I Pick Up My Yorkie Boy Saturday!
 

Hi everyone! I'm new here and very excited to say that I am picking up my very first yorkie baby boy on Saturday! He is all that I can think about and (as most new mother probably are) I'm anxious, nervous and praying that I will be the kind of mommy he deserves. I do have one concern and a few questions. I'm getting him at 6 weeks from the breeder. He's already started eating kibbles and she said that she would never send him home if she thought that he weren't ready but from what I've read in many books this is too soon. How old was your yorky when you got him/her? Is 6 weeks too soon? Has anyone taken home a yorkie that young?

Next, I've heard that you can calculate approx. the adult weight by what a yorkie weighs at 8 or 12 weeks. Is this true?

Last, does anyone have advice on what to do when I first bring him home? Any experiences? Thanks in advance!

Well first off welcome to yt. I brought home Peeka and Boo at almost 7 weeks under the cicumstances i had no chioce but they were healthy and were eating dry food. If you will be home with the new puppy all the time i would say you'd stand a better chance but if you won't be there all day and night i would ask the breeder to keep him a few more weeks. They say not to take them untill they are 12 weeks old but every pup is diff. Make sure you have a good vet and some nutrical and karo syrup on hand in case of hypoglocimia. Make sure he is eating really good and also ask your vet for some advice these guys are very fragile at this stage so it is very scary. Also when you pick him up take a balnket to rub the momma's scent on so he has something familiar. also get him a stuufed animal he can cuddle with. Good luck you will get some good advice.

Congratulations!! I brought Cali home at 9 weeks and she needed to be fed every 3-4 hours even at night and she still had hypoglycemic episodes. 6 weeks is very young to let a puppy go. Do you know why she is letting him go at 6 weeks? How much does he weigh? When they are that young and tiny they need a lot of careful watching. I would make sure he is eating good and give him Nutrical. Cali weighed 1 lb at 9 weeks and now at 13 months weighs 4 1/2 lbs. The only advise I have is he will need someone home alot in the beginning. If there is anyway she will keep him a little longer that would be best. Good luck we are here to help you with your baby!!

First, welcome to Yorkietalk and good luck with your new furbaby!

6 weeks would make me nervous. Ginger was 9 wks, and that was young. But, I'm not an expert by any stretch.

Keep us posted whatever you do! I love to watch these little ones grow up!

Welcome to YT!!! Congratulations on your baby, 6 weeks is young but there are alot of YT experts on here that will help you out...I am not one of them cause I didn't get Lexie until she was 16 weeks, but I have heard alot of stories about it...Post pics soon, love to see him!!! We love puppies!:D

Thanks so much everyone! I will take pictures the moment I pick him up! He's about a pound and a half already, so he's a little chubby guy, but both parents are about 4.5 pounds.

IMO...
I think 6 weeks is way too young to be taking a puppy from it's mother and littermates - the time it spends with other puppies is crucial for learning and proper socializing. I don't think a puppy should go to its new home until it is at least 8 weeks old.

If you do decide to take your baby home though, I wish you the best of luck, I know how hard it is to wait! Amber_lv had some really good suggestions.

first of all welcome to yorkietalk! There are many knowledgeable and reputable breeders on this forum who have really helped me and others immensely with their advice. Maybe you should post this question about what age the puppy should leave its mother on the breeders section of this site. I've always heard that yorkies shouldn't leave they're moms and litter mates before 12 weeks not just because of health reasons but also because of appropriate behavior the puppy learns from its mom and siblings. I'm sure some of our breeding experts can elaborate more.

As for estimating adult weight a rough guess is to triple the weight at 8 weeks or double the weight at 12 weeks.

As for advice, I agree with Amber, maybe the breeder can give you a blanket or towel that the mom has slept with to help ease transition. We put a teddy bear and little clock and hot water bottle in Bentley's crate for the first week or so to help ease his anxiety. Just be prepared to give lots of love and allow for plenty time for the puppy to rest in between play time during the day. Also keep Nutristat or Nutrical on hand for hypoglycemia.
Good Luck! :) :aimeeyork

That may be why she's willing to let him go a little earlier, he's a big healthy boy - I'm sure you will have no problems - and if you DO, you have YT now!

Oh, and Welcome to YT!:welcome4:

I thought about this too but, he was one of a litter of 2 but the other puppy didn't make it so he's around all adult dogs now and has no littermates. He can't be kept in the same area as the larger dogs because they could hurt him while playing. My thought were that at least if he's with me, he'll get even more attention.:confused: I'm anxious to get him home, but I want to do what's best for him...I just don't quite know what that is.

