CARING FOR A NEW TOY DOG
Please remember your new toy dog has been brought to unfamiliar surroundings. It may be frightened and overwhelmed. Provide a private place for it to go and rest. A crate is ideal for this. A crate will also aid you in house training your toy dog. Most dogs will not soil in them unless the crate is too large or they are left too long. Young dogs should be taken outside to eliminate every time they eat, drink, play hard or wake up. Stay with them to make sure they eliminate before reentering the house. Give them lots of praise when they go where you want them to eliminate. NEVER leave your dog unattended outside. They may be injured, stolen or taken by predators. Hawks, owls, vultures, coyotes etc.
Remember, if your toy dog soils in the house, it is your fault, not the dogs. A properly housetrained pet is completely up to you. Your dog wants to please you, show it how.
Don’t let your new pup have the run of the house. They can get into trouble so quickly and quietly it is amazing. Stay with them when they are loose. An Exercise Pen or confinement to an easy to clean area in your home is best when you can’t be with them.
Your new puppy may cry at night or when left alone. This is normal; it WILL get over this. A cuddly or chew toy may help.
Do not let your puppy chew on electrical cords or other dangerous objects. Substitute a chew toy instead. Puppies cut teeth until they’re about 8 months old and will chew anything they can get their mouth on. I.E. shoes, telephone cords, books, furniture, I’m sure you get the picture.
Toy dogs and big dogs do not mix. It breaks my heart every time I get a call from someone whose toy dog has been maimed or killed by a bigger dog. No matter how well they appear to get along, remember, your little one is snack sized. One bite is all it takes.
Always walk your Toy dog with a harness. This will help prevent Trachea damage. An obedience training class made up of small dogs is a good idea for both you and your dog.
Toy dogs do not eat a lot of food, particularly at one sitting. A toy dog, however, can suffer from Hypoglycemia if it does not eat enough. The gums will be pale and the dog lethargic. White Karo Syrup rubbed on the gums will bring the blood sugar back up. Nutri-cal is also good to keep around. Any time your dog is lethargic, vomiting or has diarrhea it is cause for concern and you should contact your Veterinarian. Toy dogs dehydrate quickly if they vomit or have diarrhea. This can be a life threatening emergency.
Please feed your new dog the food provided by it’s breeder. If you wish to change foods, do so gradually, adding a little more of the new food daily for about 7 days. This will prevent upset tummies and diarrhea. Do not give milk products or table scraps to your dog for the same reasons. Keep fresh water available at all times. Raisins and grapes as well as chocolate are highly toxic; a small amount can kill your pet.
Keep puppies warm and dry. Dogs should be brushed daily with a soft pin brush and bathed weekly. Always blow-dry your dog with warm to cool air. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for the dog. Toenails should be trimmed weekly and the hair between the pads of the feet as needed. For Yorkies, to maintain upright ears, the ears should be trimmed weekly. The top 1/3 to ½ of the ear both front and back. The hair in the ear canal should be pulled as needed, to prevent infection. The hair around the anus should be trimmed so BM does not stick. Check puppy’s rear daily for stuck BM. This can cause irritation and blockage.
NEVER leave your toy dog on a table or other high spot. Keep a hand on them at all times. They can and will jump off and injure or kill themselves. Discourage jumping on and off furniture and beds. Not only can they break legs but also they can cause permanent damage to their knees known as Luxating Patella.
Make sure you have a veterinarian that is familiar with toy dogs. They ARE NOT the same as large breeds, and should not be treated as such. A good veterinarian can be your dog’s best friend. A poor one can be a disaster for you and the dog.
Do not hesitate to call your breeder if you think there is a problem or you have questions, we will always be there to help you.
ENJOY YOUR NEW DOG AND LOVE THEM! |
