update Bella and spay?
 

Remember Bella? Our little rescue puppy?

I did find out a bit more info on her - all of it rather sad ... She was likely raised in a puppy mill with a very shady breeder- her mom apparently lived in a crate :mad: She was sold to an elderly lady at only 8 weeks of age who was not able to care for her properly (she is now house and bed bound).

Bella is an amazing little lady- especially considering her past. Despite being neglected for the fort 3 months of her life she is very sweet and social. She loves absolutely everyone including kids, dogs, old, young... She is very submissive but gets used to new situations rather quickly. She is the only dog I know who enjoys being carried by small children and walk up to my 6 year old to be lifted up and then just flops in her lab ... She fetches like a champ and plays all day long but always interrupted by naps on a warm lab. She is really quite perfect: happy go lucky and super easy going. Potty training is hard for her but we will get there - there is slow progress ... After 3 months of living in filth this puppy had to start from scratch.
She has been adopted by my other 3 dogs ( one girl, two boys) and sleeps in a big dog "pile" - everyone all snuggled up - I often find her in between my two older dogs who don't seem to mind at all. She is now fully vaccinated and the only thing we still have to get through is a spay operation. According to the vet Bella is healthy with good joints and no concerns whatsoever!


Bella is now 5 month old and I am guessing around 4 lb - It is Christmas season so we did not want to schedule surgery ( due to the many days the vets are closed - we prefer to do surgeries on Mondays with a few open business days in case there are complications) ... can we wait another month? We really don't want her to come into heat. So far we have noticed to behavior that would indicate the onset of hormone yet but we don't want to miss the boat. When do Yorkies usually get their first heat?

On a funny note ... I got stopped at the dog park by another yorkie owners and she asked me what breeder I got Bella from ... because her confirmation and fur just seemed so " perfect" -and she wanted my information in case i decided to breed my little baby - oh boy! Mill dogs can be pretty but NO Bella will not be having puppies with your dog- unbelievable ... I love my Bella with all my heart but I know there will be a new rescue waiting for me when my dogs pass and I will love them just as much - purebred or not - with or without perfect conformation or fur structure ;-)

Here are Pixie and Bella - Pixie is 5 years old and we have no idea what she is - best guess is some kind of Maltese mix - she is a mill dog too - and she is taking her big sister roll serious !

Bella's update
 

Hi,
Thank you for writing the update on your Bella. It was a great story and I am glad she has a happy life with you and you are so fortunate to have all the great characteristics you speak about in Bella. I would love to have those same ones in my Joey. I think it is great how all your other dogs have taken to her and the picture of the one with her is sweet. I had a Yorkie once who was a big sister to a new toy poodle I got and took her job seriously too. She would watch me wash Lacey in the sink on her hind legs and when I dryed her off she would watch and sniff to make sure she was ok. She even showed her how to potty outside. Quite a feat considering before I got Lacey she would not be trained to go outside. But when I told Tia she was getting a new sister and she would have to potty train her she must have understood because she did just that. LOL

Bella is a little sweetie. What a sad start to a very precious baby, I love the big sister photo, I am so glad that Bella has adjusted so nicely and is in a loving forever home. My now passed two females were spayed before they reached 6 months old, maybe 5.5 months old or 5 mos and 3 weeks old. They can come into heat between 5 and 6 months old, IDK maybe the tiny ones come earlier or later, as adults my two spayed girls one weighed 9 pounds the other was 17pounds, I don't remember what they weighed when they were spayed. Hope someone with a tiny spayed will weigh in and offer up some opinions..... Merry Christmas