Yorkie Information Center
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Yorkie Puppy Care
Overview
8 weeks old is the minimum age that you should bring a Yorkie puppy into your home. In the majority of areas, including the United States, it is illegal to sell a puppy who is less than 8 weeks old. A breeder may decide to hold on to a puppy for a bit longer, if they determine that the pup is a bit underweight or needs more time to develop proper eating skills.
This is in the best interest of the puppy and to have a happy, healthy and well socialized Yorkie, a person should never “push” to obtain a pup any younger than the breeder suggests. To do so, will endanger the pup and will most likely lead to big veterinarian bills.
8 weeks old is the minimum age that you should bring a Yorkie puppy into your home. In the majority of areas, including the United States, it is illegal to sell a puppy who is less than 8 weeks old. A breeder may decide to hold on to a puppy for a bit longer, if they determine that the pup is a bit underweight or needs more time to develop proper eating skills.
This is in the best interest of the puppy and to have a happy, healthy and well socialized Yorkie, a person should never “push” to obtain a pup any younger than the breeder suggests. To do so, will endanger the pup and will most likely lead to big veterinarian bills.
Puppy Needs
How do you provide the absolute best Yorkie puppy care ? By providing all of the basic needs, plus a lot of love.
Food
Yorkie puppies require a well balanced diet, this can be provided by a good quality puppy food. It is very important to feed puppy food and not generic dog food or adult dog food. A 1 lb. puppy needs 1/2 cup of food, a 3 lb. puppy needs 1 cup of food per day and a 5 lb. puppy needs 1 and ¼ cups of puppy food. More detailed information can be found in our Feeding Section.
Guidance
When a Yorkie is 2 and 3 months old, this is a very impressionable time. Your pup will look to you to show them the way around the world, how to react to things and what behavior is expected. A pup should be exposed to normal household noises; however a very noisy home is not best for the Yorkie until they are accustomed to all that is going on. Do not blast a stereo or have lots of traffic coming in and out of your home. Allow your Yorkie to slowly become used to other people, best done 1 at a time.
Time spent touching the puppy is very important. While many puppies will want to romp around and it may be difficult to get a pup to stay still, you can try to do so right after a good spell of exercise when the pup is tired.
Sleep
Young puppies sleep a lot. On average, a puppy will sleep 13 hours per day. However even 18 hours is not abnormal. You will want your new Yorkie puppy to be as comfortable as possible. Investing in a high quality puppy dog bed is recommended. It is also recommend to lay down baby blankets in the bed, so that if your puppy has an accident, you can wash the blanket and put another one down.
Veterinary Puppy Care
If you purchased your puppy from a reputable he or she will most likely have had the basic vaccinations required for her age.
If you got a free puppy, or pet-shop puppy (not recommend, as puppies come from Puppy Mills) it is best to assume that no shots have been given (unless you were given shot records) and start at the very beginning. Correct puppy care will include a full vet check up and any vaccinations your new baby needs. A normal schedule for puppy vaccinations is as follows -
It's always a good idea to take a new puppy to the veterinarian you've chosen as soon as you can after getting them home.
The vet can do a thorough examination and that way if there are any potential problems. If purchasing from a reputable breeder, you will usually be asked to bring your new Yorkie puppy to the vet within a certain amount of time (usually 24 to 72 hours) to confirm that the pup is healthy
Grooming
Part of each of your day should consist of grooming the Yorkie puppy. This will include bath time, brushing, combing, ear care, nail care, trimmings and more. It is also suggested to use grooming time to check for any early signs of health issues with your puppy. You may wish to read our Grooming Section.
Toys
Yorkie puppy care includes being sensitive to a pup’s teething and providing all you can to help them through this time. This will include giving the puppy ice cubes and special teething toys which can be put in the freezer to make cold; a nice relief on the pup’s gums. To keep a puppy happy and entertained, rotating dog toys can be very helpful. It is suggested to have at least 3 sets of toys and allow your pup to have 1 set every week or so.
A Safe Home
Puppy-proofing your home is very important. Little pups are giant explorers! Curiosity is almost endless. It is a good idea to make sure that there are no electrical cords on the floor or any place that can be reached. These can usually be tied up and hidden behind appliances, too high for a puppy to reach. No small objects on the floor should be an enforced rule. In addition, beware of toxic substances. The most commonly found items right at the level at which a young pup can reach are cigarettes (which when ingested can cause fatal nicotine poisoning) and socks (believe it or not, a puppy can begin chewing on and then choke on a small sock). When one is preparing their home, this should be done as if you were child-proofing your home for a baby. Cabinets should be locked, liquids put up high, etc.
It is important to note that very small dog breeds such as the Yorkie can be easily injured when jumping off of furniture. It is suggested to have doggie steps or ramps from bed & sofa to the floor. If not, you will want to be sure train your puppy to not jump or climb onto objects that jumping down from may be harmful.
Have a family meeting so that everyone in the home understands the importance of always being aware of what is underfoot. It is surprising how many little dogs are injury (sometimes severely) when an owner accidental steps or trips over them.
Exercise
Be sure to read our Exercise section, as running around the home may not be enough. Puppies love to eat and they love to run around. Left in a crate all day = one unhappy dog. Set aside time each day to allow your Yorkie to have a burst of exercise, which plays a large role in keeping your Yorkshire Terrier healthy.
