Need advise on # of days to breed etc.

[jenioneal]

Hi, my name is Jeni and this is my first time here. I've been reading a lot of the other threads and it has been VERY helpful! Just wanted to start off saying I'm so greatful for this site!

I have a question about how many times and how long you should breed the female when she's in heat. I've read different things but not all say the same thing.

My 18 month old 5lb female, started bleeding on April 1. I was out of town and wasn't able to breed her until April 17th. I tried before I went out of town and she wasn't ready. The sire is 3 yrs old, 3 1/2 lbs. Within minutes of getting them together, they were successful. They tied and it lasted about 10 minutes. Then we met again today, and same thing as the 1st time. Once they were done, my female, both times, was done and didn't want anything to do with him. He on the other hand could have kept going!

My questions are this:
1. How many times should they mate? every day?
2. How long should they mate? Until she's no longer interested?
3. If they tie, does that mean there's a good chance she will get pregnant?
4. What day should you count from if she's pregnant?

Sorry if these questions seem too simple. It's been 15 yrs since I breed last, and even then it was only 2x, and not with Yorkies. I forget these details.

Any help or advice would be GREAT! Thanks! - Jeni
(Sorry this is so long)

[Ellie May]

Welcome to YT
I will TRY to answer these for you but I am by far not a breeder, so hopefully one of them will be along to help.

1. I think twice is optimal (one day, skip and day so sperm can build back up and then again the next day).
2. Once the tie is broken, they should be separated. The female should always be held during the tie so she can't pull away and hurt the male.
3. Yes
4. I would count from the day of the first tie but I think there are a few different opinions on this.

[bjh]

Everyone has varying opinions on this and all method work so it is a matter of preference. I will tell you what I do:

My questions are this:
1. How many times should they mate?every day?

I breed mine every other day for a total of 3 breedings.

2. How long should they mate? Until she's no longer interested?

I start on the 9th day if the female is standing and I do 3 breedings, one every other day then I stop. Sometimes a female won't stand until the 11th or 12th day, they are all different.

3. If they tie, does that mean there's a good chance she will get pregnant?

If they tie then there is a good chance she will be pregnant but not a sure thing.

4. What day should you count from if she's pregnant?

I always count 61 days from the first breeding. I have had females deliver safely anywhere from 59 to 70 days from the first breeding. Starting at day 59 from the first breeding I watch the bitch very carefully and take her temperature twice a day.

[bjh]

My 18 month old 5lb female, started bleeding on April 1. I was out of town and wasn't able to breed her until April 17th. I tried before I went out of town and she wasn't ready. The sire is 3 yrs old, 3 1/2 lbs. Within minutes of getting them together, they were successful. They tied and it lasted about 10 minutes. Then we met again today, and same thing as the 1st time. Once they were done, my female, both times, was done and didn't want anything to do with him. He on the other hand could have kept going!

I forgot.....welcome to Yorkie Talk. We are happy to have you join us. I also wanted to say that since you did not breed your female until the 17th day of her heat then it is possible that you miss her but I have had females get pregnant breeding that late in their heat cycle. Please keep us posted on how she does and let us know if she is pregnant.

[gardenyorkies]

Welcome to YT!...


1. How many times should they mate? every day?

We breed our girls everyday, once a day.


2. How long should they mate? Until she's no longer interested?

We start breeding them from the first date they will accept a male until they will no longer stand for breeding...Mark each breeding down on your calendar.


3. If they tie, does that mean there's a good chance she will get pregnant?


Yes, it does mean they have a chance at getting pregnant.


4. What day should you count from if she's pregnant?

I always mark my calendar 63 days from the first breeding...Although I do start taking temps about 1 week before that date twice a day...

All puppies are born 63 days from the day they ovulate no matter what day they are bred on...You will not know what the day of ovulation is unless you have had a blood test done to check their progesterone levels..

[Susan123]

I ike the 61 days that bjh suggested, accounting for ovulation.

2. How long should they mate? Until she's no longer interested?

You don't want them to keep going for too long. If she conceived on the first tie and then on the last (say 2 weeks later) The first puppy will be premature. They drop multiple eggs during ovulation.

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

Originally Posted by Susan123

You don't want them to keep going for too long. If she conceived on the first tie and then on the last (say 2 weeks later) The first puppy will be premature. They drop multiple eggs during ovulation.

Taken from "The Dog Breeder's Guide to Successful Breeding and Health Management" by theriogenologist Dr. Root Kustritz...

When asked about a runt puppy being conceived later...

"Dogs release all their eggs over about a 24 hour span. Even if conception of that small pup occurred later than conception of the other pups, all the pups float around free for 17 days before implantation and formation of the placenta. Runt pups most likely are the same age as littermates but had poor placentation."

[Susan123]

Thanks for you input. Just like everything else, there are two different views and we pick which one we stand with. After having one that appeared premature in a litter(she grew to be very healthy), I chose to apply a motto "better safe than sorry". Besides, there's no reason for continual breeding.

[sweetsophia]

Taken from Canine Reproduction and Whelping by Myra Savant Harris.

