Small Dog - new to this...questions

[emma1325]

Hi,

I'm getting a chi-yorkie in about 2 weeks. I'm getting this dog fresh from the Mama, at 6 weeks old.

I'd love some suggestions regarding the following:

1) food - what should I feed this pup, being so young, and how often? We are a natural-minded family, so I'm open to any suggestions here.

2) sleep - I'm assuming this pup will cry a lot in the beginning. Any tips here?

3) vet - at what age should I bring this pup to the vet?

4) vaccinations - rabies is required by law. I'm thinking of only doing this one. What are the risk factors for the other diseases (are distemper and parvo the only 2 other diseases they vax for?) Is there anything I can give the puppy to reduce the risk of a vaccine reaction?

5) medicines - are there any concerns over traditional medicines given by vets - worm, heartworm, flea, etc? If so, are there natural alternatives?

6) potty training - any tips? When to start, how to go about it, etc.


Thanks!!!

[SevenVeils]

Is it possible to let the puppy stay with the mom until 8 weeks?

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by SevenVeils

Is it possible to let the puppy stay with the mom until 8 weeks?

I intend to ask, however, the owner of the litter has stressed to me that she wants the puppies out of her house at 6 weeks.

[kblackstone444]

Originally Posted by emma1325

I intend to ask, however, the owner of the litter has stressed to me that she wants the puppies out of her house at 6 weeks.

Six weeks is way too early. Especially with a small breed- I don't know about chi-yorkies, but many yorkies has problems eating (don't want to eat, have to be spoonfed every four hours or so- I worked with a breeder for a while) and if they don't eat enough, their blood sugar can go down and they could have seizures and die. I'd be nervous about taking home a puppy that young and that small, and I'd be concerned about how reputable the breeder is, trying to get rid of the pupies that early.

[Slingin'Momto4]

I would not take the puppy home at 6 wks. When we bought our Bichon Frise' we asked the breeders if she could stay w/the mom until 12 wks...they were fine w/it. The originally wanted us to get her at 10 wks but we wanted her to stay w/her Mama a little longer and she was great when we got her!

[SophieAnn]

6 weeks is really too young for a puppy to leave mom & littermates. I would have serious concerns about any breeder who insisted on them going home that early.

Some important reasons to stay with mom & littermates until at least 8 wks:

- Bite inhibition - mom teaches the pups bite inhibition (how to be gentle with their mouths), so do littermates, even more so. They play, rough sometimes and they learn boundaries from eachother.

- Potty training - the difference 2 weeks can make in potty training is huge. Waiting an extra 2-6 weeks means your pup would have more bladder control - potty training would be easier, fewer accidents and less frustration.

- Eating - I'm pretty sure most pups are still nursing at 5 weeks, at least some. So, by 6 weeks they might be eating food, but still nursing some as well. Dogs do naturally wean around that age, but do you really want to risk the possibility of forced early weaning? A pp also mentioned some yorkie-specific feeding issues as well.

Have you found a vet yet?

A good vet will be happy to answer all your questions about vaccines, and provide recommendations on feeding. A good breeder will also have recommendations on a high-quality food for your pup, and when to switch to adult food.

I highly recommend you read: Before & After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar. It was recommended to us by our breeder, and it is a fantastic book. I recommend/loan it to anyone I know who is considering getting a dog.

A poster in another discussion provided links - you can read it online for free.

Before You Get Your Puppy: http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BE...ur%20Puppy.pdf

After You Get Your Puppy: http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/AF...ur%20Puppy.pdf

[betsyj]

Are you paying for this dog?

Six weeks for this type of dog is way to young. For any dog really, but especially one so small.

I would run from this person and look elsewhere for a family pet.

[Ola_]

I agree with everyone else - 6 weeks is way too young, 8 is really the minimum. Honestly it makes me worried about what else the breeder is doing wrong (and it smells like a BYB or puppy mill ). Personally I would be worried about having a neurotic dog for the rest of it's life. As much as we would like to think that if you do everything right once you bring the dog home, the truth is it just won't make up for bad genetics or those crucial first few weeks.

Have you paid for the pup already? I also would go elsewhere.

Edited to add that I feel bad that I can't give you more optimistic advice. If you do decide to get the pup after all I'm sure we will try to help as much as we can. My MIL has a chi-dashund mix that she got from (what I know for sure are) backyard breeders. They also got her early because the "breeders" didn't want to deal with the puppies anymore and my MIL figured it was best for the pup since they smoked in the house. That little dog is such a neurotic little thing. She is all of 5 lbs and tries to go after every dog she gets near, she cannot be pet by children because you never know when she will bite. Heck, she has bitten my SIL on the face (one of the two people who feeds her and takes care of her). She is not reliably house trained and has to stay in a room with washable flooring at all times (which is great fun when they come to visit). My MIL has had such a stressful time dealing with her that she said after this dog, she won't get another one ever again. We are just trying to prevent you from having to live with that for the next 10+ years.

[nd_deadhead]

I have to throw in my vote that I wouldn't get a dog from anyone who was willing to take them from their mother and littermates at 6 weeks. This is NOT a person who has the pup's best interests in mind. They sound like they don't want to be inconvenienced any longer than necessary, and are just in it for the money (especially since they are mating one breed to another).

Please find yourself a responsible breeder - or get your pup from a shelter or rescue. A good breeder will have answers for all of your questions, and the answers will be specific to the breed.