YORKSHIRE TERRIER CARE GUIDE
FOR EVERY YORKIE OWNER TO KNOW
I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT IT IS EASY TO PUT INSTRUCTIONS AWAY, WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS OF READING IT LATER. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE GUIDELINES ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOUR PUPPY.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
BEFORE YOU READ ANY FARTHER, MAKE SURE YOU REALIZE THAT A YORKIE IS A HIGH MAINTENANCE DOG! THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME, ATTENTION, AND HUMAN INTERACTION! EVEN MY BIGGEST PUPS ARE SMALL. THE TINIES REQUIRE EXTRA ATTENTION, AND A CLOSE EYE ON THEM. I DON’T RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE A YORKIE, ESPECIALLY A TINY, IF YOU ARE GONE A LOT, HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, OR IF YOU DON’T PLAN ON MAKING IT PART OF YOUR FAMILY. I BEG YOU TO READ UP ON THE BREED! THIS IS JUST A GUIDE, NOT A PROFESSIONAL BOOK!
THEY CHOKE, THEY CHOKE, AND THEY CHOKE!! WHEN GIVING YOUR PUPPY FOOD, SNACK, OR MAYBE EVEN THE FORBIDDEN TIDBIT FROM THE TABLE, ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW SMALL THEIR THROATS ARE. UNLIKE MOST DOGS, THEY GET THE SMALLEST THINGS CAUGHT IN THEIR THROATS. CUT-UP EVERYTHING YOU GIVE TO THEM, INTO VERY SMALL PIECES! ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PUPPIES, AND CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. NOT ONLY IS THEIR THROATS SMALL, THE SMALLER DOGS ALSO HAVE TROUBLE CHEWING SOMETHING BIGGER. I USE AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND DRY ROYAL CANIN MINI PUPPY FOOD SMALL BREED, MAKE SURE FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT ALL TIMES! THEY WILL EAT SMALL AMOUNTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND NIGHT.
I ALSO RECOMMEND A HALTER LEASH, (NOT A COLLAR) DUE TO THEIR SMALL TRECHEA.
YORKIES HAVE LOW BLOOD SUGAR UNTIL THEY ARE ABOUT 12 WEEKS OLD, AND LONGER IF THEY ARE A TINY. MAKE SURE THEY EAT WELL BEFORE THEY PLAY TOO HARD. IF THEY SEEM SLUGGISH, SHAKE, ACT DRUNK, OR EVEN VOLMIT, GIVE THEM A DIME-SIZE DOSE OF NUTRI-CAL, ON THEIR TONGUE, AND CALL ME. IF THEY SEEM TO BE PLAYING REALLY HARD, IT WOULDN’T HURT TO GIVE THEM A DOSE TO BE SAFE. BUT YOU CAN OVERDO IT, SO NO MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE A DAY.
WATCH WHERE YOU WALK, OR SIT. YOU WILL LEARN TO SCOOT YOUR FEET WHEN YOU WALK, AND ALWAYS WATCH WHERE YOU STEP. THEY RUN UNDER YOUR FEET, UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT THAT IT MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. THE OTHER THING I NOTICED WITH ALL MY DOGS, IS THEY WILL JUMP ON THE COUCH OR CHAIR, AND LOOK UP AT YOU LOVINGLY. YOU MOVE THEM OVER SO YOU CAN SIT NEXT TO THEM AND AS YOU TURN TO SIT, THEY JUMP UNDER YOU, AND END UP GETTING SAT ON! I LEARNED TO HOLD THEM AS YOU ARE SITTING. UNTIL THEY HAVE LEARNED TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY, BE VERY CAREFUL! NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN ALONE WITH A YORKIE PUPPY.
MANY YORKIES, (EVEN 12 LB) HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO MEET THEIR DEMISE TO OUTSIDE DANGERS! OTHER DOGS, HAWKS, OWLS, AND COYOTES, HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CARRY THEM OFF. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN YOUR DOG IS OUTSIDE. KEEP IN MIND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STEAL THEM TOO. ONE NEW OWNER HAD HER BABY STOLEN WHILE PAYING FOR GAS! BE ON YOUR GUARD AT ALL TIMES.
