Getting our first puppy! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

heatherly30 · 11-16-2010, 02:53 PM

We have waited several years to get a puppy, and we feel we are finally ready! We will pick 'Finn' up just before Christmas! I am reading books, studying the stickies, and talking with others who have survived puppyhood! If you have any other advice or resources, please direct me. I know every dog is different, but I'm trying to be as mentally prepared as possible.

RileyDC · 11-16-2010, 03:13 PM

Congrats!!!! What a Cutie!!!!

The things that I can tell you, just going throught it... [my Riley is 6 1/2 months old.... just had his neuter this past Friday....] are:

I got an x-pen from PetEdge. I put his bedding on one side and a weewee pad on the other. I weewee pad trained him...I live right in the middle of the city... although he also goes outside. He picked it up, Very Quickly. I got one of the second nature purina doggie litter boxes and put the pads in it instead of the litter. I also got a diaper genie for the pads.

I got him a snuggle puppy to sleep with at night. It has a battery operated heart that you can turn on and off. He sleeps on top of it.

Also, make sure any electrical cords are out of the way. Riley was sooo Tiny, he ran under the tv stand and behind it while I was on the phone, and within literally only 2 mins. he chewed through the cable box wire and electricuted himself. He ran out Screaming bloody murder.... Once I got hold of him and calmed him down, he was fine, but it could have killed him right then and there. He is still small enough to go under my tv stand and behind the television, but hasn't even tried since then. I also bought some "Critter Cord" which is clear cording you can wrap the cords in.

Get lots of Bitter Apple Spray!! You can spray it on Anything to keep from chewing.

For spaying/neutering.... buy a onsie so they don't lick or bite at the stitches. Riley hadn't tried to do either after surgery but I told the Vet I should probably take an elizabethan collar, just in case... Better safe than sorry. Riley was up and running and jumping the next day....as if nothing happened. I am so paranoid he is going to infect it I keep checking it like 5 times a day. I turn him upside down underneath the oven light. LOL!!!!

Good Luck and Enjoy!! THEY ARE SUCH JOYS!!!

heatherly30 · 11-16-2010, 03:47 PM

Thanks! We have tied up the electrical cords, but I'll be watching him like a hawk to make sure I didn't miss anything else!

We live in the country, so I was planning on avoiding puppy pads, and try crate training. I also have a big play yard gate from when our kids were little that I plan to use.

How did he do his first few nights? Did he cry and whine a lot? That will break my heart!

Let me know if you think of anything else!

Ivy1 · 11-16-2010, 03:48 PM

How exciting! Congrats ! Do you have any young children? I am not trying to rain on your happiness at all but if you have little children xmas is such a hectic time and maybe the breeder would be so kind to wait until just after the holiday. In my opinion only.

heatherly30 · 11-16-2010, 03:55 PM

Hi Ivy1,
We do have children. This is their Christmas gift, and actually the breeder is holding him for us an extra month so Santa can deliver him. We have basically planned our Christmas so that it is not as hectic and we can devote the necessary time and energy to the pup! We have probably irritated many of our family members, but gotta do what is best for us...

RileyDC · 11-16-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatherly30

Thanks! We have tied up the electrical cords, but I'll be watching him like a hawk to make sure I didn't miss anything else!

We live in the country, so I was planning on avoiding puppy pads, and try crate training. I also have a big play yard gate from when our kids were little that I plan to use.

How did he do his first few nights? Did he cry and whine a lot? That will break my heart!

Let me know if you think of anything else!

I was worried about what the first few nights would be.
He did Great!! He cried/whined for maybe 2 minutes....
and not very loud, at all.
He had a little brother and two sisters. The breeder kept
him about a week longer, so he was the last to go......
which I think really helped..... and his x-pen is next to my bed,
so I laid so the he could see my arm and he was fine.
I have been really really fortunate. He has Never even ever
used the weewee pads in his x-pen. He holds it while I'm at work.
I come home at lunch and let him out....
And, he hold it all night..... He usually starts whimpering around 6am
so I take him out for his first potty break of the day, at that time.

I'll keep ya posted if I can think of anything else.

RileyDC · 11-16-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatherly30

Thanks! We have tied up the electrical cords, but I'll be watching him like a hawk to make sure I didn't miss anything else!

We live in the country, so I was planning on avoiding puppy pads, and try crate training. I also have a big play yard gate from when our kids were little that I plan to use.

How did he do his first few nights? Did he cry and whine a lot? That will break my heart!

Let me know if you think of anything else!

