Pup being weaned to puppy chow soaked in whole milk?
 

I am getting my yorkie in 2 weeks. She will be 8 weeks old. I know there are a lot of differences in opnion of being let go at 8 weeks, however, the reason I have chosen this breeder is because I am close with two seperate individuals that got their yorkies from her and have had great success with health and temperment. They are 6 weeks old tomorrow and she told me she was starting to wean them this week and that she weans them to dry puppy food soaked in whole milk. I was kind of hoping they would be on straight dry, is this normal and does this mean I am going to have a hard time getting her off the milk mixed in?

THANKS!!!

Please please let your yorkie stay with there mom until 12 weeks it is best for the puppy. The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America says 12 weeks as well.

welcome & congrats

well , when you bring them home make sure you feed the same brand of dry food. you do not want to change foods ,it could cause serious digestive issues. i would just slowly wean them off the milk mixed with it if the breeder hasn't already done so.

This may not be a matter of "let your Yorkie stay with the breeder"....the "BREEDER" may NOT want to keep the Yorkie that long...$$$$ the longer you keep them...vaccinations, well baby checks, etc...plus the hassle of doing all that weaning stuff...better to send it off to a novice new owner and let HER deal with it......:mad::mad::thumbdown UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!! REPUTABLE?????? NOT!!!

Weaning Pup on Whole Milk
 

Please dont give them whole milk. They need a formula or goat's milk. Whole milk will give them diarrhea and strip their little intestines. You dont want to start off like that.

Yeah I have a feeling this person knows she's getting her pup from a bad breeder.

I agree not whole milk. When I was weaning my pups I crushed the kibble and mixed with warm water. I know some use puppy formula or goats milk.

Dogs are not suppose to have cow's milk. It is not good for them and can make them sick. I hope you heard her wrong and that she is using a suitable puppy milk replacement to mix in with the dry dog food.

Also, toy breeds should stay with their mother and siblings for 12 weeks for their own benefit. They learn proper doggie manners and socialization from them, not to mention the health benefits from staying with their mother for a few weeks longer.

I have a feeling you know this but are just going to ignore it because you want a puppy so bad. Be prepared for lots of behavioral problems if you get a yorkie puppy at 8 weeks old as well as possible health problems like hypoglycemia. Tiny puppies can die if left alone for hours while your at work if no one is around to monitor their food/sugar intake.

Whole milk?? That seems so odd =/ It's hard when you want a puppy so badly, I would know, but please think twice before working with this breeder. It seems very, very shady.

I am sorry....I had a rush of RAGE, not directed to you the eager, innocent, taken advantage of, thrilled with her new baby Yorkie buyer, but the "breeder" that is doing this not only to YOU, but to that baby she is responsible for bringing into this world and now, putting her in an unsafe environment....that gets on the fighting side of me instantaneously.
Do NOT use whole milk, or cows milk!!! Use puppy formula or goats milk, as already said. Make CERTAIN this baby is eating...you may very well encounter hypoglycemia issues if the baby is not eating around the clock. Have Nutra-Cal on hand...what SHOTS has this "breeder" started the baby on, or is she coming to you with only one set of shots....what about worming program??...she will be very susceptable to PARVO, AND PARVO IS RAMPANT HERE IN HOUSTON...DO NOT TAKE THAT BABY ANYWHERE IN PUBLIC UNTIL SHE IS COMPLETELY VACCINATED!!! When you go to the vet....do NOT allow that baby to walk around on the floor...do NOT allow other people to walk over and touch and hold and pet your completely vulnerable enfant!!! I am sorry....I have to stop and breathe now....

So who is the breeder you are getting your pup from?

Thats not rage, its the truth, great post(s)...ITS ALL ABOUT THE PUPS!!

I just feel its important to mention that because this breeder is not doing what is best for the pups she probably doesn't do genetic testing on the parents, breed to standard or really care what happens to these pups which could cause you to end up with a sick pup, a lot of expenses and much heartbreak.

Wow!

I see the people on this forum are quite abrasive.

It's not that I am in a huge hurry to get a puppy. In fact, I have been waiting two months for this litter, and I'm sure as you all know, I could go online right now and find a Yorkie for sell in Houston, that I could pick up today if I wanted. Who I have chosen to get a puppy from happens to let her pups go at 8 weeks, so that is why I am getting one at 8 weeks.

The reason I chose this individual to get a puppy from is because I am FRIENDS with several people that have gotten their Yorkies from her and have had GREAT luck with temperment, health, training- the whole 9 yards. Infact, one of them is getting another one out of the same litter I am. I happen to feel more comfortable getting a dog from someone I know has had success with getting theirs from the same place.

She is not a mass production breeder. She is more of an individual that has bred her family pets a couple of times. I know people slam this as well- but I don't, as I bred my German Shepherds in the same manner, once, and placed 8 puppies in great homes of owners that I still keep in touch with, 4 years later- who tell me him/her is the healthiest dog they have ever had.

As far as the 8 weeks of age is concerned, I don't see a problem with this. I know plenty of people with small dogs, that got their dogs at 8 weeks. My mother got her Maltese at 8 weeks- had not issues. My cousin got her Shorkie at 8 weeks, also no issues. I have another friend who got her Yorkie at 8 weeks (from a different breeder than I) that had no issues, and the list goes on and on- so I have a hard time making THAT big of a deal over it.

I appreciate all the responses that actually addressed the whole milk question. I will be double checking with the breeder, and do not intend to continue the milk mixing once I get her.

