Anyone have a *Yorkie*!?! Advice Please!

danimarie

danimarie

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Hi everyone.

I haven't been posting as much lately due to some serious issues in my life. Health issues.

Well, they have passed and now I am getting a Yorkie. I haven't had a dog in years. She is beautiful and it was love at first sight. I tried going through many rescue channels but couldn't find a smaller dog in my area to match my apartment and lifestyle. (not to mention three cats)

Here is she is:




I will be picking her up either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Has anyone had a Yorkie or know anything about them? I've done lots of research, but I'd like some personal stories.

I've heard they can be yappers...can you gently train them not to yap so much? Also, are they difficult to housetrain?

How do you think the cats will get along with her?

Thanks!!!
 
denice

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The main thing to remember with small dogs is that they are dogs instead of children. Many people see them as so small and cute, like babies, and don't treat and train them like dogs. When that happens the dog can take over with all the negative behaviors like excessive barking and guarding. They need to be trained the same as a large dog.
 
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catnurse22

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My mom has a yorkie named Molly. She got her when I was a sophomore in highschool, so I lived with her for two years.

They're good little dogs. Molly was fairly easily house trained. Crate training worked really well for her. But as she got older (she's still only 5 now), she developed this miss priss attitude about going outside ("What do you mean you want me to pee? It's too hot/cold/wet/etc.) DO NOT give in to this behavior. Once you give up on her once and just go inside, you start a lifelong habit. They're very smart dogs and can wrap you around their little toes in about half a second. Just because they're tiny and adorable doesn't mean they get away with everything! Basically, just don't let them think their little Ms. Princess or they can get some pretty bad habits.

Health wise they're pretty good. Can be prone to varying degrees of collapsed trachea and other breathing issues, but most of the time it doesn't require medical attention. They tend to have pretty bad gums/teeth so expect dentals starting at 2 or 3 and probably once a year from then out.

Get them used to basic grooming like baths, brushing, nail trimming, even teeth brushing. They get an attitude about those kind of things pretty quickly so get them used to it as babies and make it simply part of their routine.

When we got Molly, we already had two cats, one female that was about a year and a male that was about two. Molly got along great with them. She'd play with them and still has cat like tendencies to this day simply because she was "raised" by cats.

All and all yorkies are good little dogs, IF RAISED RIGHT. They have loads of personality, a high intelligence level, and they're cute to boot. Just remember you're boss and you should have a great little companion!
 
trillcat

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Originally Posted by CatNurse22

My mom has a yorkie named Molly. She got her when I was a sophomore in highschool, so I lived with her for two years.

They're good little dogs. Molly was fairly easily house trained. Crate training worked really well for her. But as she got older (she's still only 5 now), she developed this miss priss attitude about going outside ("What do you mean you want me to pee? It's too hot/cold/wet/etc.) DO NOT give in to this behavior. Once you give up on her once and just go inside, you start a lifelong habit. They're very smart dogs and can wrap you around their little toes in about half a second. Just because they're tiny and adorable doesn't mean they get away with everything! Basically, just don't let them think their little Ms. Princess or they can get some pretty bad habits.

Health wise they're pretty good. Can be prone to varying degrees of collapsed trachea and other breathing issues, but most of the time it doesn't require medical attention. They tend to have pretty bad gums/teeth so expect dentals starting at 2 or 3 and probably once a year from then out.

Get them used to basic grooming like baths, brushing, nail trimming, even teeth brushing. They get an attitude about those kind of things pretty quickly so get them used to it as babies and make it simply part of their routine.

When we got Molly, we already had two cats, one female that was about a year and a male that was about two. Molly got along great with them. She'd play with them and still has cat like tendencies to this day simply because she was "raised" by cats.

All and all yorkies are good little dogs, IF RAISED RIGHT. They have loads of personality, a high intelligence level, and they're cute to boot. Just remember you're boss and you should have a great little companion!
Click to expand...

Also I will add being a terrier they are high energy pups, they will dig and hunt, possibly in your carpet, your bed, couch, anywhere! Lots of exercise needed.
 
white cat lover

white cat lover

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I agree that they are dogs - be sure to treat them as such!

Yorkies are terriers - we see *tons* through the shelter for being (literally) ankle biters. They chase things & nip ankles. So curb all chasing (people, cats, vehicles, etc) right off the bat.

They are small dogs, therefore cannot hold their bladder long, so must be let over very often to potty. Don't mess with piddle pad/litterbox training - all you do is confuse the dog.

Routine grooming is a must, if you let grooming get behind it'll cost you more to fix it than a basic maintenance groom would.

I have a little dog - she HATES being groomed, nails clipped, etc. Work very hard at getting your pup used to that from the start.
 
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I do hope she's from a GOOD breeder. The pet store puppy mills and backyard breeders tend to produce very unhealthy, tempermentally unstable dogs, the tiny dogs seem to be affected worse by this bad breeding.

Other than that, they're really just like any other dogs! Don't baby her (it's so easy with little dogs), and treat her like a dog, not like a human baby.
 
sharky

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I was blessed for 8 yrs with a lovely HIGH MAINTENANCE Yorkie.. She was already 5 yrs when I adopted her , she at that pt needed about 4 miles a day ... YUP MILES at 13 with cushings she still needed 2 ....

wonderful breed , GET KNEES and EYE s checked if buying from a breeder ( a bad one will tell you not an issue)

Gigi was great with cats
 
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