Lessons Learned the Hard WAy...
 

We need a "New Puppy Owners" catagory and list the most common causes of accidental deaths. Mocha, Matty and Molly all lost their lifes to accidents that have happened to my Yorkies...but I was so lucky to have reacted, found or seen it before they were injured or died.
Perhaps we can each add a potential danger we have encountered raising our babies.

Be so careful of leaving collars ot harnesses on a penned pet. In fact I do not allow mine to wear a collar or harness in the house. I found one hanging from a collar many years ago and found her just in time.

Put pad locks on your gates..In the past I have had persons open my gate and all my Yorkies went flying in 10 different directions. I got a lock and hung the key on a peg next to the gate inside..Yes, it is a pain..but I no longer had any unwanted guests open my gates.

Never allow a Yorkie near a front door that leads to the street..I do not care if they have never run out. My 3rd Yorkie, Candy never left house, hated it outside..one day she bolted out the front door and ran across the street, a car came within inches of hitting her. I put up gates at the family room and a portable gate across the entry..a pain in the neck...I climbed across gates for 25 years, fell across them a few times, but no one ever ran out again.
You have to remember I raise pups and someone is always looking for an escape route.

Please add anything you think helpful...I am just so sad today for everyone.

And purses! Keep them off of the floor. The little rascals can get into all kinds of trouble chewing what they find in your purse.

Routinely go through toys and chews...I go through Maximus' s toys once a week...and he is not allowed to have an edible nylabone other then when I am looking...when I have to leave or it is bedtime they are put away...he is ONLY allowed to chew them on my lap or on top of the couch that way I know WHERE it is and he can't hide it on me and find it later if it is chewed down (possibel choking). The crumbs can be easily dirt deviled up. Also don't leave things they can reach to close to the counter where they can climb up and get them and never leave plastic bags around..they can suffocate (I know someone who this happened too). Also read up and know what foods are TOXIC for your dog...ignorance is NO excuse and it only takes a few minutes and it is our responsibility if we are going to give them table food to know what they can or can't eat safely...if you are in doubt DONT' FEED IT....and most of all watch your babies and keep them safe as possible, accidents happen and all we can do is try to be as preventative as possible!!

If you have pools or ponds, keep an eye glued to your baby. If not, you better have him/her in a life jacket.

In the car, secure them to where they won't get slammed into a wind shields or floor boards, should you have to make a quick stop. Carseats go a long way for security.

Keep a first aid kit stocked just for them. You never know when you may have to give them emergency treatment for a wasp sting, snake bite, choking, etc. Consider yourself "First Response", before you make that quick trip to the emergency room.

These babies are so much like a human child that it's almost scary.

Know what plants are poisonous and make sure they're not around!

Here is a list from my breeder's website:
http://yorkiecity1.com/poison.shtml

Thank you, Pat, for posting this. I think that everyone here at YT have learned something new from loosing these babies.

Thanks pat this is a good post and reminder. My front gate is wide enough at the bottom for Jewels to get out. Im gonna fix it asap. These recent tragedies have really spooked me.

Never use a cardboard box to put your puppy in. I had a friend who lost a puppy who was kept in a cardboard box until she could get a crate. The puppy jumped up and was choked to death in a crack of the box. She was devestated as were we all. Always use a crate for your little one.

This is a good thread and this site has another with many dangers posted and I'll search for it .....this time - I think we can make a New Puppy Owners Guide to Safety for this site...I had offered to do it before after a friend lost her yorkie to a dryer...another to a pond....and I didn't - now I feel like I should have and apologise for that....

Found it - http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ht=safety+tips

5+ pages of safety tips from members ....I'll print these out and we can incorporate this thread wilh your thread Pat...good post and we can't be too careful in life with these babies...things you never expect can be a big danger to them

Omg....Now THAT's a new one to me - thank you for sharing that post !

Thank you so much everyone for all the tips. :thumbup:

Training
 

I think training is key....

There is a common misconception that because yorkies are so tiny and have such cute, "strong-willed" personalities that we don't have to train them. We even joke that they have us trained. :D

The sooner a dog learns the basic commands the happier and safer that dog is. A dog who responds immediately to come and stay is a safer dog.

Thanks for starting the thread Pat!

This may not work for everyone but for some it might. I watched a program on doggy daycare and at their door they had white picket fencing on the inside so the dogs couldn't get out. I guess it enclosed an area of 4 or 5 feet square and it had a gate so a human could go through to get to the door but dogs couldn't...it just gives that 'safe zone' between them and the front door.

Also, be careful about the raised dog dishes. Boog had the stainless steel ones that sat in a frame and somehow his name tag got stuck between the frame and the dish and he couldn't get loose. I never kept his collar on him after that unless we were going for a walk. Tags can also get caught in registers and air vents.

Another GREAT post - I'm going to print and add your posts of the dangers to small breed in one GREAT Safety Tip Document - Way to share and good tips ...these weren't in the other thread !