Yorkies- lifestyle reassurance

[MissMay]

Hi,
I own 2 3.5year old yorkie bitches. One was the runt of the litter and both were neutered at first heat ~6\7 months.

At the moment they free feed wet and dry dog food and it took a long time to find food they will actually eat for more than a couple of days, they have been eating the Aldi wet dog food for about 18montjs now (not great but everything else got rejected straight away or after a couple of weeks). We were advised to free feed die to size of tummy is that correct? but they tend to only go near it morning and evening

Exercise wise- 3 times a week they do 6-12km off lead running loose either river walks or hiking

3 times a week they do 45-60mins around our town and parks so only about 20 mind off lead the rest on lead on paths.
they then get one day in the garden and relaxing. We have quite a large garden again they have free access to during the day but are quite lazy.
We walk in collars as they wont go in harnesses have spent a fortune on them.

Is this suitable a knowledgable friend said we are over exercising them and risking there joints and pads. They are tiered when they come home and sleep but when we are out they seem very happy?

the runt is heavier than I would like also her chest tapes at 52cm compared to her sister who is 46cm will try get them on the scale as well for weight but last time in the vet was over half a kilo
I checked with vet and he just told me all dogs are different which didnt reassure (farm vet specialists) as they are sisters so wouldnt expect such variation?
is it true neutered runts can cling to weight and really struggle to loose it

thanks for any guidance just want to be sure I'm doing the best I can!

 

[Bellasophia]

You sound very caring and attentive owners..

The only thing in your,post that shouts out to me is the 6 to 12 km , three times a week..it’s overkill .imo.Cut it back..they will be fine and their little joints will shout thank you.
Wonderful for a larger dog,but excessive for a toy breed.

Re Feeding ..if they are happy eating twice a day,continue with that.maybe scatter a small handful of dry kibble on the floor middayi If they need it they will eat it ,if not don’t worry.Don’t leave the food down or they won’t eat their next meal.
It is true tiny breeds need frequent meals to avoid ipo glycaemia( low blood sugar) which can result in epilepsy etc.. But remember their stomachs are no bigger then an egg..judge your portion size on this.

re their weights and size,trust your vet...he has seen them...even littermates can show huge variation in both height and weight.
judge your dog by feeling their rib cage..it should be lightly covered..if you cannot feel their ribs through flesh ,cut back on their portions.

 

[brightmount]

That amount of exercise sounds excessive for a Yorkie. You must be lucky with their orthopedics to be getting away with it, but could be setting them up for problems later on.

I have always had to be careful with my Yorkie as he has a luxating patella which is very common in the breed. It stays in place when he is fit but I can’t let him go mad off-lead, as when he pops it, he takes weeks to recover.

Yorkies have dreadful teeth, so if they will eat dry food it helps to keep them clean. But they are also notoriously picky. You may need more than one dental in their lifetime, especially if they eat wet food.

My Yorkie is now 14 but you wouldn’t know it. He has kidney disease but does great on renal food and fresh fish.

 

[SusieT]

If they are fit and well and dont struggle on the walks the distance is immaterial - its really more whether they cope with it.

 

[IngramsRoughDiamond]

I have 2 Yorkie crosses, one is smaller than the other and walk maximum 15 km a week

 

[DiNozzo]

That amount of exercise sounds excessive for a Yorkie. You must be lucky with their orthopedics to be getting away with it, but could be setting them up for problems later on.

I have always had to be careful with my Yorkie as he has a luxating patella which is very common in the breed. It stays in place when he is fit but I can’t let him go mad off-lead, as when he pops it, he takes weeks to recover.

Yorkies have dreadful teeth, so if they will eat dry food it helps to keep them clean. But they are also notoriously picky. You may need more than one dental in their lifetime, especially if they eat wet food.

My Yorkie is now 14 but you wouldn’t know it. He has kidney disease but does great on renal food and fresh fish.

I agree with all of this except about them being picky. None of mine/my parents have ever been picky and always been greedy pigs. Except the latest one. He's not greedy but does always want some of whatever you've got!

 

[twiggy2]

They are terriers at the end of the day, yes toy dogs but still terriers, if they are happy to walk that far, their weight is good (they don't need to be the same) then I don't see why you need to change it.
Someone I know has a yorkie cross chuiahuahau and the dog is walked at least three times a day for half and hour, lots of free playtime etc etc, she doesn't eat very well but she is bright and active, enjoys her walks so they will continue.
They are little dogs and that does mean their joints are smaller but they are also carrying less weight.

