Bringing Your Yorkie Puppy Home

Your Yorkie puppy weighs between 2-4 pounds at 8 weeks. That tiny body needs a prepared environment. Here's your pre-arrival checklist:

Essential Supplies:

• A small, enclosed crate (18-22 inches) — Yorkies feel safer in snug spaces
• Puppy pads — housebreaking a Yorkie takes patience, typically 4-6 months
• Small-breed puppy food (kibble size matters — standard kibble is too large)
• Shallow water bowl (Yorkies can struggle with deep bowls)
• Soft harness, NOT a collar — Yorkies are prone to tracheal collapse
• Enzymatic cleaner for accidents

Puppy-Proofing Your Home:
Yorkies are curious and tiny enough to squeeze into places you wouldn't expect. Block gaps under furniture, secure electrical cords, and remove anything small enough to swallow. Get on your hands and knees — literally see the world from their height.

Your puppy will be overwhelmed. New smells, new sounds, no littermates. This is normal.

What to Expect:

• Whining at night (keep the crate near your bed for the first week)
• Reluctance to eat (stress suppresses appetite — offer food but don't force it)
• Sleeping 18-20 hours per day (completely normal for Yorkie puppies)
• Possible trembling (Yorkies shake when cold, stressed, or excited — all three are likely)

What NOT to Do:

• Don't invite everyone over to meet the puppy — give them 3-5 days to decompress
• Don't let them roam the entire house — start with one room
• Don't skip meals even if they're not eating much — Yorkie puppies are susceptible to hypoglycemia
• Don't carry them everywhere — they need to learn to walk and explore

This is the #1 emergency for Yorkie puppies. Their tiny bodies burn through glucose fast.

Signs of Hypoglycemia:

• Lethargy or wobbliness
• Glazed eyes or disorientation
• Trembling that won't stop
• In severe cases: seizures

Emergency Response:

1. Rub honey or Karo syrup on their gums immediately
2. Wrap them in a warm blanket
3. Call your vet
4. Feed a small meal once they're alert

Prevention:
Feed your Yorkie puppy 3-4 small meals per day (not 2 like adult dogs). Keep Nutri-Cal or honey paste accessible at all times during the first 6 months.