Hi All,
Am new to this site and am looking for some help with my 9 week old Yorkie. The breeder used to leave down dried food all day for the pups and the parent dogs to help themselves, not a good idea I thought as the pup won't get into a routine, feeding/"going", anyway, got her home and I'm finding it hard to get her to eat from the bowl, she takes a bite then walks away, sometimes returning for more, most of the time not.Am becoming concerned that she is not eating nearly enough, she certainly doesn't eat the recommended 3/4 times a day.
Also, help needed at night, she sleeps in her bed in the kitchen but cries and barks for ages, have tried her with a lamp on, with a radio on but she still barks and cries. Any help appreciated.
Thanks

Hi have a 9 week old Bull Terrier pup and she does exactly the same,but what I do now is if she does not come back to the food after 20 mins I pick it up of the floor,she then seems to eat more the next meal,try to keep a 4 meal a day routine. I also add some boiling water and leave it until it's at body temp and she seems to enjoy this more. Try putting a hot water bottle under her bedding and also place a ticking clock near to her,but don't go down to her as she will want you there all the time.I'm no expert but I hope this helps.
Kim

If the food is a dry complete then I would try leaving food down for a couple of hours a day to start with. Then start reducing the length of time the bowl is down until you can put the food down and she will eat it then and there. She's only a tiny pup at the mo and will have a tiny tummy so she probably doesn't need huge quantities. I know it can be difficult as we like to see them eat a meal in one go but she needs to re-learn whena nd where food comes from!
With regards to the barking at night she could be feeling the cold in the kitchen at night, especially at the moment so try her with a hot water bottle or one of those microwave pads you can get.
What's her name by the way?
Bec

The first few days with our OES pup he hardly ate at all, I was told this is normal when getting a new puppy home, he then started to eat the recommended amount and grew....and grew !! now at 13 weeks he eats about half of the recommended amount for his age & weight yet is still growing very fast ! the vet says he is in A1 condition and growing really well!!
I think what I am trying to say is unless they are ill a puppy wont starve themselves deliberately and so should eat when they are hungry so try not to worry too much ! Easier said than done I know I was at that stage 2 weeks ago until I saw our vet!

Jude

I'm sorry but I have seen Yorkies starve themselves until they get what they want!!! and I mean starve for 4-5 days until finally we found food they would eat and I know they would've starved for longer had we not spent a fortune on different foods experimenting..

Goodness ! I was right to be worried when Our OES would not eat then, at the time I felt silly asking the vet if he was OK but now dont feel so stupid if there is any possibility he would starve rather than eat for whatever reason.
I am just glad he is OK and hope the Yorkie is OK too

jude

I think the comment was more tongue in cheek.

I have a bitch that for the first two years barely ate 3 days out of four, but was and is fit as a flea, though used to be thinner than I would like.

If you are going on the amount it says on the bag, then I am not surprised you are feeding half what it says.

My dogs eat 200g a day, which is what is advised for dogs half their size!

Hi again and thanks for the replies,
Have tried leaving her food down all day, still no joy, walks up to it, sniffs and walks off, yet if i give it to her by hand she will eat it (dry, complete food) dont want to get the habit though.
Have tried soaking it in warm water too, little better response, although still not eating more than 3 or 4 pieces.
I realise this is the wrong section for the night problems, she (Ellie) has a water bottle and a clock, still barks and cries.

Hi there,

Our puppy, Sonny, wouln't eat much of the dried stuff either when we first got him home - even the food that the breeder had been feeding him.
What with his tummy problems, not eating, etc, we switched him to raw, starting off with minced chicken and he has never looked back. The bowl is always emptied now.
Ruth

welcome to yorkies :-)))) the fussiest dogs on the planet from my experience...

let me know what you are feeding her....

from experience they like cat food, they like roasted chicken - the breast part... and sometimes on occasions trays of caesar and the like...

you can also try wheatbix with goats milk, scrambled egg

bear in mind that yorkies are tiny and she will only eat a tablespoon at the most at each meal...

as for night, a well covered hot water bottle. teddy and blanket and she will accustom to it within a few more days - i know it feels cruel but if you intend on keeping her down in the kitchen then get her used to it now otherwise you will make problems for yourself..

we always kept our yorkies downstairs until they were house trained then they slept in our beds ;-) but they did cry and bark like yours - stick to your guns - I'd be more concerned about the feeding though....

so what exactly is your feeding routine?? then i may beable to give more advice

I echo this I had a couple of yorkies and they are a law unto themselves amongst my lab family I have Bobby my maltese (always thought he was a lab) very similar to a yorkie in habits Bobby likes all sorts of food but his favourites are chicken,ceasar,sheba cat food cat biscuits small bite mixer you have to remember they have tiny tummies so wont eat a lot they also love company and will happily take a small space in your bedroom as opposed to a kitchen alone.Bobby would never stay downstairs he is twelve now
and has been a brilliant dog but they need your company

Hi again,
She (Ellie) eats Barkers dry complete puppy food, similar to the one the breeder was using. Had two Yorkies up until last year when they both passed away, one 16 years old, the other was 14 years old, ( guess I dont remember that far back when they were puppies,) so I know how fussy they were :) At one time all one of them would eat were lambs hearts.
Ellie seems quite happy with the food when she eats it and seems lively and daft enough on it :) guess I'm going to have to be a little more patient and stop worrying too much.
As for the night time barking/crying, last night was the first quiet night, she seems to like Radio 4 on the radio, seems it wasn't the right station before :).
Although her bed and it's contents were all over the kitchen floor ?
Am confining her to the kitchen until house trained, currently doing well with the paper.