Food
Yorkie puppies require a well balanced diet, this can be provided by a good quality puppy food. It is very important to feed puppy food and not generic dog food or adult dog food. A 1 lb. puppy needs 1/2 cup of food, a 3 lb. puppy needs 1 cup of food per day and a 5 lb. puppy needs 1 and ¼ cups of puppy food. More detailed information can be found in our Feeding Section.
Guidance
When a Yorkie is 2 and 3 months old, this is a very impressionable time. Your pup will look to you to show them the way around the world, how to react to things and what behavior is expected. A pup should be exposed to normal household noises; however a very noisy home is not best for the Yorkie until they are accustomed to all that is going on. Do not blast a stereo or have lots of traffic coming in and out of your home. Allow your Yorkie to slowly become used to other people, best done 1 at a time.
Time spent touching the puppy is very important. While many puppies will want to romp around and it may be difficult to get a pup to stay still, you can try to do so right after a good spell of exercise when the pup is tired.
Sleep
Young puppies sleep a lot. On average, a puppy will sleep 13 hours per day. However even 18 hours is not abnormal. You will want your new Yorkie puppy to be as comfortable as possible. Investing in a high quality puppy dog bed is recommended. It is also recommend to lay down baby blankets in the bed, so that if your puppy has an accident, you can wash the blanket and put another one down.
Veterinary Puppy Care
If you purchased your puppy from a reputable he or she will most likely have had the basic vaccinations required for her age.
If you got a free puppy, or pet-shop puppy (not recommend, as puppies come from Puppy Mills) it is best to assume that no shots have been given (unless you were given shot records) and start at the very beginning. Correct puppy care will include a full vet check up and any vaccinations your new baby needs. A normal schedule for puppy vaccinations is as follows -
- 6 - 8 weeks old - 1st DHLPP + Corona
- 11 - 12 weeks old - 2nd DHLPP + Corona
- 15 - 16 weeks old - 3rd DHLPP + Corona
- 16+ weeks - Rabies
It's always a good idea to take a new puppy to the veterinarian you've chosen as soon as you can after getting them home.
The vet can do a thorough examination and that way if there are any potential problems. If purchasing from a reputable breeder, you will usually be asked to bring your new Yorkie puppy to the vet within a certain amount of time (usually 24 to 72 hours) to confirm that the pup is healthy
Grooming
Part of each of your day should consist of grooming the Yorkie puppy. This will include bath time, brushing, combing, ear care, nail care, trimmings and more. It is also suggested to use grooming time to check for any early signs of health issues with your puppy. You may wish to read our Grooming Section.
Toys
Yorkie puppy care includes being sensitive to a pup’s teething and providing all you can to help them through this time. This will include giving the puppy ice cubes and special teething toys which can be put in the freezer to make cold; a nice relief on the pup’s gums. To keep a puppy happy and entertained, rotating dog toys can be very helpful. It is suggested to have at least 3 sets of toys and allow your pup to have 1 set every week or so.
A Safe Home
Puppy-proofing your home is very important. Little pups are giant explorers! Curiosity is almost endless. It is a good idea to make sure that there are no electrical cords on the floor or any place that can be reached. These can usually be tied up and hidden behind appliances, too high for a puppy to reach. No small objects on the floor should be an enforced rule. In addition, beware of toxic substances. The most commonly found items right at the level at which a young pup can reach are cigarettes (which when ingested can cause fatal nicotine poisoning) and socks (believe it or not, a puppy can begin chewing on and then choke on a small sock). When one is preparing their home, this should be done as if you were child-proofing your home for a baby. Cabinets should be locked, liquids put up high, etc.
It is important to note that very small dog breeds such as the Yorkie can be easily injured when jumping off of furniture. It is suggested to have doggie steps or ramps from bed & sofa to the floor. If not, you will want to be sure train your puppy to not jump or climb onto objects that jumping down from may be harmful.
Have a family meeting so that everyone in the home understands the importance of always being aware of what is underfoot. It is surprising how many little dogs are injury (sometimes severely) when an owner accidental steps or trips over them.
Exercise
Be sure to read our Exercise section, as running around the home may not be enough. Puppies love to eat and they love to run around. Left in a crate all day = one unhappy dog. Set aside time each day to allow your Yorkie to have a burst of exercise, which plays a large role in keeping your Yorkshire Terrier healthy.
More Puppy Information
- What you must have on hand with any Yorkshire Terrier under 4 months old
- What you must know about the downside to vaccinations to keep your Yorkie safe
- Introduction to Home, Family & Other Dogs -Make sure you do this correctly
- Fixing the 9 Reasons a puppy barks, understood & resolved
- Professional House Training, Litter Box Training and Set-Backs, Detailed & Easy to Follow
- Training the Older Yorkie
- Odd Eating Habits
- 24 Behavioral Issues
- 36 Yorkshire Terrier Health Issues....And so Much More
- Any questions, answered Direct & Personally From the Yorkie Experts...For FREE...For Life...Click to Learn More
- Read about what you must know before you buy a Yorkie puppy...Click to Learn More
