exploring.


I am further astonished by how delightful I am finding her! Quite unexpected! I felt sorry for her and wanted a pal for my terrier, I did not expect to be so fond of her, so quickly - she really is a joy.


I am learning about her needs with grooming. I think she has a cottony coat. It is not very silky and is quite fine. I understand that she will not have an undercoat and I may need to buy her a coat for the winter. Does anyone not have coats for their Yorkers? My dogs have always been tough little mutts, able to spend all day running around in the woods and streams.
I guess I will have to just watch and see how she gets on and watch for any sign of shivering or cold.


Instils - I have named her Mizo.

I wanted to add, 2 of my past babies were unplanned, but I got them out of pity, one was very shy, would not come to me, I told my self no one will be interested in this puppy, they always say get the bouncy pup, not the shy quiet one, I had to have her. The 2nd out of pity was 6 years later, she was huge at 8 weeks old, I mean HUGE, but so beautiful, I say to myself, no one is going to take this migilla gorilla, everyone wants small yorkies, so home she came with me. My shy lil girl was awesome, a happy bouncy lil baby, I already had 2 others and she was the baby and my favorite one, she had the spirit of a lion, and such a lil clown. My gorilla girl as an adult weighed in at 17 lbs as an adult, Beautiful body, beautiful girl, this Oct.1st will be a year I had to put her down at age 17 y/o. My adopted boy was also not planned and not wanted, because I was still grieving over my girl she was put down 6 weeks before Cody came into my life. I had no intention of getting another dog EVER, I went to see him to get my vet off my back, my vet insisted I come to "just see the dog" when I saw him, he was so sweet looking, just a baby (2 1/2 y/o) how can anyone throw this baby away, he HAD to come home with me. I thank GOD and my vet everyday that he has entered my life. I have found they babies I had taken "out of pity" I loved the most. You saved a life, she will always be special to you.

Thank you Mates, I think you may be right. Sometimes things are just meant to be, even when logic says they shouldn't. Both dogs I have now just presented themselves to me and I am so glad that they did. I wouldn't have chosen either of them, but I realise that perhaps I don't always know what is best!

Whoops. Sorry I mis spelled your name matese. I can't find out how to disable auto correct!