Do you get up at night to feed? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

guckka · 07-03-2008, 02:07 PM

My new baby Yorkie is 12 weeks old. How much and how often do you feed? Are you supposed to feed them in the mddle of the night?

nelliebean · 07-03-2008, 02:11 PM

I don't think they need to be fed during the night. What size is he? I leave water out but usually do not leave food out. I always let mine sleep and then just get up early to take them out.

Timmy · 07-03-2008, 02:16 PM

No you do not need to get up and feed at night. Just make sure you are feeling at least 3 times a day or leave food out but make sure he is eating.

yoyo27 · 07-03-2008, 02:19 PM

And if you give warm soft wet food at night they will sleep better.

txshopper73 · 07-03-2008, 02:22 PM

If you kennel, then I would keep feed down. How much does your 12 week old weigh?

lovelylf1 · 07-03-2008, 02:34 PM

While I have always had water out for Scooter, I don't leave his food out at night. I also don't free feed so you may want to think about that when you are making the decision. Scooter sleeps in bed with me and I feed him in the kitchen. I have water bowls in my bedroom, kitchen, and living room for him. I didn't want food in my bedroom and since it has never been there, he doesn't have the expectation.

Do you free feed your baby? Are you using a crate? Those are definite factors to consider. Scooter is 10 months old and I feed him 3 times a day (we are transitioning to 2). He does quite well and actually enjoys the scheduled meal times. By not free feeding, I can measure out the exact amount of food to put out and when I pick it up, it is much easier to tell how much he truly ate. By measuring, I feel better that he is eating the amount the vet wants him to.

As far as wet vs. dry food, he gets dry every meal and I occasionally mix wet food into his dinner. I stick to Wellness brand wet and dry food so it is balanced and the transition is easy on his tummy. Plus, they make several flavors so I can easily change up the wet food flavor. I think eating the same food with no change day in and day out would get boring so I try to keep it fresh for Scooter.

Long story short, enjoy your sleep at night. Since you still have a little guy, make sure you get up to take him/her out to go to the bathroom so that they don't get in the habit of relieving themselves where you don't want them to. By slowly spacing out the bathroom breaks at night, you can get more and more sleep and before you know it, you have a housebroken puppy that can last all night.

Good luck!

MadMax · 07-03-2008, 02:39 PM

I free feed mine kibble when they are still little up until about 9 months and then I stop the free feding and feed kibble only n the morning and kibble plus raw or some other highly nutritious and premium quality food mixed in at night. Puppies can become hypoglycemic very fast and need to always have acess to food is what I have heard.

Nancy1999 · 07-03-2008, 02:45 PM

Joey's breeder said to have food and water available at all times. I think we free-fed until about 8-9 months. The little ones sometimes need to have small frequent feedings, and that's why free feeding is important, and also helps prevent episodes of hypoglycemia.

Kbsqueff · 07-03-2008, 02:56 PM

I free feed dry kibble and homecook one meal during the day but during the night I only leave the water bowl down... oh and I leave a pee pad in the bedroom so the girls can go to the bathroom without having to wake mommy up

07-03-2008, 02:07 PM	#1
guckka Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Western Pa Posts: 52	Do you get up at night to feed? My new baby Yorkie is 12 weeks old. How much and how often do you feed? Are you supposed to feed them in the mddle of the night?

07-03-2008, 02:19 PM	#4
yoyo27 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,741	And if you give warm soft wet food at night they will sleep better. __________________ " Santa's on his Way! From: Cali, Cinnamon, and Zoie.

07-03-2008, 02:22 PM	#5
txshopper73 Donating YT 14K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 14,226 Blog Entries: 1	If you kennel, then I would keep feed down. How much does your 12 week old weigh? __________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley

07-03-2008, 02:34 PM	#6
lovelylf1 I ♥ Scooter Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 533	Get some sleep.... While I have always had water out for Scooter, I don't leave his food out at night. I also don't free feed so you may want to think about that when you are making the decision. Scooter sleeps in bed with me and I feed him in the kitchen. I have water bowls in my bedroom, kitchen, and living room for him. I didn't want food in my bedroom and since it has never been there, he doesn't have the expectation. Do you free feed your baby? Are you using a crate? Those are definite factors to consider. Scooter is 10 months old and I feed him 3 times a day (we are transitioning to 2). He does quite well and actually enjoys the scheduled meal times. By not free feeding, I can measure out the exact amount of food to put out and when I pick it up, it is much easier to tell how much he truly ate. By measuring, I feel better that he is eating the amount the vet wants him to. As far as wet vs. dry food, he gets dry every meal and I occasionally mix wet food into his dinner. I stick to Wellness brand wet and dry food so it is balanced and the transition is easy on his tummy. Plus, they make several flavors so I can easily change up the wet food flavor. I think eating the same food with no change day in and day out would get boring so I try to keep it fresh for Scooter. Long story short, enjoy your sleep at night. Since you still have a little guy, make sure you get up to take him/her out to go to the bathroom so that they don't get in the habit of relieving themselves where you don't want them to. By slowly spacing out the bathroom breaks at night, you can get more and more sleep and before you know it, you have a housebroken puppy that can last all night. Good luck! __________________ Lauren and Scooter Texas YTers Club

07-03-2008, 02:45 PM	#8
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	Joey's breeder said to have food and water available at all times. I think we free-fed until about 8-9 months. The little ones sometimes need to have small frequent feedings, and that's why free feeding is important, and also helps prevent episodes of hypoglycemia. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

07-03-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
nelliebean Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Midland Posts: 79	I don't think they need to be fed during the night. What size is he? I leave water out but usually do not leave food out. I always let mine sleep and then just get up early to take them out.

07-03-2008, 02:16 PM	#3
Timmy Mimi & Gabby too! Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 3,208	No you do not need to get up and feed at night. Just make sure you are feeling at least 3 times a day or leave food out but make sure he is eating.

07-03-2008, 02:39 PM	#7
MadMax BANNED! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Posts: 19	I free feed mine kibble when they are still little up until about 9 months and then I stop the free feding and feed kibble only n the morning and kibble plus raw or some other highly nutritious and premium quality food mixed in at night. Puppies can become hypoglycemic very fast and need to always have acess to food is what I have heard.

07-03-2008, 02:56 PM	#9
Kbsqueff YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rio Grande do Sul - BRAZIL Posts: 1,054	I free feed dry kibble and homecook one meal during the day but during the night I only leave the water bowl down... oh and I leave a pee pad in the bedroom so the girls can go to the bathroom without having to wake mommy up Last edited by Kbsqueff; 07-03-2008 at 02:59 PM.