Feeding Schedule
 

Hi, I am new to YT and am thankful for all the great advice. We got our Riley three weeks ago and he is now 13 weeks old. His first 10 days were great, with a few accidents during the day. He is larger than most (two weeks ago he weighed 5.5 lbs.) We call him our "porkie yorkie". The vet recommended feeding him two times a day to get him on a schedule and since he's a good eater didn't think he needed to be free fed. When I changed him to eat in the morning and at dinner, he started pooping in his crate at night...I know he can't hold it all night when he doesn't poop before bed (even though we try), but the first 10 days he NEVER did this, so I know he can. I think it was the change in feeding schedule. I think when we were free feeding him he was eating mostly in the morning and early afternoon.

So today, I fed him breakfast and then fed him again at 2:00. He isn't acting hungry..so I'm hoping tonight will be the night that we break the habit. Do you all think that feeding him his second feeding that early is starving him. I would hate to think that he is hungry...but I don't see any signs of that. I'm sure he'll be starved in the morning. Even when I fed him dinner at 4:00 yesterday, he pooped in the crate during the night. (he never wines or wakes us up). I'm hoping if we stay on this schedule for a while, I will be able to move the second feeding back to 4 or 5pm. Any advice?

Welcome to YorkieTalk:)

I would feed a Yorkie puppy no less than three times a day. I wouldn't let him go more than 8 or 10 (at the most) hours without food and that is only when he is sleeping.

Can you get up in the middle of the night to try a potty run?
I know it sounds miserable.:p

What kind of food is he on? Have you changed his diet since you got him? Diet plays an important part in how much and how often your dog poops. Dog foods with corn in them make dogs poop more often, they have a larger volume of poop and it is smellier. I believe in free feeding in most cases.

you should feed the puppy 3 times a day at least..well, when my Tumi was 13 weeks old when we got her, me and my hubby woke up at least 2 times a night for a potty run. I mean Tumi never cried or woke us up but we just had to time ourselves to do it because when they are sooo young they can't hold it for long..it's like having a real skin baby..many many sleepless night..but trust me, it's worth it! now, i just make sure they do their business before bed and they just go when they wake up in the morning at 6am..