Immediately After Your Puppy Arrives
Veterinary Check-Up
As soon as possible after receiving your puppy, schedule a veterinary check-up. We recommend taking your puppy to the vet within 3-10 days of arrival. This allows your puppy time to adjust to their new surroundings.
Minimizing Stress
Stress is a significant factor in puppy health problems. Keeping stress to a minimum is crucial. If your puppy isn’t eating or doesn’t seem to be acting normally, take them to the vet immediately.
Benefits of Early Veterinary Visits
Taking your puppy to the vet shortly after arrival benefits everyone involved:
• For Your Puppy: If your puppy is unwell, treatment can begin immediately. If they are healthy, the vet will have a baseline for future visits.
• For You, the Owner: You gain peace of mind knowing your puppy is healthy. If any health issues are detected, you have fulfilled your obligation for the health guarantee.
• For the Breeder: We are committed to providing healthy puppies. Early vet visits ensure any issues are promptly addressed, maintaining customer satisfaction.
Understanding Health Issues
We would never knowingly sell an unhealthy puppy. However, congenital defects that are not apparent at a young age may become evident later, such as at six months old. If the initial vet visit is skipped, it may lead to misunderstandings about the puppy’s health at the time of sale. An early vet check-up helps establish that the puppy was healthy upon arrival, and any later health issues are not due to negligence on the breeder’s part.
What Daily Routine is My Puppy Used To?
This section outlines the daily routine your puppy has grown accustomed to from about six weeks of age until they come into your care. Understanding your puppy’s routine will help ensure a smoother transition to their new home and make you more aware of their needs at this stage of development. While some days may vary, this is a typical day in the life of your puppy. At this age, they are growing rapidly and should eat three times a day to meet their nutritional needs. Remember, young puppies (8 to 12 weeks old) require plenty of sleep, approximately 18 hours per day. Insufficient sleep can impact their overall health. Even as adults, dogs can sleep over half the day in a series of short, medium, and long naps.
Daily Schedule
• 7:00 am – 7:30 am: Your puppy is ready to get up when they hear us moving around, usually around 7 am. At this time, we feed them breakfast, fill their water bowl with fresh water, ensure their bedding is clean, and clean their playpen/kennel as necessary.
• 7:30 am – 9:30 am: They typically have a bowel movement about 20 minutes after eating. Once they have gone potty, we allow them playtime. They are free to run around our large family room, which is tiled and has a door to prevent access to carpeted areas. We socialize them and let them play until they are tired, usually for about an hour. During this playtime, they often use pee pads, although accidents are common at this age.
• 9:30 am – 12:00 pm: After expending their energy, they usually take a two-hour nap in their playpen/kennel. Note: Your puppy likely came from a litter with several siblings and may miss the warmth and comfort of snuggling with them. We recommend providing a stuffed animal or a warm water bottle (following safety instructions) to help them adjust. A warm rice bag can also be comforting. They will soon adapt, and any initial crying should subside within a few days.
• 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Around this time, they wake up and we feed them lunch. We ensure they have plenty of water and that their playpen is clean.
• 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm: After lunch and potty time, we let them run around the family room again to burn off excess energy. We provide various toys for them to play with and give them plenty of human contact and affection. They are well-socialized from all the attention.
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Puppies require a lot of sleep throughout the day. After playtime, they usually nap for another two to three hours. If they wake up early, we let them stretch their legs before dinner.
• 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: We feed them dinner around this time, aiming not to feed any later than 7 pm to reduce nighttime potty needs. We ensure they have fresh water.
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: After dinner and potty time, we let them expend their last bit of energy for the day and give them lots of love and attention.
• 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm/10:00 pm: We usually snuggle with a puppy while watching TV before putting them to bed for the night.
• 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Bedtime! We turn off the lights (leaving a night light on), give them a goodnight kiss, and they go to sleep.
• Around 2:00 am: We do a quick check on them when we get up for other reasons. We change their pee pad if it is soiled and let them continue sleeping. They have been sleeping through the night since they were about four weeks old.
Adjusting the Routine
This is just a sample schedule. You will need to find what works best for you and your family. As your puppy grows, their needs will change, and you will need to adjust their schedule accordingly. Don’t be alarmed if they seem to sleep a lot. Even adult dogs, including bulldogs and other breeds, sleep over half the day (generally 12 to 14 hours daily). Your puppy will need even more sleep, likely approaching or exceeding 18 hours per day. This is normal and necessary for good health. Snuggling with them during part of this sleeping time is a great bonding activity for you and your companion.
Playtime
Puppies love to play and often chase after moving feet or lie down at your feet when you are standing. It’s easy to accidentally step on them, so please supervise small children carefully. If a puppy gets hurt too many times, they may become timid or aggressive.