Crate Training is Great, as well.
I had crate trained my last dog, which I had for 13-years.
I had a crate just big enough for him to lay down in and turn around in comfortably.... Worked like a charm.

Also I really think that that snuggle puppy helped a LOT with the crying/whining at night. I got the brown mutt.
They come in other colors/breeds.. a black lab... dalmation
and i can't remember what else.
He Still carries that thing around, every day. I call it Buddy..... LOL!!
I received it and sent it FedEx to the Breeders home so that she
could get the mommy & daddy's scent on it!!
I really highly recommend that.

RileyDC · 11-16-2010, 04:14 PM

What a GREAT Gift!!!!

Perrella · 11-16-2010, 04:15 PM

Congrats....how very exciting! So happy for you and Finn is a real cutie!

dinkyweil · 11-16-2010, 04:20 PM

My best advice: Don't be surprised if you get frustrated during training. It's normal, and Yorkies can be a little hard to train. Also, you will find that patience pays off. Many puppy issues just take time. Our little guy was so shy, was afraid to walk, wouldn't go to my hubby at all. All of those issues have gone away or improved. He's still shy, but loves walks and adores my hubby.

heatherly30 · 11-16-2010, 04:33 PM

Yeah, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for the training. I'm a stay at home mom, with both kids in school most of the time, so I'm hoping that gives me good opportunity to tackle training in full force!

What can you all tell me about the nights? Did/do you take yours out every 2 hours during the night, or only if it whines? Feels like having a baby again!

deanfam5 · 11-16-2010, 04:55 PM

So happy for you. A friend of mine recently got a new puppy ( a jack russel). Anyhow she told me that with any dog she has ever had she set a timer for 30 minutes she had a jingle bell hanging off of the door knob and she taught them to ring the jingle bell then took them out. She said that it works. She has 2 inside dogs and they ring the bell when they have to go potty. And a few dogs that she has had in the past done the same she told me. I think that is a great idea and I wish I would have known this little trick when I brought my little furbaby home for the first time. Good Luck and enjoy your little one

RileyDC · 11-16-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatherly30

Yeah, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for the training. I'm a stay at home mom, with both kids in school most of the time, so I'm hoping that gives me good opportunity to tackle training in full force!

What can you all tell me about the nights? Did/do you take yours out every 2 hours during the night, or only if it whines? Feels like having a baby again!

Seriously!! LOL
I only took mine out when he whined.
He whined around midnight only a couple of times.....
and then again at 5 or 6am.
I take him out one last time for the night, right before I put him to bed....

boopster · 11-16-2010, 05:03 PM

How exciting for you. Sounds like you've studied. Best advice I can give you is about the children -- make sure they know how delicate your new puppy will always be. And make sure he gets quiet time when he needs it. I know that when there's a new puppy in the house, everyone wants to hold it and love on it... but sometimes that can be overwhelming for a little one. You will need to keep an eye on the proceedings and be the bad guy when Finn needs a break.

Shelby&Seymour · 11-16-2010, 05:10 PM

Something that you may want to have on hand is NUTRICAL for puppies. Sometimes new puppies don't eat much and can get hypoglycemic. Also do some research on dogfoods. What you think may be "top of the line" might not have good things in it.
Good Luck and enjoy that new puppy!

11-16-2010, 02:53 PM	#1
heatherly30 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 16	Getting our first puppy! We have waited several years to get a puppy, and we feel we are finally ready! We will pick 'Finn' up just before Christmas! I am reading books, studying the stickies, and talking with others who have survived puppyhood! If you have any other advice or resources, please direct me. I know every dog is different, but I'm trying to be as mentally prepared as possible. Attached Thumbnails

11-16-2010, 04:15 PM	#9
Perrella Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: VA Posts: 8,040	Congrats....how very exciting! So happy for you and Finn is a real cutie! __________________ Tena & Zhoie Sweet Little Miracle

11-16-2010, 04:55 PM	#12
deanfam5 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jefferson pa usa Posts: 62	So happy for you. A friend of mine recently got a new puppy ( a jack russel). Anyhow she told me that with any dog she has ever had she set a timer for 30 minutes she had a jingle bell hanging off of the door knob and she taught them to ring the jingle bell then took them out. She said that it works. She has 2 inside dogs and they ring the bell when they have to go potty. And a few dogs that she has had in the past done the same she told me. I think that is a great idea and I wish I would have known this little trick when I brought my little furbaby home for the first time. Good Luck and enjoy your little one __________________ Bailey's Momma