I think you'll be fine, he's a good size at 6weeks and I'm sure you'll be fine.
I actually found this article while looking for information on puppy development - it suggests that puppies should NOT stay with the mother past 7 weeks and that the beginning of the 8th week is the ideal time for them to leave.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/animals/Criti...pment.asp#5to7

My new little girl, Baby Ruth, is coming home on monday and she is 1.5lbs right now at 12 weeks - his size probably has a lot to do with the breeder feeling confident in you taking him a little early. He's just had his growth spurt early (or he's got a great appetite!).

Hopefully the breeder will be a good resource for you. I called my breeder for several weeks after we brought Bentley home. I also read several good yorkie books that helped, too. Remember this site is up 24-7 and is filled with good stuff. Have you found a good vet that you're comfortable with yet? You might want to talk with your vet before you bring your baby home since it'll be a weekend and you'll want to know the vet's availability.

welcome to the YT clan!!! I'm very glad you found us, this is a very great place that is just full of great advice and information!!!

I got Lillie at 12 weeks and in my opinion 6 weeks is just way to young, I would be leary that the breeder is allowing this, you may want to get a list of references who have bought from her so you can check them out to make sure no one else has had any problems with there pup.
Good luck and we cant wait to see your pics of your soon to be furbaby!!!!

I hope my breeder will be too, but I have also formed relationships with other breeders who have been very kind and told me to let them know if I have any questions once I bring him home. As soon as I pick him up I'm taking him directly to the vet. Is anyone here in Atlanta? I'm taking him to Ambrey Pet Clinic on Howell Mill Rd, is anyone familiar with the vet there?

You can get an estimate of the adult weight by tripling the 8week weight or doubling the 12 week weight

Welcome to YT. Your pup is definitely young, but based on the circumstances the breeder has described to you and his size, I think it will be better for him to be with you. I hope you are able to be home with him all or most of the day. Definitely keep Nutrical on hand and give it regularly and have a good vet lined up in case of emergency. Everyone here on YT will help with anything we can. Good luck with him and get ready to fall completely and totally in love like you've never imagined!!

I think he'll be fine. I just kind of question whether or not he is actually eating dry kibble yet or if it's moistened! :) If you need help, besides your breeder friends, you have lots of friends to help here, too! Welcome to YT!:D

:p Thanks so much!!!! You guys are the greatest! She did say that she is moistening the dry food with water. She has him on Eukanuba but I've heard great things about Royal Canine and they are soft. I plan on beginning his transition to RC as soon as he gets home. It should take about a week, right?

I wouldn't start changing his food right away. The stress of a new home is enough change for the time being. If he does ok for a few days and there are no problems, then you can start adding a few bites of your new food a little more at a time. Just a gradual transition to the new food. I haven't read all of the replies here, but I'm certain someone has advised you to have Nutracal on hand just in case.

no dont do it... trust me please read my post in regards too getting my first yorkie babie coby he's ok now but my was it hell the first few weeks.. coby had just turn 9 weeks and it was very scary.. i would say that this person doesn't sound like a reputablebreeder if they are letting the baby go at 6 weeks.. i was told 9 week was early enough well 6 this baby still nursing on his mother.. poor thing..i would say no you dont want too have too see your poor baby sick and then your vet bills are not easy on your pockets when they are sick like this.. because they r too young too be away from there mother.. my coby wouldnt eat and he was losing weight it was horrible waking up losing sleep being in the house 24 hrs too watch him not knowing if he was going too have another seizure,, these babie face horrible low blood sugar,, and if that happens its very sad seeing these babie trying too fight i had this happen too my coby and i'll yell you i never in life want too see it again.. with this said it's best too wait it's not worth rushing in too your get another babie if the breeders not willing too wait he should be willing too wait if he a good breeder for the sake of his puppies health.. also alot of people on yt help out and answer qestions and they have , had yorkies some for years,, being new i would wait,, i love my coby but plenty times i was so scared of losing him i thought waiting it out would have been better,, but now he;s ok it was all worth it but yes very stressful if you work and no ones home with him dont get him please.. i'm and at home mother so coby
had me 24 hrs a day thank god

but i wish you the best i dont mean too come off like this but
i just wanna try to prevent or make people a ware of what could happen but doesn't
mean it will happen too everyone.. but lots of yts told me no too wait.. but in my case i had no choice because where i bought coby from i would lose my money..
but in the future i know what a real reputable breeder is and that's a person that really loves there animals.. and wont rush them off because they want them as healthy as possible : ) best wishes