It’s also important to resist the urge to wake your puppy for playtime. Like humans, puppies can play to the point of exhaustion and may even forget to eat if they are too tired. Avoid playing aggressively with your puppy. If you want a well-behaved, calm puppy, refrain from games like tug of war or wrestling. Instead, teach them to fetch, sit, or come when called. Puppies enjoy training and easily learn new tricks.
How Often and How Much Do I Feed My Puppy?
When you receive your new puppy, they will be accustomed to eating three times a day (morning, noon, and evening). We feed multiple puppies at the same time, placing a large bowl of puppy food in their kennel and allowing them to eat until they are satisfied. Once they walk away from the bowl, we remove it.
Puppies are rapidly growing and changing, requiring frequent meals (at least three times a day) to meet their nutritional needs. Ensure your puppy always has access to fresh water throughout the day.
As your puppy matures, you can transition to feeding them twice a day or even once a day. Your veterinarian can help determine the appropriate feeding frequency and amount based on your puppy’s needs, size, activity level, and other factors. You can either feed your puppy on a set schedule, which helps with potty training, or have food available at all times, monitoring their intake to prevent excessive weight gain.
The food bag should provide a guide on how much to feed your puppy based on their weight. This is a rough guide and may need adjustment based on your puppy’s activity level and metabolism. Monitor their weight and adjust the quantity as needed.
We currently feed all our new puppies Medium Starter from Royal Canin, available at PetSmart and other reputable pet stores, as well as directly from the company. If Medium Starter is unavailable, Mini Starter or Maxi Starter are suitable substitutes. We strongly encourage our clients to use this puppy chow for at least the first month after receiving their puppy to minimize stress from dietary changes.
Do You Require Me to Have My Puppy Spayed or Neutered?
Yes, we require that every puppy leaving our home be spayed or neutered by one year of age, with proof sent to us by 13 months of age. Our puppies are intended to be family pets, and spaying or neutering reduces the risk of many cancers. We do not believe in early spaying or neutering, so we do not fix our puppies before they go to their forever homes. Large breed dogs need hormones for proper bone and joint development. We are strict about our spay/neuter policy. If you plan to breed our dogs later on, please let us know so we can assist with full registration.
If I Can No Longer Keep My Dog, Can It Be Returned to You or Will You Help Me Re-Home Him/Her?
Absolutely! A dog from us can be returned at any point in its life. We understand that life can change unexpectedly, and a dog may no longer be able to stay in your home. We want to be informed if you are unable to keep your puppy so we can assist in re-homing them. We want to ensure the dog goes to a loving home again.
What Does the One-Year Health Guarantee Consist Of?
Our puppies are guaranteed to be in good health to the best of our knowledge when sold. It is your responsibility to take your puppy to your vet within 4-10 days of receipt. If your vet finds a life-threatening condition during this time and we are notified within the 4-10 days, you can return the puppy for a full refund at your expense. For the extended congenital guarantee, if your dog develops a life-threatening congenital deformity or disease severe enough to necessitate euthanasia within the first year, it will be replaced with a puppy of equal value as soon as one becomes available. We must be contacted before any action is taken. We request updates every six months, including a photo, to keep this guarantee valid.
Do You Allow Visitors to See Your Puppies?
After extensive discussions with our veterinarian, we have unfortunately decided that we cannot allow visitors who are not selecting or picking up a puppy to visit our puppies. This year, parvovirus has been particularly rampant, and we must take every precaution to protect our puppies. Often, visitors who have not reserved a puppy visit multiple litters, which increases the risk of bringing this devastating disease into our home. Pet stores and dog parks are also potential sources of infection.
This situation would be heartbreaking not only for the mother dog, who would lose her puppies, but also for the families who have already fallen in love with their future pets, as all our litters are typically reserved before birth. An outbreak could force us to postpone breeding for over a year. Parvovirus is almost always fatal in puppies and can also severely affect adult dogs, causing illness and even miscarriage. To minimize risk, we have not taken our dogs or puppies to the vet clinic for the past two years, as sick dogs visit the vet. Instead, our wonderful vet comes to our home or we visit her for all vaccinations and exams.
We regret having to implement this policy, but our priority is to protect our puppies and the families who adopt them. We are happy to provide pictures and videos of our puppies’ living conditions. Thank you for your understanding. We hope that in the next year or two, if parvovirus cases decrease, we can once again welcome visitors, as this has always been one of the most enjoyable aspects of raising puppies.
What Kind of Temperaments Do Our Puppies Have?
• Sweet, Kind, and Gentle: Our puppies are known for their loving and gentle nature.
• Family Members: They are cherished members of our family, bringing joy and companionship.
• Adaptable: Our puppies easily adapt to various lifestyles and adventures.