11-16-2010, 05:10 PM	#15
Shelby&Seymour "& Seeger, too" Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,169	Something that you may want to have on hand is NUTRICAL for puppies. Sometimes new puppies don't eat much and can get hypoglycemic. Also do some research on dogfoods. What you think may be "top of the line" might not have good things in it. Good Luck and enjoy that new puppy! __________________ Happy Fall Y'all! 🎃

11-16-2010, 03:13 PM	#2
RileyDC BANNED! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Washington DC Posts: 4,183	Congrats!!!! What a Cutie!!!! The things that I can tell you, just going throught it... [my Riley is 6 1/2 months old.... just had his neuter this past Friday....] are: I got an x-pen from PetEdge. I put his bedding on one side and a weewee pad on the other. I weewee pad trained him...I live right in the middle of the city... although he also goes outside. He picked it up, Very Quickly. I got one of the second nature purina doggie litter boxes and put the pads in it instead of the litter. I also got a diaper genie for the pads. I got him a snuggle puppy to sleep with at night. It has a battery operated heart that you can turn on and off. He sleeps on top of it. Also, make sure any electrical cords are out of the way. Riley was sooo Tiny, he ran under the tv stand and behind it while I was on the phone, and within literally only 2 mins. he chewed through the cable box wire and electricuted himself. He ran out Screaming bloody murder.... Once I got hold of him and calmed him down, he was fine, but it could have killed him right then and there. He is still small enough to go under my tv stand and behind the television, but hasn't even tried since then. I also bought some "Critter Cord" which is clear cording you can wrap the cords in. Get lots of Bitter Apple Spray!! You can spray it on Anything to keep from chewing. For spaying/neutering.... buy a onsie so they don't lick or bite at the stitches. Riley hadn't tried to do either after surgery but I told the Vet I should probably take an elizabethan collar, just in case... Better safe than sorry. Riley was up and running and jumping the next day....as if nothing happened. I am so paranoid he is going to infect it I keep checking it like 5 times a day. I turn him upside down underneath the oven light. LOL!!!! Good Luck and Enjoy!! THEY ARE SUCH JOYS!!!

11-16-2010, 03:47 PM	#3
heatherly30 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 16	Thanks! We have tied up the electrical cords, but I'll be watching him like a hawk to make sure I didn't miss anything else! We live in the country, so I was planning on avoiding puppy pads, and try crate training. I also have a big play yard gate from when our kids were little that I plan to use. How did he do his first few nights? Did he cry and whine a lot? That will break my heart! Let me know if you think of anything else!

11-16-2010, 03:48 PM	#4
Ivy1 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: East Coast Posts: 161 Blog Entries: 1	How exciting! Congrats ! Do you have any young children? I am not trying to rain on your happiness at all but if you have little children xmas is such a hectic time and maybe the breeder would be so kind to wait until just after the holiday. In my opinion only.

11-16-2010, 03:55 PM	#5
heatherly30 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 16	Hi Ivy1, We do have children. This is their Christmas gift, and actually the breeder is holding him for us an extra month so Santa can deliver him. We have basically planned our Christmas so that it is not as hectic and we can devote the necessary time and energy to the pup! We have probably irritated many of our family members, but gotta do what is best for us...

11-16-2010, 04:14 PM	#8
RileyDC BANNED! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Washington DC Posts: 4,183	What a GREAT Gift!!!!

11-16-2010, 04:20 PM	#10
dinkyweil YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Nebo, NC Posts: 479	My best advice: Don't be surprised if you get frustrated during training. It's normal, and Yorkies can be a little hard to train. Also, you will find that patience pays off. Many puppy issues just take time. Our little guy was so shy, was afraid to walk, wouldn't go to my hubby at all. All of those issues have gone away or improved. He's still shy, but loves walks and adores my hubby.

11-16-2010, 04:33 PM	#11
heatherly30 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 16	Yeah, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for the training. I'm a stay at home mom, with both kids in school most of the time, so I'm hoping that gives me good opportunity to tackle training in full force! What can you all tell me about the nights? Did/do you take yours out every 2 hours during the night, or only if it whines? Feels like having a baby again!

11-16-2010, 05:03 PM	#14
boopster Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,643 Blog Entries: 1	How exciting for you. Sounds like you've studied. Best advice I can give you is about the children -- make sure they know how delicate your new puppy will always be. And make sure he gets quiet time when he needs it. I know that when there's a new puppy in the house, everyone wants to hold it and love on it... but sometimes that can be overwhelming for a little one. You will need to keep an eye on the proceedings and be the bad guy when Finn needs a break.