Researching! Lot's of questions!

[luvmymonkies]

Hi all! I've been gone for a while, but it's great to be back!
Well, my little girl, Maddie, is currently 8 months old. I am putting some consideration into breeding her and Monkey, so I am starting early with my research. I want to be well informed before I make that decision, as I have never actually bred a dog. Growing up in the country, I do have some experience with my grandmother's chihuahua (among other dogs) that would become pregnant "randomly" (those were ugly little things whatever they would come out to be ). That's about it.
I would only be breeding them for myself. My boyfriend and I are so in love with our babies, we wanted to get another one. So we just figured it would be cute to just breed them. Plus, we have family members begging us to breed them so they can get in on some of this love we've got going on over here . Here are some questions maybe you could help me with.

1.) Currently (8 mo.) Maddie is at 4 lbs. I expect that she will be around 5 lbs. as a full adult. I think this is a good weight. She is not skinny or frail. She's really strong and solid even now. What is the average safe weight for breeding?

2.) Is it correct to say that she should go into her first heat at around 9 mo?

3.) I know that you should wait until her 2nd heat for breeding, does it make it any better to wait until she's even older than that? Maybe the 3rd?

4.) Monkey is almost 2 years old. He is 3.5 lbs and very thin. I think he would make the perfect stud for Maddie since he's smaller, but I don't know his background or parents. Is it possible that his bloodline could have much bigger dogs that could affect Maddie's pregnancy? What would be the chances of her puppies being too big for her?

I know this was REALLY LONG! Thanks for taking the time to read it. Thanks for any info you might have!

[yorkiemom1970]

hi! first off you really should get the background on your male AND female before you decide to breed them. not only their parents, but grand parents too if possible.(go back as far as you possibly can) if the breeder of your yorkies is near you, then i would go to those people and request any info i could get. if you can't get any info on your yorkie's history, then breeding them would be really risky.

[Carters Mom]

I've recently begun to research breeding so I can be better informed about lots of things. One of the highly recommended books for reading is "The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog" by Anne Seranne. It can be purchased at amazon.com in print format or electronic format. Even though you may not be breeding for show dog potential, the book is VERY good. It is a pretty easy read and goes into genetics as well. It helps you to understand how prior generations will affect the pups you hope to produce.

It explains the reasons you should wait to breed a female until after their first heat too.

There are so many things that can go wrong in the whelping process that you'd never consider unless you research. Glad to see you're researching first, breeding later!

Good luck.
Lisa

[Diego]

The first question a person should is Why do I want puppies ?

[YorkieRose]

My first question is usually...Is this a passion or past time? If it is a passion I will stand on my head to help you..if it is a past time, I have no time, I save it for the serious ones. Best wishes

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

My first question is usually...Is this a passion or past time? If it is a passion I will stand on my head to help you..if it is a past time, I have no time, I save it for the serious ones. Best wishes

pat, you are right...it shouldn't be done on just a "whim". it must be something that you are serious about. alot of people take dog "a" and breed to dog "b" and then the trouble starts.

[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by luvmymonkies

1.) Currently (8 mo.) Maddie is at 4 lbs. I expect that she will be around 5 lbs. as a full adult. I think this is a good weight. She is not skinny or frail. She's really strong and solid even now. What is the average safe weight for breeding? I would not breed a female under 5 lbs. 5 lbs is a healthy weight and less of a risk factor.

2.) Is it correct to say that she should go into her first heat at around 9 mo?Some females go in at 6 mths and some later. Same as humans some girls will start at 10 and some won't start till they are much older. My Gracie didn't go in till she was 11 1/2 mths old. you can start looking for signs now since all dogs are different and we don't have an exact age.

3.) I know that you should wait until her 2nd heat for breeding, does it make it any better to wait until she's even older than that? Maybe the 3rd?You wait so that they can mature in personality and their bodies can mature. Paula waits till they are 2 years old before she even considers breeding. This will make sure of their adult size and if they are any health problems they should show by now.

4.) Monkey is almost 2 years old. He is 3.5 lbs and very thin. I think he would make the perfect stud for Maddie since he's smaller, but I don't know his background or parents. Is it possible that his bloodline could have much bigger dogs that could affect Maddie's pregnancy? What would be the chances of her puppies being too big for her?Anything is possible. I would have him tested before hand for liver shunts, bad knees...just an over all check up. Yes, he could have larger dogs in his lines. These yorkies were originally bred down from 15 lbs dogs so the possibility is always there but he is a good size.

Heather, I commend you in doing your research before hand. This speaks volumes about you. I'll answer your questions in color above and this is all JMO.

[luvmymonkies]

Thanks Kimberley, for taking the time to help me with some of my questions. I really appreciate it! To answer some of the other replies...no, Pat & Robbie, as you can see from my questions and concerns, I am NOT doing this on a "whim". The purpose of me wanting to breed my sweeties is because I want more sweeties and my family absolutely wants to wait until I decide what I want to do because they really want one of mine. I want to do what's right. I don't want to be doing it just to do it. I can't believe some people actually just play with breeding these dogs to just wait and see what happens, but I know they do! So I can see how you could be standoffish about the subject. I will look for the breeding book you suggested, Lisa. It sounds like it has been helpful to you. Thanks everyone!

