Kelland's Yorkshire

Electrical chords, poisonous plants and cleaners must be taken care of. If it is in their reach, they will chew it. Put chords up off the floor or fasten tightly to the wall. Put poisonous plants way out of reach or consider changing them. Consider locking the cabinet you keep cleaners in or putting them on a top shelf. Dogs are smarter than we give them credit for and they can learn to open cabinets with ease. Inspect the outside environment also. Don'tleave your puppy unattended. They will get into mischief. Keep doors and windows closed that you don't want your puppy to enter or fall out of. Keep your puppy off balconies and high porches. Keep small items and hardware out of reach. Plastic bags are also dangerous as a small puppy can gettrapped inside and suffocate or chew pieces that can be harmful in the intestines.With this small bred always take it's collar off as it could hook itself on a object and possible injure itself or even worse (death).Also you may want to have cleaner for accidents. Be prepared to take your puppy out frequently.

Care that you need to give your pup:

1.See your Vet within 72 hours of getting your puppy for a check-up.

2. Follow up with vet for additional vaccinations and worming.

3. Quarantine your puppy for a period of time to allow puppy to calm down and adjust, get used tothe surroundings and observe stool and behavior for any health issues.

4. If you change the puppy food, do it gradually. Feed them 3 times a day at 8 weeks of age.

5. Always provide water.    

Things to notice when you take your puppy home:

Stool: Should be mostly firm, brown in color. A mild diarrhea can be normal. Stress can cause loosebowels among other things. Any blood or persistent diarrhea is cause for a visit to the vet. Do notdelay. Diarrhea can cause dehydration and if untreated, death. Changing the food may causediarrhea as well.

Vomiting: Motion sickness from a car ride can be normal. It should stop soon after your puppy has settled down. If it does not, see your vet.

Eating habits: Make sure your puppy eats. Your puppy will go through growth spurts where he eats more and sometimes doesn’t eat as much.

Feeding: Decide on a dog food or diet. This may be the single most important decision you can make for your puppy (dog). Poor diet can lead to a multitude of problems ranging from skin irritations to early death. Choose something preferably that offers natural ingredients and does not have bone meal orby-products in them (please read the links below). Know what's in your dog food. A natural meat needs to be the first ingredient; not corn, fat, or wheat. Dogs can not digest corn well. If different from the one he is currently eating, make a gradual change over a 2 - 4 day period. Use a puppy chow Royal Cain for 8 months. Puppies up to 4 months eat 3 times a day but beware; some know when to stop and some keep going. Survival instincts tell a dog to eat beyond being full. Follow the suggestions on the bag of food to avoid overfeeding. Get on a regular schedule if possible. It will make housetraining a lot easier. Dogs 4 to 8 months eat twice a day and progress to once a day (or twice with a split serving). A dog should be lean. If ribs are showing then you may want to up the food level. If a puppy is plump, it's OK. Avoid cutting back until they are older. Puppies have growth spurts and will quickly lose the extrafat so don't be alarmed if his appetite changes. ALWAYS have water available.

Baths: Only bathe your dog when necessary. Bathing strips your dogs coat of natural oils. We use Mane n' Tail shampoo and conditioner on our Yorkies it keeps there coats healthy,shiny and keeps the hair from breaking off.Avoid getting water in the ears and soap in the eyes. Take a little extra time with your Basset and clean between the folds of skin. This is where the smell comes from.

Brushing & Combing:Long, silky coats need to be brushed everyday to avoid tangles or mats.Long, course coats need to be brushed twice a week.And always brush your yorkies hair with a wet comb this will keep the hair from breaking off.   

Clipping: Most household companions need their nails trimmed every six to eight weeks. If you here a clicking sound when your dog walks across the bare floor, he needs a trim. Long nails interfere with walking and can be painful. Overgrown nails can curl toward the pads of the feet and pierce them,causing infection. As a safe rule, only trim where the nail begins to curve unless the nail is light colored and you can see the quick. Do not cut the quick! The quick contains nerves and blood vessels. If you do cut the quick, it will bleed; apply flour or cinnamon.

Brushing Teeth: Yorkies do suffer from teeth and gum trouble - clinically known as periodontal disease. Brushing removes plaque and prevents doggie breath. Get your dog used to having his teeth touched. Say "teeth" and touch his lips, place one hand on his lower jaw and the otherover his muzzle, then open his mouth. Gently run your fingers over his teeth. Use a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste.A vet can brush them for you if it is too difficult. If the gums are red or bleed when you brush, it's time to take him to the vet. If the dog dislikes toothpaste try brushing with baking soda mixed with chicken or beef broth. There are liquid dental care products available to put in your dogs drinking water and Greenies work wonders.