I agree with the others about the milk. It tends to upset dogs' intestinal tracts. Yorkies tend to have sensitive digestive tracts anyway so if the breeder does have the pup on cow's milk, you will want to stop that right away. If pup needs the food moistened, use warm water. Then gradually lessen the amount of water until pup is eating dry food. Definitely make sure the little one is eating often. These little guys' blood sugar dropping can be a serious problem. I would not change foods until your baby is used to dry only and has settled into his new home. Then, choose a high quality food and make the switch very slowly.

Are you getting a male or female? Any name picked out yet?

Had you looked on the board a little more you would see lots and lots and lots of people who have gotten there pups before 12 weeks and had many many problems. Also there are a few people who have gotten a pup before 12 weeks and then when they knew better got another one at or older then 12 weeks and said there is a big different. Good breeds follow what the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America says and it says do not let your puppies got before 12 weeks.

I hope you know a puppy under 12 weeks is at a higher risk for hypoglycemia and should not be left alone for to many hours at a time or they could die.

I am sorry you find people that are very knowledgable with this breed, abrasive. If you have never owned a Yorkie before, then of course you see nothing wrong with getting an 8 week old baby....but sometimes we have to learn the hard way. If you have read threads on this forum from just over the last 2 weeks, you would see sooooo many issues with babies going to new homes before they should be. If you had read ANY books at all on Yorkies, you would have read in ANY of them, these babies should stay with their mommas until they are 12 weeks old...that advice is common knowledge to people that have a working knowledge of Yorkies, and you will NOT find ANYTHING, ANYWHERE that disputes this. Sometimes, we need to stop and regardless of how smart we are, we need to look at who is giving advice, and if they are in a position to KNOW MORE than we do, we need to, for the SAKE OF THE PUPPY, back down and rethink our stance or conviction. FYI....you say you have waited for 2 months for a puppy....I have people that go on my waiting lists for a year or more.....I would say if you can go out and get a puppy anywhere in Houston tomorrow, I would suggest you do that....only make sure it is 12 weeks old or more, have had its vaccinations at least started, microchipped and on a worming schedule, is sold with a contract and a health guarantee. Good luck with your baby.....I suspect you will need it. Taking these babies prematurely, has immediate consequences as well as issues later on in life. Get some reading material and become informed. It will not only help YOU, it will help the baby.

I am guessing it has to do with money and this person is selling the yorkies cheaper then a reputable breeder. People don't understand when the puppy is cheaper it probably hasn't had the genetic testing and could have health problems. As well as the breeder just cares about money not bettering the breed.

A puppy should be completely weaned off of mothers milk and any form of moistened food before going to their new home. This is typical weaning process regardless of the age of the pup when it leaves the breeder. Be sure that you give them the same type of puppy food as your breeder is using and do not give them cows milk. If you must use anything when you bring your pup home, use water or goats milk or half and half of each.

Enjoy your new addition to the family !!

Things in the UK are quite different. We frequently take pups at 8 weeks old regardless of breed. My vet a few years age was south African and he advised me to take a 6 week old pup away from its mother as it was weaned and ready to go. Sorry if I sound judgmental but the American kennel club ( I think that's the name ) is not the 10 commandments but only a guide. What I'm trying to say is that other countries do things differently and we don't have mutant dogs with loads more health or physiological issues than you do. This pup is leaving at 8 weeks regardless of what anyone else says cause that's what the breeder has decided having done this with past litters presumably . The girl is looking for advice for the best way to feed the pup and that's what she should get. Not a lecture on how wrong everyone else is.

That's my rant over for the day ( I hope)

No one can EVER go on this forum and say they lost a baby because they "just didnt know" something about the care and nurturing of that baby. There are many written publications, concerning the care and feeding of a Yorkie, some probably available in countries other than America, that give the EVIDENCED BASED OUTCOMES for taking Yorkies away from their moms too early. This is not "suppositions and guestimations" put out by the AKC....there have actually been funded studies done on this, with the results published. I am very open to learning...please give me the title of ONE book about Yorkies, that states it is acceptable and does not contribute to any adverse health or psychological issues for the Yorkie that is removed from its momma before 12 weeks of age. I have not seen even one such publication. People on here are passionate about these little dogs. It is VERY difficult to sit and watch a runaway train about to leave the tracks, and not start yelling and waving frantically, trying to help the person at the controls drive the thing. You would HOPE the person had read a book or two about trains....you would hope the person at least knew where the brake was.....you would hope the person had an idea of what happens when a train leaves the tracks.....but if you cared at all about the person or the innocents along for the ride, you could NOT, WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE just accept the fact that this person was about to get in way over her head, endangering everyone on board, and just wave as she flew by, calling out simply, "Have a great ride".....Just because someone does not have enough experience to ask the correct questions, does not mean the obvious concerns should be ignored by people that DO know the pitfalls, because of some misguided sense of decorum.

I really wish you would not recommend someone doing what the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America suggest and has done studies on and knows what is best for the dog. Here in America 12 weeks is best and just ask anyone who as gotten a dog a pup at younger then 12 weeks and then gotten one 12 or older and compared them. In America it is what separates the good breeders from the bad.

I have made no recommendations. If you read the post again you will find that the

breeder has already stipulated that the pup will leave at 8 weeks. I was trying to reasure the girl who has already agreed to take the pup that it need not be the end of the world as dogs in this country manage perfectly well without psycological issued or dying from hypoglycemia by the bucket load. Rather than jump all over this girl after the decision has been made, better to give a positive viewpoint I think.

@ Quiveful- It's a girl and I'm naming her Zoe! Thanks!

@dawn27 & Lilymo- Thanks you two :)

And let other peoples see that is ok! You cant speak for your whole country and all the yorkies in it!