"Bitches ovulate (drop their eggs) when their progesterone level reaches 5 ng/ml. The eggs are all dropped the same day.
The eggs live for about 4-5 days. They can only be fertilized by the sperm after they ripen which takes about 2-3 days. The day the egg destined to become a puppy was released is day one of the gestation. NOT the day it is fertilized. NOT the day the bitch is bred. People will often say that my puppies were born early on day 57, no they were not they were born on day 63. Or my puppies were born late they were born on day 70. No they are not they were born 63 days after ovulation. Puppies start turning into puppies the day their eggs are released from the ovary. It takes them 63 days to turn from an egg into a puppy provided they are fertilized after they ripen. Their clocks run for 62-74 days , but the figure is actually probably closer to 63 days. Hence why we say they are born 63 days after the eggs are dropped. What accounts for runts is not being fertilized at a different time but it is their placement in the uterine horn."

I will stop there but this is an excellent book and very informational.

[Susan123]

Originally Posted by sweetsophia

Taken from Canine Reproduction and Whelping by Myra Savant Harris.

"Bitches ovulate (drop their eggs) when their progesterone level reaches 5 ng/ml. The eggs are all dropped the same day.
The eggs live for about 4-5 days. They can only be fertilized by the sperm after they ripen which takes about 2-3 days. The day the egg destined to become a puppy was released is day one of the gestation. NOT the day it is fertilized. NOT the day the bitch is bred. People will often say that my puppies were born early on day 57, no they were not they were born on day 63. Or my puppies were born late they were born on day 70. No they are not they were born 63 days after ovulation. Puppies start turning into puppies the day their eggs are released from the ovary. It takes them 63 days to turn from an egg into a puppy provided they are fertilized after they ripen. Their clocks run for 62-74 days , but the figure is actually probably closer to 63 days. Hence why we say they are born 63 days after the eggs are dropped. What accounts for runts is not being fertilized at a different time but it is their placement in the uterine horn."

I will stop there but this is an excellent book and very informational.

Thanks for posting this. I'm a big fan of Myra's.

[sweetsophia]

Originally Posted by sweetsophia

Taken from Canine Reproduction and Whelping by Myra Savant Harris.

Their clocks run for 62-74 days , but the figure is actually probably closer to 63 days. Hence why we say they are born 63 days after the eggs are dropped.
I will stop there but this is an excellent book and very informational.

That was suppose to say their clocks run for 62-64 days, sorry I didn't proofread.

[jenioneal]

Originally Posted by bjh

I forgot.....welcome to Yorkie Talk. We are happy to have you join us. I also wanted to say that since you did not breed your female until the 17th day of her heat then it is possible that you miss her but I have had females get pregnant breeding that late in their heat cycle. Please keep us posted on how she does and let us know if she is pregnant.

Thank you for all the help and the welcome! Everyone has been sooo helpful!!

We breed again today and my female was still interested and took to it in a matter of seconds! Should I still be breeding her at this time? We started her 5 days ago.

Thanks again,
Jeni

[jenioneal]

Originally Posted by Susan123

I ike the 61 days that bjh suggested, accounting for ovulation.

2. How long should they mate? Until she's no longer interested?

You don't want them to keep going for too long. If she conceived on the first tie and then on the last (say 2 weeks later) The first puppy will be premature. They drop multiple eggs during ovulation.

Thank you very much, this REALLY helps me. How long then is too long?

[jenioneal]

"Dogs release all their eggs over about a 24 hour span. Even if conception of that small pup occurred later than conception of the other pups, all the pups float around free for 17 days before implantation and formation of the placenta. Runt pups most likely are the same age as littermates but had poor placentation."[/quote]

I didn't get to read this one before asking a question which you had answered. So basically, I should breed her as long as she is willing?

Thanks again SOOO much for the info. I really want this to go right. MY DAISY IS MY WORLD!!! I never knew I could love a dog as much as this. I only want her to be healthy and happy!!

[jenioneal]

Originally Posted by sweetsophia

Taken from Canine Reproduction and Whelping by Myra Savant Harris.

"Bitches ovulate (drop their eggs) when their progesterone level reaches 5 ng/ml. The eggs are all dropped the same day.
The eggs live for about 4-5 days. They can only be fertilized by the sperm after they ripen which takes about 2-3 days. The day the egg destined to become a puppy was released is day one of the gestation. NOT the day it is fertilized. NOT the day the bitch is bred. People will often say that my puppies were born early on day 57, no they were not they were born on day 63. Or my puppies were born late they were born on day 70. No they are not they were born 63 days after ovulation. Puppies start turning into puppies the day their eggs are released from the ovary. It takes them 63 days to turn from an egg into a puppy provided they are fertilized after they ripen. Their clocks run for 62-74 days , but the figure is actually probably closer to 63 days. Hence why we say they are born 63 days after the eggs are dropped. What accounts for runts is not being fertilized at a different time but it is their placement in the uterine horn."

I will stop there but this is an excellent book and very informational.

Great information! I will go out and buy this book asap!!

Thanks,
Jeni