THEY DO QUITE WELL AS INSIDE DOGS. I USE POTTY PADS. I FOUND THAT THE BEDPADS (FOUND IN THE PHARMACY AREA) ARE BIGGER AND CHEAPER, THAN THE PUPPY TRAINING PADS. THE PUPPIES ARE ALREADY USING THEM.
YORKIES ARE CAPABLE OF THAT LONG BEAUTIFUL HAIR. IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO KEEP THEM BEAUTIFUL. EVEN IF YOU DECIDE TO KEEP THEIR COATS SHORT, YOU NEED TO KEEP THEIR REAR-ENDS CLIPPED SHORT. THE HAIR TENDS TO GET IN THE WAY, WHEN THEY POTTY. EVENTUALLY, THERE IS A BUILD-UP, AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO POOP. THIS COULD BE VERY SERIOUS, AND NEEDS TO BE WATCHED, EVEN AS ADULTS.
WHEN YOUR PUPPY IS 6-8 MONTHS OLD, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AN ADULT TOOTH IS NOT GROWING ALONG SIDE OF HIS PUPPY TOOTH. IT IS VERY COMMON TO HAVE TROUBLE LOSING THEIR PUPPY TEETH. FEMALES SHOULD BE SPAYED BEFORE THEY ARE 8 MONTHS OLD, MALES NEUTERED, AS YOUNG AS YOUR VET RECOMMENDS, THEY WILL MARK TERRITORIES IF OLDER.
YOUR PUPPY WILL HAVE THE TIPS OF HIS EARS SHAVED, IT WILL HELP TO KEEP THE EARS UP, THEY WILL GO UP AND DOWN, AS THEY TEETH, BUT SHOULD BE UP AFTER A FEW MONTHS OLD. MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO SHAVE THE TIPS OF THEIR EARS WHEN THEY ARE OLDER, KEEPS THE WEIGHT OFF THE EAR AND IT ALSO LOOKS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE, IF THEY FOLD DOWN IN HALF, TAPING MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
YORKIES ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO YOUR MOODS! THEY JUST MELT IF THEY THINK YOU ARE MAD AT THEM, BE SURE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU STILL LOVE THEM, EVEN IF THEY DID DO SOMETHING BAD. NEVER HIT OR KICK THEM. A FIRM, “NO” IS USUALLY SUFFICIENT. THEY WILL RUN TO YOU, IF THEY ARE IN TROUBLE, JUST TO GET THAT REASSURANCE. CHAOS IN THE HOUSE WILL MAKE THEM SHIVER IN FEAR, AS WELL AS TRIPS TO THE VET, AND UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES TO THEM. BE SURE TO LET THEM KNOW EVERYTHING IS OK. THEY NEED LOTS OF LOVE, AND ATTENTION!
YORKIES ARE VERY ACTIVE. ESPECIALLY UP TO ABOUT 10 MONTHS OLD. THEY ARE VERY ATHLETIC, AND LIKE TO RUN! THEY SETTLE DOWN TO BE QUITE THE LAP DOG, AS ADULTS. YORKIES ALSO LIKE TO CHEW. I BUY TODDLER TEETHING TOYS (THOSE WITHOUT WATER) FOR THEM, EVEN AS ADULTS. THE SIZE IS RIGHT, AND THEY LOVE THE RATTLE SOUNDS MOST TETHERS COME WITH.
KEEP FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
DO NOT GIVE THEM TABLE SCRAPS, OR CHANGE BRANDS. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THEY TEND TO GAIN UN-NATURAL WEIGHT WHEN SCRAPS, OR A CHEAPER STORE BRAND IS FED.
Please send me a picture, I would love to put one on my website.
Judy Dostal
RR#1 Site 6 Box 31 Sexsmith Alberta, Canada
T0H-3C0
Call ME AT ANY TIME!
780 568-2508
780 933-5187
PLEASE GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPURCHASE YOUR BABY, IF
YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO OWN YOUR BABY.