New Pup need help!
 

Hi Everyone!
I am new to this forum and could use some advice from all you experienced Yorkie owners out there! We are the new parents of a 7 week old male Yorkie. We have named him Baxter. We have had him for 2 nights now. The first night was pretty good. I got him a small crate for the second night. I put him in it when we went to bed. I knew he would whine a lot, so that wasn't a surprise. We got up and let him go potty a couple of times during the night, but he still made messes in his crate. I had to give him a bath in the morning. I need to add that he came from a private breeder and not a pet store, so he is not used to sleeping in the same cage as his bathroom. I have blocked off part of my bathroom for him to be in during the day while we are working and put down pads for him to use. My question is, should I continue to crate him at night or just put him in the bathroom with the crate door open. There is really nothing that he can damage in there. I want him to feel comfortable when I do need to crate him, but he seems really traumatized this morning. Also, what should I line the crate with. I don't want to use the puppy pads because I only want him to use those for elimination and I am afraid it would mix him up. I can't use a towel, because his little claws get caught in the loops. what did you all do? I don't have a problem with him sleeping with us, but he is so little I am afraid we will hurt him at this point. I could use some tried and true advice. I had a Yorkie several years ago and made the mistake of not training him properly and he was a nightmare! I want to make sure I do it right this time. I want a well behaved dog! Thanks for any advice,
Pat

i think you have a good idea about putting him in the bathroom with the craate open maybe give him a toy shaped like a bigger dog to cuddle next to also thats what i do with mine bit they are in the kitchen it closed off with baby gates and i take him out during the day! good luck and congrats with the new baby!

Hi there and welcome to YT. I have used the bathroom (downstairs) as Sissy's room since she came to live with us. She has a crate in their with the door always opens. When you go to the pet stores, they have many different types fo "furry" flat things that are perfect to line a crate with. Sissy also has a little bed in the bathroom, too - so I don't think she really goes in the crate other than to get toys and sometimes play. Her food and water and down there also. When she first came, I would put some puppy pads down also, just in case she needed to potty more often than I let her out. She quickly stopped pottying in her room since she uses the whole space. She rarely minded being in there, as opposed to locked up in her crate.

Do whatever works best for you and your little Baxter. Congratulations!

Hi He was way to young to leave his birth mom and family. Now you have him and I am sure you will do fine but he will need extra care. He is too young to lock in a crate for the night. Put him in a safe place ie bathroom xpen, with wee wee pad, food water and make sure the crate door is open. At that age he is high risk for hypoglycemia so make sure he is eating and don't leave him without food. Teething is usually a hard time for them and at more risk for problems so be sure you keep a close eye on him.

Mine go into bed with me from the time I bring them home. I'm a light sleeper and usually try to keep them up by my head. I have only once heard of a "sleeping with owner accident". The post didn't give a lot of details, and I'm pretty sure the dog was an adult. Anyway, the poster woke to find the dog underneath the covers at the bottom of the bed in the morning and he had passed away in the night.

I also raise parrotlets so I am usually up several times during the night feeding the babies and can take the puppy potty at that time.

I don't see any harm in leaving the cage open, but it may or may not solve the problem.

Like one poster mentioned, he is very young so make sure you are feeding (and he is eating) at least 4 times a day and giving Nutrical or Nutristat.