Helpful Tips on Your New Puppy

 Helpful Tips on Your New Yorkie Puppy

This is such an exciting time for you and your new puppy. Here is some information you may find helpful as you take on this lifetime commitment...

1. Vaccinations

• Your pup will need vaccinations and routine worming.

• We will provide you with their current record.

• Consult with your veterinarian.

• We do not recommend flea and tick medications even as preventive. Pesticides can be toxic and deadly and unless needed it is not our recommendation.

2. At all times, keep freshwater & food available.

• Feed high-quality dry pet food. For the first year, we feed Royal Canin Mini Puppy Mother Baby. Feed a soft can of puppy food 3-4 X daily.

• After one year Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier 28 or another high-quality kibble.

• If your puppy is not eating well, supplement with Nutrical, or with all-meat canned puppy food.

• Avoid the temptation to feed your puppy people food. They need a consistent balance of dry food while they are growing and can become a finicky eater.

3. Keep your puppy Nurti-cal ½ tsp 3x, a day.

• Decrease to once a day at 6 months

4. Buy a small crate or have a secure area where your puppy can sleep.

• They feel more secure and stay warmer when they can cuddle down inside one

• Keep your puppy out of drafts. Their body temperature drops very quickly. A heating pad on low can help make your puppy feel warm and more secure, especially at night.

• Give your puppy a stuffed animal or fleece animal to cuddle with (they will miss their siblings and may not sleep well the first few nights).

• Keep the sleeping area near you at night so that you can monitor them.

• Sometimes sticking your finger throughy the grate is just enough to settle them down when they are crying.

• Avoid having your puppy sleep with you for at least the first 6-8 months as many puppies have been injured by adults rolling over onto them or falling off the bed and remember, they are not potty trained yet!

5. Have a playpen or baby pen for your pup to play in especially if you are not right there to supervise. Puppies can get into trouble quickly when not supervised. Always lay down puppy pee pads within this area.

• Give them safe chew toys

• Beware of rawhide chews, and Greenies they are not safe. In addition, anything made in China is cautious and may contain lead or other harmful chemicals, and NEVER feed your puppy/dog any treats that are not made in the USA.

6. Puppy proofs your house if possible.

• Houseplants, Certain Flowers, and Foods especially sugar-free gum, chocolate, and grapes can be poison for these little dogs.

• Chewing on electrical cords can be deadly.

• Puppies are like babies, everything goes in their mouths.

7. Paper training

• Puppy pee pads are available in most pet stores.

• Realize your puppy will have accidents.

• Never hit, yell, or scold your puppy for having an accident. This will only cause them to potty in fear or have more accidents due to fear.

• Watch for signs that your pup may need to go to the bathroom.

• Yorkies often will run about, nose to the ground when they have to go or, they will have their nose to the ground and go in circles, hunching. Often they will “disappear or hide” so you won't see them go.

• If you catch your pup starting to poo or pee on the floor, firmly say “No” or make a sound and pick them up and put them on the papers or take them outside.

• Praise, praise, praise when they go where you want them to and give a treat.

• Routine is so important.

• Take your pup outside at the same times during the day if you can. Hourly is great if you are home with them. If not, establish times as best you can.

• If your pup eats feces, try to pick it up immediately after they go. It is not uncommon and most will outgrow this nasty habit but it could mean the puppy has a nutrition, mineral, or vitamin deficiency. Ask your veterinarian for some suggestions.

8. Never, ever leave your puppy on a couch or chair alone or unattended. They will jump or fall off; potentially causing fractures to their little bones or even worse hitting their head and getting a head/brain injury.

9. For a few weeks, limit your puppy's playtime with people or other animals. They expend lots of energy and could have hypoglycemia.

10. If you have a large dog or small children monitor their interaction, as your baby may become injured.

11. If you take your puppy for a ride in the car, bring along their crate and strap it in, or purchase a riding seat for your pup. They are available online or at almost any dog/animal supply store.

12. Never leave your puppy outside unattended. Yorkies can be prey for hawks, wolves, and other wild animals or neighboring dogs.

• In some areas, hawks have been known to swoop down and carry them away.

• It is very common for puppies to be stolen or lost in a split second.

13. Yorkies tend to get feces stuck in their hair around the anus.

• Clip down that area with a small set of clippers or trim with blunt-end scissors

• Be very careful

• If you see your Yorkie straining excessively or trying to walk still hunched, this is a sure sign, or, your Yorkie may be very constipated or have impacted anal glands,

• You will have to assist your Yorkie at this time, clipping hairs or removing the feces with warm water and shampoo

• If you think they are constipated, consult your veterinarian. Increase water intake

14. Groom your puppy from day one.

• Yorkies need daily grooming to keep their coat from tangling and becoming matted.

• Start as early as day one by gently combing or brushing your Yorkie.

• Weekly bathing is necessary, blow dry on low/ warm temp.

• Trim feet hair and nails weekly or bi-weekly.

• Trim ear tips with scissors or pet clippers. Trim hair around the eyes to avoid excess tearing.

• Check their ears for overgrowth of hairs.

• Pull them out quickly or pluck them with tweezers if you need to remove them.

• During bath time, try not to get water in the ears.

• After bathing, always wipe out the ears to remove any moisture.

• Rinse, rinse, rinse to get all the shampoo out

• Try not to bathe your new baby for at least a week so as not to chill or stress them

• Watch for a musty smell in the ears or face which could indicate a fungal or bacterial infection.

• Buy a nice quality shampoo and conditioner made for puppies. People shampoo has a different pH and is not always the best to use on your pup.

• Do not dry your puppy by rubbing; just gently squeeze the water from their coat with a nice fluffy towel.

• Blow-dry your puppy on low air to not scare them. As they get older and accustomed to the bathing ritual, you can increase the air.

• Brush and comb their hair straight down with a slicker brush

• If it is matted, work the matt out from the ends back with a wide-tooth comb, Chris Christensen Silk Spirits from Amazon is a wonderful product to help with getting mats out.

 Remember Yorkies are a lifelong commitment and what you put into your puppy you will receive back in unconditional love and a lifetime of loyalty and companionship. There is no other dog like a Yorkie! In addition, as the saying goes you can never have just one!