your Yorkie puppies. I hope they help.
BREEDERS, PET STORES or PUPPY MILLS
Before
going out and buying a puppy, there are some things you need to know. Research
your breeder before you buy. There are a lot of puppy mills out there that sale
to brokers and pet stores. A puppy mill is the equivalent of a human concentration
camp. They produce puppies like a factory with little thought or care towards
the dogs.
A reputable breeder
will have clean kennels and interact with their dogs. The dogs will be loved and
well-cared for. A good breeder will even guarantee the puppy's health 100%. They
want to know if there's a problem and will give you a list of instructions on
taking care of your puppy. Don't buy the first puppy you see either. Visit several
different breeders to see their puppies. They should be willing to answer any
questions you might have. Check the links page for more information on reputable
breeders and puppy mills.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED
Food
- check with the breeder to see what kind puppy has been
eating. (Changing their diets suddenly can cause digestive upsets.)
Feeding
and watering bowls - make sure they don't tip over easy
Carrying crate - for traveling, sleeping and
crate training
Bed
Collar (or harness) and leash
Grooming supplies - mild shampoo, conditioner, brush,
comb, etc.
Safe chew products and toys
Treats
Nutra-Cal*
*Yorkies are prone to Hypoglycemia. This means that their blood sugar can bottom out pretty fast. This is brought on by not eating, changing environments, riding in a car, stress and a lot of other things. The dog will go into seizures and shake and then just go stiff. Nutra-Cal is a high protein concoction. If a puppy is acting real sluggish and not eating, you can put some on the roof of their mouth and it stimulates them. I DO NOT recommend giving it to them daily because it is almost all fat and sugar. You can also use syrup or honey.
Find
a veterinarian that provides quality health care. Make sure that it's one you
can trust and be comfortable with. Your pups health depends on it. It's a good
idea to make an appointment with the vet for the day you pick up your new puppy.
That way the pup can have an exam and start out with a clean bill of health. Also,
if anything does happen to be wrong, then you can take him immediately back to
the breeder before you become attached.
Plan to get your puppy spayed or neutered as soon as possible too. This lengthens
their lifespan and decreases their chance of getting cancer. It also helps with
males so they don't mark their territory on your furniture!
BRINGING YOUR YORKIE HOME
Make
sure all poisonous household items such as cleaners, insectisides, etc. are out
of puppy's reach. Check your plants because some are toxic to dogs. A veterinarian
can give you a complete list. Keep chocolate away from dogs also as it is toxic.
Make sure there are no dangling electric cords, loose nails, plastic bags or other
tempting objects left laying around where a puppy might be.
Puppies should be at least should be at least 8-12 weeks old before you bring
them home. Never buy one younger than that. By 12 weeks you should be able
to tell if the pup is healthy and robust enough to make it. Be sure you have registration
papers, shot records and any instructions before you leave with the puppy.
KIDS AND YORKIES
If
you have small children a Yorkie might not be right for your family. Small dogs
are not as robust as larger breeds and are not as capable to put up with the rigors
of children. If you still want a Yorkie though, consider getting one of the bigger,
more robust ones (6-8 lbs) instead of the smaller, more delicate ones (3-5 lbs).
Be sure to teach the children
to respect the puppy. Show them how to gently stroke it and not "squeeze" it to
death hugging it. Teach them to pick it up correctly by placing one hand under
the chest and sliding the other under the rump. Picking a Yorkie up by its fore
arms can hurt the thin muscle that connects to its shoulders.
HOUSEBREAKING
- Establish a routine -
take the pup outside first thing every morning, ten minutes after eating, after
vigorous play and every hour during housebreaking
- Constant
supervision - always keep an eye on the pup. If he starts sniffing around, take
him out. When you can't supervise him, crate him. They usually don't mess their
sleeping space.
- Designate a potty area
- consistently take him to the same spot and repeat same command (ex. "Go Potty").
When he does, lavish him with praise.
- Correct mistakes ONLY when caught in the act. If you find an accident later and try to correct him, it only confuses the puppy. When caught in the act, a firm NO and taking the puppy to the designated area will suffice.
NEVER punish a puppy by yelling, screaming or hitting. The only thing agression teaches is agression.
- Brush hair daily to keep tangle-free.
Use a spray detangler or conditioner to keep hair from breaking. Also use a pin
brush, nylon causes hair to break and static electricity.
- Brush
all tangles out before a bath.
- Use
a mild shampoo (ex. baby shampoo) and a good conditioner. Be sure to rinse thoroughly
or any conditioner left will flake later.
- Brush
dry in front of small hair dryer (I use a small heater fan).
- Remove
mucous in corners of eyes with warm wet washcloth. If left, it can cause the hair
to rot.
- Cleaning the teeth is important
as Yorkies are prone to rotting teeth at an early age. Have your vet show you
proper care.
- Hair should be trimmed
about 1/3 way down on ears to keep them erect. Hair around feet can also be trimmed
for long haired Yorkies. For easier care, have Yorkie clipped in a puppy cut.
***Do not let a professional groomer shave a line down the puppy's nose or cut
hair around eyes. This is not necessary. If they do, it will cause hair to grow
into the eyes worse!!!
I hope you found some advice you could use. If you need more, check out the Links page.
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