• Easygoing: They are relaxed and laid-back, never in too much of a hurry (unless there’s a treat involved!).
• Great with Kids: They are wonderful with children and fit seamlessly into blended families.
• Loyal Companions: They are our constant shadows, following us everywhere, whether it’s to check the mail or use the restroom.
Are Yorkies Good with Cats, Other Dogs, and Kids?
Yorkies are naturally drawn to children and make excellent companions for them. Generations of children have taken their first steps holding on to these fantastic family dogs. Yorkies are incredibly friendly and people-oriented, making them wonderful with cats, other dogs, and children. They do not have the strong prey drive that some other breeds possess, and there has never been a known case of a Yorkie attacking a cat. However, they do enjoy playful interactions.
Our Yorkies love kids. When our puppies hear or see children, they get excited and eagerly run up to them to play. Yorkies are amazing family dogs, and we are convinced they are one of the best breeds ever. Remember, socialization is key to ensuring they develop well-rounded temperaments.
We selectively breed our Yorkies for friendly, trustworthy, and gentle temperaments, making them safe and loving companions for children. Many of our adoptive families enjoy their Yorkies with children of all ages, from infants to teenagers.
Which is Better for Just a Pet – a Male or a Female?
In general, there is no significant difference in temperament between male and female dogs. If you are getting a dog as a pet, spaying or neutering will eliminate most minor differences. Females tend to be smaller than males. While females can damage the grass, males might damage your trees. Males often express affection with “I love you, I love you, I love you,” whereas females might seek attention with “Love me, Love me, Love me.”
Beyond these tendencies, both males and females can be either submissive or dominant, active or quiet. The individual dog’s temperament and proper training will determine whether they will make a suitable pet for your home. Choosing between a male or female is usually a matter of personal preference based on looks. Consider what you want your dog to look like in two years: do you prefer a strong, masculine appearance or soft, feminine features? Reflect on your past experiences with a particular sex and whether you feel comfortable with that or want a change. If you recently lost a family companion, decide if you want a puppy that will look similar when grown or completely different.
Keep in mind that spaying females tends to be more expensive as it is a major operation, while neutering males is less costly as it is a simpler procedure.
What About Vaccinations?
All our puppies receive age-appropriate basic vaccinations. You will be provided with a health record listing the vaccines administered and the dates of worming, which you can give to your veterinarian.
It is crucial to understand that puppies are not fully immunized until they have completed the entire series of shots, which continues through 16 weeks of age. During this period, avoid socializing your puppy with unfamiliar dogs. Be cautious when walking them to prevent contact with other dogs’ waste. Please refrain from taking your puppy to dog parks or pet stores until it is safe to do so.
Why Do We Screen for Genetic Conditions or Health-Related Issues?
• Commitment to Health: As responsible breeders, we have an inherent responsibility to breed healthy dogs.
• Advancements in Genetics: DNA markers for canine genetic diseases are being discovered at a rapid rate.
• Improving Genetic Health: Our goal is to improve the genetic health of our breed through better breeding practices.
• Healthy Puppies: We strive to provide the healthiest puppies to their new families.
What is the difference between limited AKC registration and full AKC registration?
• Full AKC Registration: Puppies with parents of the same AKC-recognized breed, both having full AKC registration, are eligible for either full or limited AKC registration. Full AKC registration means that the puppy (or dog) is sold with full breeding rights. Any puppies produced when mated with another fully AKC-registered Yorkie are eligible for AKC registration, either full or limited, depending on the agreement between the breeder and the new owner.
• Limited AKC Registration: Puppies with limited AKC registration are sold without breeding rights. These puppies are recognized by the AKC as purebred Yorkies and can participate in many AKC events, except for conformation shows, which are intended to evaluate breeding stock. Puppies sold with limited AKC registration are intended as pets only, with the understanding that the new owner will neuter or spay the Yorkie at about 6 months of age. This helps ensure they become better pets with reduced health risks. Failure to neuter or spay at the appropriate time violates the contract and agreement, and any puppies produced from such a dog would be ineligible for AKC registration.
• Our Commitment: We provide our puppies with limited AKC registration to ensure they go to loving homes that seek a pet to be cherished, pampered, and given individual attention.
What do I do when my puppy is biting me?
• Young puppies, regardless of breed, often play using their mouths. While this may seem cute and harmless when they are small, their bites can become more painful and damaging as they grow. If your puppy starts to bite your hands during play, this behavior needs to be discouraged, and other acceptable behaviors encouraged. Here’s what we recommend: If your puppy starts to bite, keep your hands, fingers, arms, etc., out of their mouth. Stop playing with them immediately. Instead, give them an appropriate toy (you can even place it directly in their mouth) and walk away. Consistently preventing them from biting you will help discourage this unwanted behavior.
