11/01/2021
When Can Yorkie Puppies Leave Their Mother?
While there are varying opinions on this, I would advise waiting for the 10-12 week mark before separating a Yorkie puppy from its mother and the rest of the litter.
Yes, it’s true that at the early age of eight weeks, Yorkie puppies should have finished weaning and had their first round of shots. However, there is more to the early stages of development than gaining weight and transitioning away from their mother’s milk.
It should be noted that every dog is different, some puppies may mature earlier than others, however, between 8 and 12 weeks is when most Yorkies become increasingly aware of their surroundings. This 8-12 week period is important as it is also when Yorkie puppies begin to learn social skills through spending time with their mother and siblings.
This socialization period helps Yorkies understand how to interact with other dogs and animals. Separating them prematurely during this stage can result in an overly anxious dog that doesn’t interact so kindly with other dogs and strangers. This is why some breeders may even wait for 13 or 14 weeks to pass before allowing their puppies to move on.
Knowing that some Yorkies do not mix particularly well with other dogs in the first place (especially other breeds), I would say that this socialization period is exceptionally important for Yorkie puppies.
Most quality breeders wait at least 10-12 weeks to make sure the Yorkies are fully developed and have had at least some of that exposure to social interaction which can make all the difference. This helps produce a normalized, healthy, and happy Yorkie with a strengthened immune system.
The Early Weeks of a Yorkie’s Life
The first weeks of a Yorkie’s life are a time of rapid growth and development. It’s fascinating to see how they change during this short but crucial period. Here are some of the key milestones to expect.
The first two weeks of life, are all about gaining weight, your puppy may even double in size. During this time it will be attentively cared for by its mother with little to no human interaction.
In general, you’ll want to allow nature to take its course and let the mother do her work. She will clean and nurse the puppies for the first month. However, you should keep an eye on their interactions to ensure everything is going as expected and that all of the pups are getting enough of their mother’s milk.
Without a constant and steady supply of nutrients, a puppy can quickly develop hypoglycemia. This is basically a rapid drop in blood sugar levels which can ultimately lead to a coma followed by death if not treated. Early signs of hypoglycemia are weakness, fainting, confusion, and weight loss.
The adorable personality of the Yorkie starts to emerge around the third or fourth week of its life. This is when it starts to get more curious and explore. A Yorkie’s nose and sense of smell are becoming more mature, and they will begin to sniff absolutely everything.
The weaning process should begin slowly around week 4 or 5 of the Yorkie puppy’s life. At this point, you are gradually introducing puppy food and harder solids into their diet. Do not offer them human food as they’re still developing and need to get used to dog food while weaning off milk.
Around the 6th or 7th week of the puppy’s life, the Yorkie puppy should be fully transitioned to solid foods.
They love to mimic their siblings and are learning social cues from other pups during this time about how to bark, play, and behave. At this point, they also have fully developed their sense of sight and may respond to your calls more frequently.
After 8 weeks have passed, Yorkie puppies are no longer considered newborns and are usually physically ready to leave their mothers. Nonetheless, this is a crucial time for a Yorkie puppy’s socialization so I would highly recommend leaving them with their mothers and the rest of the litter until they are at least 10-12 weeks old.