 

[MissMay]

You sound very caring and attentive owners..

The only thing in your,post that shouts out to me is the 6 to 12 km , three times a week..it’s overkill .imo.Cut it back..they will be fine and their little joints will shout thank you.
Wonderful for a larger dog,but excessive for a toy breed.

Re Feeding ..if they are happy eating twice a day,continue with that.maybe scatter a small handful of dry kibble on the floor middayi If they need it they will eat it ,if not don’t worry.Don’t leave the food down or they won’t eat their next meal.
It is true tiny breeds need frequent meals to avoid ipo glycaemia( low blood sugar) which can result in epilepsy etc.. But remember their stomachs are no bigger then an egg..judge your portion size on this.

re their weights and size,trust your vet...he has seen them...even littermates can show huge variation in both height and weight.
judge your dog by feeling their rib cage..it should be lightly covered..if you cannot feel their ribs through flesh ,cut back on their portions.

Thank you?

That amount of exercise sounds excessive for a Yorkie. You must be lucky with their orthopedics to be getting away with it, but could be setting them up for problems later on.

I have always had to be careful with my Yorkie as he has a luxating patella which is very common in the breed. It stays in place when he is fit but I can’t let him go mad off-lead, as when he pops it, he takes weeks to recover.

Yorkies have dreadful teeth, so if they will eat dry food it helps to keep them clean. But they are also notoriously picky. You may need more than one dental in their lifetime, especially if they eat wet food.

My Yorkie is now 14 but you wouldn’t know it. He has kidney disease but does great on renal food and fresh fish.

we have had no issues ever thankfully with anything routine injections so far is all.
Their mum was a "farm yorkie" so maybe a little hardier of a blood line??!

If they are fit and well and dont struggle on the walks the distance is immaterial - its really more whether they cope with it.

they are tiered and sleep after their walks but they trot out whilst on the walk. if they are a bit sluggish we obviously only do a short 20min leg stretch.

I have 2 Yorkie crosses, one is smaller than the other and walk maximum 15 km a week

oh wow ok big difference!!

I agree with all of this except about them being picky. None of mine/my parents have ever been picky and always been greedy pigs. Except the latest one. He's not greedy but does always want some of whatever you've got!

oh my goodness they have our hearts broken with food it's a nightmare and annoyingly the food they eat is definitely not what we would have willingly put them on either. do you fine yours can have very sensitive tummy that react to everything??

They are terriers at the end of the day, yes toy dogs but still terriers, if they are happy to walk that far, their weight is good (they don't need to be the same) then I don't see why you need to change it.
Someone I know has a yorkie cross chuiahuahau and the dog is walked at least three times a day for half and hour, lots of free playtime etc etc, she doesn't eat very well but she is bright and active, enjoys her walks so they will continue.
They are little dogs and that does mean their joints are smaller but they are also carrying less weight.

ok that's reassuring!! I kept thinking they are not very delicate dogs but doubting myself in future as to when is enough


it's very hard to find what's too much for a dog especially willing happy dogs!

 

[DiNozzo]

oh my goodness they have our hearts broken with food it's a nightmare and annoyingly the food they eat is definitely not what we would have willingly put them on either. do you fine yours can have very sensitive tummy that react to everything??

No, my parents dogs got Bakers for years (I know) and lived generally to be in their late teens/early 20s, and their current one is now on dry food from ASDA. Own brand I think.

I can't imagine its the best for him but he's happy, healthy, bright and buzzy with good stool. He's 13 now and has still got white teeth. He's the first one they've had 100% on dry and he's had the best teeth/breathe!

I can't remember what I had my last one on... It was wet though.

The only thing they've ever had a problem with is when they eat too much too quickly and vomit it back up (occasionally they get bits of Sunday dinner and gravy etc.). Oh and Chinese Spare ribs ? my dad is a fan but the dog's stomach is not. Very chalky poo.

 

[twiggy2]

Their mum was a "farm yorkie" so maybe a little hardier of a blood line??!
This jumps out at me from your posts, are yours or their mother pedigree?

 

[misst]

I have a yorkie jrt x and he is pretty tough. He has a dodgy knee he has had operated on and is now stable but still not 100% some days. He is able to cope with distance with no problem. He tends to tweek the knee playing rough and tumble and chase with my younger jrt. They spin/jump/twist/stop/start at high speed. He sometimes looks sore afterwards but stopping him is impossible. No common sense! He will walk all day off lead and sets his own pace so I think distance is less important than the type of excercise.