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by luvmymonkies

Thanks Kimberley, for taking the time to help me with some of my questions. I really appreciate it! To answer some of the other replies...no, Pat & Robbie, as you can see from my questions and concerns, I am NOT doing this on a "whim". The purpose of me wanting to breed my sweeties is because I want more sweeties and my family absolutely wants to wait until I decide what I want to do because they really want one of mine. I want to do what's right. I don't want to be doing it just to do it. I can't believe some people actually just play with breeding these dogs to just wait and see what happens, but I know they do! So I can see how you could be standoffish about the subject. I will look for the breeding book you suggested, Lisa. It sounds like it has been helpful to you. Thanks everyone!

oh heather,,, i wasn't referring to you...i was meaning people in general. sorry if you thought that, i was just responding to pat's post and adding a little. no harm meant, and i do commend you on wanting to find out all you can. good luck!

[YorkieRini]

Originally Posted by luvmymonkies

Hi all! I've been gone for a while, but it's great to be back!
Well, my little girl, Maddie, is currently 8 months old. I am putting some consideration into breeding her and Monkey, so I am starting early with my research. I want to be well informed before I make that decision, as I have never actually bred a dog. Growing up in the country, I do have some experience with my grandmother's chihuahua (among other dogs) that would become pregnant "randomly" (those were ugly little things whatever they would come out to be ). That's about it.
I would only be breeding them for myself. My boyfriend and I are so in love with our babies, we wanted to get another one. So we just figured it would be cute to just breed them. Plus, we have family members begging us to breed them so they can get in on some of this love we've got going on over here . Here are some questions maybe you could help me with.

1.) Currently (8 mo.) Maddie is at 4 lbs. I expect that she will be around 5 lbs. as a full adult. I think this is a good weight. She is not skinny or frail. She's really strong and solid even now. What is the average safe weight for breeding?

2.) Is it correct to say that she should go into her first heat at around 9 mo?

3.) I know that you should wait until her 2nd heat for breeding, does it make it any better to wait until she's even older than that? Maybe the 3rd?

4.) Monkey is almost 2 years old. He is 3.5 lbs and very thin. I think he would make the perfect stud for Maddie since he's smaller, but I don't know his background or parents. Is it possible that his bloodline could have much bigger dogs that could affect Maddie's pregnancy? What would be the chances of her puppies being too big for her?

I know this was REALLY LONG! Thanks for taking the time to read it. Thanks for any info you might have!

I see Pat and others have answered some of your basic questions which are good. Now, you need to be committed to take on the more expenses and dedication.

Please visit my website and read my General Info Page. To see what all is involved with breeding if you work. Keeping in mind all that's involved costs $$$$..are you prepared to pay for all that's neccessary? Breeding is a passion for me. And I am first to admit I am hard on those that want to breed because I don't think many realize what's really involved. Too many get into breeding and then get out just as quickly because it wasn't all rosey as they thought it would be. Breeding Yorkies is extremely challenging and mentally exausting at times....

Best of luck!
Irene

[YorkieRose]

I should explained myself...I was adding my comment to Diego's post above mine..sorry.

[Sidney]

Originally Posted by Carters Mom

I've recently begun to research breeding so I can be better informed about lots of things. One of the highly recommended books for reading is "The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog" by Anne Seranne. It can be purchased at amazon.com in print format or electronic format. Even though you may not be breeding for show dog potential, the book is VERY good. It is a pretty easy read and goes into genetics as well. It helps you to understand how prior generations will affect the pups you hope to produce.

It explains the reasons you should wait to breed a female until after their first heat too.

There are so many things that can go wrong in the whelping process that you'd never consider unless you research. Glad to see you're researching first, breeding later!

Good luck.
Lisa

I have Anne Seranne's book and I agree with Lisa...great book with alot of imformation. Another one i bought that is easy reading and great imformation is by Terry Shumsky. I think the title is Buying a happy, healthy dog ( something like that. ) anyway it is full of imformation on breeding delivering, picking out a good dog etc. Also can be purchased from Amazon.

[luvmymonkies]

No offense taken Pat & Robbie! No worries! I totally understand having concern with things like this. I do too. I wonder about some of the posts I read if you know what I mean. I am going to check out your web page, Irene. Thx! I do work from home and keep my own schedule, so I am comfortable in knowing that the experience would have my full attention. I do expect that it could get pretty costly as well, but you're right, I wouldn't really know. Thanks!

[red98vett]

This was a great informational post - There is information here that actually answered basic questions and I for one loved reading it - I'm NOT a breeder but I did learn from the questions and answers here - thank you to those who responded.

[bigdog]

Glad to see someone else calls their babies monkeys. lol I always refer to my yorkies as monkeys.Wishing you the best with your breeding