Get a ramp! Get a ramp! Please get a RAMP!

[tw4sw]

OK, I have been reading the threads today and I keep coming across a common theme, you'd better safety proof yor house or your yorkie will suffer! I don't have my baby yet but I broke down and bought a ramp today (to prevent broken legs), purchased dog insurance already (for those untimely illnesses that are bound to occur), bought a dog collar with a bell (God help me if I step on my baby), bought several dog proof stuffed animals, have decided to switch my baby to SolidGold puppy food when I get her (she is on Science diet right now with the breeder but I keep hearing bad things about Science diet) and bought a safety harness for the car to keep her buckled in. Have I missed anything? Phew!! I am exhausted trying to think of what disasters to prevent. For those of you who had unfortunate accidents of any kind with your dear yorkies, God bless you for letting us Yorkietalkers know. This has me hypervigilant in trying to prevent the same. Oh yeah, I'll have to be sure I keep my purse and pill bottles out of reach too and I have a bottle of Karo syrup handy for those hypoglycemic times. Have I forgotten anything? .

[FireFish]

Great thread. What insurance did you go with?

[tw4sw]

Originally Posted by FireFish

Great thread. What insurance did you go with?

VPI insurance. They had the best quotes around after doing much research. The number is 1800-USA-PETS. Contessa at extension x5246 or x5249(?) was very helpful and can give you all their rates. The plan I chose will reimburse most costs at 90% after a 50 dollar yearly deductible. It's worth it considering all the horror stories I have heard here on YorkieTalk lately. I want my baby to be around for a long long time.

[dianne]

Well im with you but you have to keep things in prospective. I almost stopped coming to the site for a while as some of the posts were scaring the hell out of me and getting me quite down I thought what have I got my self into wi ththis yorkie puppy But I try and baby proof the house as if I had a humane baby. My question on the ramp is how can you stop a yokie jumping do you have a ramp on every thing in the house? dianne :

[azkaty]

Harnesses for walking!!NO COLLAR

[tw4sw]

Originally Posted by dianne

Well im with you but you have to keep things in prospective. I almost stopped coming to the site for a while as some of the posts were scaring the hell out of me and getting me quite down I thought what have I got my self into wi ththis yorkie puppy But I try and baby proof the house as if I had a humane baby. My question on the ramp is how can you stop a yokie jumping do you have a ramp on every thing in the house? dianne :

LOL No but the ramp is portable so I can move it from room to room. Of course if my baby is a speed demon I might lose a few pounds trying to chase her all over the house with the ramp trying to prevent a broken leg. Just thinking about it cracks me up...

[ReconsMomma]

JMO, but I dont think that a ramp is going to curb them from jumping all together. I myself keep a pillow (like one off the bed) next to the couch and Preslee jumps down onto that so that she has some cushioning when she gets down. She isn't allowed on the bed unless I am in there with her since I have a really tall bed.

I included a pic of the pillow and how I have it. She wont jump off the couch unless the pillow is there, she will bark at me until I either put the pillow there or help her down.

[LvMyYorki]

YOu sound like you are on the right track! Have you thought about getting a little expen or baby gate. YOu shouldnt give a pup the run of the house for their own safety and for potty training purposes... This is the set up I used. I got this expen for a hamster at Petsmart for 19.99. And I agree... no collars for walking or when you are not watching them. They can get caught up and hang themselves very easily and while they are still developing, their tracheas are very fragile and can be injured by pressure from a collar.

[tw4sw]

Originally Posted by ReconsMomma

JMO, but I dont think that a ramp is going to curb them from jumping all together. I myself keep a pillow (like one off the bed) next to the couch and Preslee jumps down onto that so that she has some cushioning when she gets down. She isn't allowed on the bed unless I am in there with her since I have a really tall bed.

I included a pic of the pillow and how I have it. She wont jump off the couch unless the pillow is there, she will bark at me until I either put the pillow there or help her down.

Now that is a good idea too...Hmmmmm...food for thought.

[tw4sw]

Originally Posted by LvMyYorki

YOu sound like you are on the right track! Have you thought about getting a little expen or baby gate. YOu shouldnt give a pup the run of the house for their own safety and for potty training purposes... This is the set up I used. I got this expen for a hamster at Petsmart for 19.99. And I agree... no collars for walking or when you are not watching them. They can get caught up and hang themselves very easily and while they are still developing, their tracheas are very fragile and can be injured by pressure from a collar.

Oh yeah I know about the tracheas! I am just using the collar indoors with a bell so that I hear her and so does everyone else and no one steps or falls on her. I like the pen setup you have too.

[FireFish]

Originally Posted by tw4sw

VPI insurance. They had the best quotes around after doing much research. The number is 1800-USA-PETS. Contessa at extension x5246 or x5249(?) was very helpful and can give you all their rates. The plan I chose will reimburse most costs at 90% after a 50 dollar yearly deductible. It's worth it considering all the horror stories I have heard here on YorkieTalk lately. I want my baby to be around for a long long time.

Thanks for the info....

[Brittie123]

I had VPI insurance this year. I got about half of my money back, ended up losing about $150. Luckily I didnt have any major emergencies though.

[whispersmom2]

Someone has already suggested an X pen or gate. Yorkie puppies are very inquisitive and can get in trouble quicker than you can blink an eye. The collar should be one that is break-away or has a section of elastic so it will pull off if your baby gets caught on anything. It sounds as if you have done your homework but I have one more suggestion. IF you are NOT using the breeders vet, Interview & find a suitable vet and make an appt for the earliest possible time after you get your baby. You can always change it or cancel it if you choose but it is hard sometimes to make an appt if you wait til you already have your baby.
Hope you have a long and happy life with your new wee one.

[lycansmom]

I must admit i totally dont understand people insurance let alone dog insurance so i pay a 50.00 deductible then when something happens i only have to pay 90% how about vaccinations ?

[tw4sw]

Originally Posted by whispersmom2

Someone has already suggested an X pen or gate. Yorkie puppies are very inquisitive and can get in trouble quicker than you can blink an eye. The collar should be one that is break-away or has a section of elastic so it will pull off if your baby gets caught on anything. It sounds as if you have done your homework but I have one more suggestion. IF you are NOT using the breeders vet, Interview & find a suitable vet and make an appt for the earliest possible time after you get your baby. You can always change it or cancel it if you choose but it is hard sometimes to make an appt if you wait til you already have your baby.
Hope you have a long and happy life with your new wee one.

Actually I have scheduled to see the vet with the breeder on the very day I pick her up because the breeder gave me a 72 day health guarantee. I will alos be getting her microchipped the following week.