Worried Momma

[paulineburke]

Yes hubby can be a sweetheart ... my youngest son is 6'6" tall and he too turns to being a little boy when he is around my little ones!
My story is we got a 4 year old Yorkie from a guy who seem to know very little about him .... I couldn't leave the dog when I went to see him as my heart was beraking for him! He was all matted and dirty and was so affectionate. I paid €100 for the dog, had him washed and groomed, vet checked, neutered etc etc ... We decided to get a play mate for him so bought Pixie. He tried to savage Pixie three different times ... I was so scared. My son came over to see what would happen with his 14 years JRT. They got on fine .. Ian took his Jack away and brought back Pixie, again the mouth went back the teeth came forward and he tried to savage her again. Ian's advice was to have him homed as a single pet. I rand a shelter and told my story. She advised to have the dog put down. The vet gave the same advice saying they could not be responsible for rehoming, in case he attacked a child. I loved Rover so much. Hubby and Ian had the dog put down and he even went to savage the vet.
After all this Pixie was lonely so we decided on another puppy. Rescue dogs can be wonderful it just didn't work out for us with this dog. I am sure now that the man we got him from never owned him .. he knew nothing about the Yorkie breed. So very sad

[kjc]

Originally Posted by pstinard

... Even though I have only one puppy, I can tell that Bella used to have food issues at the breeder's before I got her because she will pick up one kibble, run to a safe part of the house to eat it, and then run back to the food bowl to grab another kibble. She probably had to compete for food with a bully, and that habit carried over, even though she no longer has any competition for her food.

This is normal puppy (Yorkie puppy) behavior...

Originally Posted by Ldyrev1

To be honest...I never measured Princess Sophie's food. We just began free feeding her from the start because I knew that as she grew she would want more if she was going through a growth spurt and sometimes less. We let her decide and I just watch her to make sure she is eating and drinking. I know you can't over feed a puppy, they will just eat what they need and since we feed dry dog food it's no big deal. Just have to keep our other dog out of it! LOL

A well puppy normally will not overeat. A sick puppy or dog may try to eat excessively in an attempt to feel better, and eating too much dry food at one time can cause some serious problems, such as dehydration and intestinal blockage.

Originally Posted by Maximo

Vet care is expensive! Hopefully your babies won't need to go back for awhile after next week's follow up.

I agree, but you will spend less in the long run at a good vet because they'll fix any problems quicker... Also, two pups are going to be twice the expense. Have you looked into getting insurance for them?

JMHO on Free Feeding: Freefeeding is fine, but... do measure the amount of food put out daily and check to make sure the food is getting eaten. With longhaired or fluffy haired dogs/pups it can be difficult to notice changes in weight, and with small dogs even a small amount either way can turn critical. Be sure to feel the dog's ribs weekly (as you're petting or grooming) to check for good body condition... you should be able to feel a layer of fat just under the skin, and be able to feel the ribs through the fat. Make changes in the amount of food/treats being fed upon your findings... no fat means to increase the amount of food/treats, hard to feel the ribs... cut back a little on food and/or treats.

Puppies will go through growth spurts... they may appear plump one week then taller and skinny the next. This is when you'll need to increase the amount of food they get daily. Also puppies will gain weight regularly. If you notice weight loss, that would be good to discuss with your vet, if not corrected through diet.

One last tip: Learn about vaccines. Some dogs/pups don't tolerate them too well, so as a safeguard many owners opt to get only one vaccine a month, as oppossed to two or more vaccines during the same office visit. And never get a vaccine if the dog has a fever or is sick. It's best to wait and return in a week or two when the dog is well.

[paulineburke]

I am taking all the advice you are giving me on board .. some day I will be able to pay it forward to a newbie too ...
I brush my babies everyday and I wash them once a week or two weeks, so I will have plenty of time to check their condition. I am at home all day doe to chronic pain, so I have plenty of time to make sure their first months with us is as happy as we can make them. I love getting up these mornings as I know there are happy little faces waiting to say good morning .. life has changed so much since we bought out Yorkies
I have to check into insurance and see what it covers ... and what would be the best one for Yorkies. It all new to us and we are learning every single day

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by paulineburke

I am taking all the advice you are giving me on board .. some day I will be able to pay it forward to a newbie too ...
I brush my babies everyday and I wash them once a week or two weeks, so I will have plenty of time to check their condition. I am at home all day doe to chronic pain, so I have plenty of time to make sure their first months with us is as happy as we can make them. I love getting up these mornings as I know there are happy little faces waiting to say good morning .. life has changed so much since we bought out Yorkies
I have to check into insurance and see what it covers ... and what would be the best one for Yorkies. It all new to us and we are learning every single day

I was never a morning person until the doggies came into my life.

By this time next year, you will be a pro and advising new pet parents.

I'm sorry about Rover.

[paulineburke]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I was never a morning person until the doggies came into my life.

By this time next year, you will be a pro and advising new pet parents.

I'm sorry about Rover.

I'm only just learning how to use this site lol!
Yes, as I learn I will do anything I can to help other yorkie parents. When they are little so much can be traumatic for them and the parents too.
I am so sorry about Rover too ... we really loved him! He was so lovable that we thought he would be delighted with the company of another Yorkie "Big Mistake" ... I feel he is in a better place right now, as he would have ended up hurting someone or worse still a little child. I would have been responsible even though the one who should have been responsible was the man we bought him from! We all live through experiences to teach us lessons. We learnt a lot from having Rover and I would say the time he had with us was the happiest in a long time with all the attention and love he received! We are happy to have known Rover even for a short while .....