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And
now your little fur ball is
home!
What
now?
First
things first, you’ll want to
take your new puppy to the vet
for a quick checkup. You’ll make
a number of visits to the vet
over the next year for checkups
and puppy vaccinations, but this
first visit is very important.
Now
might also be a good time to
check out a pet insurance policy
that offers coverage for the
routine care puppies require
like vaccines.
This
visit to the vet will help catch
any serious health conditions
very early on and helps your
little pup get off on the right
paw.
Once
you’ve got your puppy’s basic
health squared away, you’ll need
to get them settled into your
home.
Gear
to puppy-proof your home
Yorkie puppies come with cute,
irresistible faces and not much
else. On day one, you’ll want to
have a few important items on
hand.
Dog
crate
It is
very tempting to have a new
puppy sleep in your room and
maybe even in your bed, but to
kick off puppy training the
right way, your new puppy will
need a place to call their own.
It is a good idea to have a
spacious, sturdy dog crate
available from day one, so put
that at the top of your puppy
gear list.
A
crate will be a valuable asset
for house training and for
keeping your pup safe from small
children and other pets. Make
sure to select a crate that is
going to be big enough for your
Yorkie when they are full-grown
and ideally one that’s large
enough to make space for both a
dog bed and a pee pad. This will
make potty training easier (more
on that later).
Dog
bed
That
crate won’t be very comfortable
without a dog bed inside, so
look for a comfy stuffed or
foam-based dog bed that will
give them a good place to sleep
or nap. We know your tiny Yorkie
puppy will fit into a cereal
bowl right now, but they will
grow fast, so make sure you buy
a dog bed that will accommodate
them when they are fully grown.
Puppy
playpen
Along
with a crate for crate training
and sleeping, having a Yorkie
playpen is helpful as well.
Puppy pens give a little more
space to roam and play while
still keeping your puppy in a
safe enclosed area. They are
perfect for times that you are
working nearby but can’t keep a
close enough eye on your puppy.
Wire
pens are sturdy and tend to be
bigger, but if you want a
travel-friendly option, consider
a collapsible nylon pen with
mesh windows.
Dog
gate
Eventually, your intrepid little
explorer is going to want to
roam the house, and chances are
you’ll want them to stay out of
certain rooms (especially before
they’re fully potty trained).
A dog
gate helps keep certain places
off-limits, protects your new
puppy from stairs they can’t
navigate yet, and can help keep
them from being stepped on when
you have multiple guests.
Make
sure to buy a dog gate that has
non-marking feet, or consider
installing a permanent one if
you know you’ll want your pup to
stay out of certain places all
of the time.
Chew
toys and bitter chew spray
It
won’t be long before your puppy
is exploring the house and
getting into things they
shouldn’t be, so puppy-proofing
your home is an important part
of Yorkie care.
Pay
special attention to anything
toxic, like cleaners, certain
human foods, and even plants
that might be accessible to your
pup. Also, be sure to put small
objects out of reach that might
be swallowed. Legos, decorative
stones or marbles, and any other
small knick-knacks can be a
choking hazard.
Providing an alternative outlet
for chewing is important, so
make sure you have a collection
of chew toys available. Try to
gather a small basket of toys
that vary in type and texture.
Your pup will appreciate the
variety and it will help you
narrow down which are the best
distractions for your dog.
For
things you don’t want your puppy
to chew on, a bitter dog chew
spray can help. This can be a
good training tool if your pup
has decided they prefer shoes to
toys, and can also be used on
potentially dangerous materials
like toxic plants and electric
lamp cords.
Puzzle toys
Part
of being a good dog parent is
not allowing your dog to
languish in boredom all day.
Aside from exercise and
playtime, another great tool for
this is puzzle toys. These toys
usually have a compartment for a
treat and provide a stimulating
challenge as your pup tries to
get to the prize on the inside.
Dog
bell
One
of the most common causes of
injury among Yorkshire Terriers
is being stepped on. A great way
to reduce the likelihood of this
happening is a dog bell. These
little bells tinkle gently (but
not obnoxiously) as your pup
moves about and also help you
keep track of them in the early
potty training days.
Dog
dishes
You
pup will need fresh water
available as well as a dish to
eat from. We recommend ceramic
or stainless steel, but avoid
plastic because scratches on the
surface can harbor bacteria and
lead to infection.
Training your pup to look for
food in their dish from day one
will help get them into a
regular eating schedule and will
help discourage begging at the
table.
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