Breeding is much harder than i thought - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cuculinda · 06-15-2010, 04:51 AM

Hi friends, i mostly lurk but with my recent experience with breeding my girl Belle I felt the need to share. I have been doing my research on breeding, purchased books etc. My girl tied twice and whelped 4 puppies at 57 days on June 4th. Very healthy pregnancy, uneventful etcc. then come the puppies.
OMG its like i gave birth myself. Sleepless nights, worrying all the time. I have the vet on speed dial and talk to him practically everyday with something new. The puppies were 3oz-3.5oz. One started to fall behind and while his 2 brothers and sister doubled their weight at 10 days, he stayed the same. He died yesterday and i did not realize it would affect me so much emotionally. I did everything i could yet i have this on going thought that i could have done more. I almost lost another one yesterday that got tangled in Belle's leg hair (she has a full coat) i wrapped her coat but thought the hair on her legs wouldnt hurt a puppy. Well this puppy must to have rolled i dont know how many times cause it was so tight around his neck, i noticed cause i opened the door to her crate (big one) and she was dragging the puppy

My intention is not to discourage anyone who comes to this section to learn about breeding and doing it right. God knows it was so helpful to me but just know that it is very difficult and time consuming. Today still i cant get over the little guy that passed away, i was going to keep him!

Picture attached from yesterday

little guy.jpg

puppy.jpg

I will post one of Belle Marie next when she was still a mommy of 4!!

Thanks for letting me share

cuculinda · 06-15-2010, 05:02 AM

Belle Marie and her Puppies

4.JPG

Belle and her puppies.JPG

LunasMomma · 06-15-2010, 05:42 AM

Your Bella is beautiful! I'm sure that her surviving pups will be as well. I'm so sorry that one didn't make it

I hope that you will keep us all updated on how they are all doing.

Yes, all the stories I've read here since joining totally convinced me that I don't have what it takes to be a breeder. I used to think that one day I'd like to breed Yorkies, but got over that very quickly! I'll leave it to the pros

There is so much to know and learn, and even then---bad things can still happen. I just am not strong enough to withstand that, myself.

TammyJM · 06-15-2010, 06:05 AM

Congrats on your newest little ones....I am very sorry that you lost one!! Breeding is so much harder than people may realize! There is a LOT that goes into these babies and when something happens, it's heartbeaking.

topknot · 06-15-2010, 08:58 AM

Welcome to posting on YT, and thank you for having a voice and letting others know that this job of being mom is very hard. Yes, I said mom for the others that are reading. When you bring these babies into the world you are their mom. They are very defenseless and need all our help and care. There is not one second that goes by your mind is not on your pups and how are they doing. I am so sorry to the OP that you lost your little one. Life can be so cruel. It is like part of you died. I totally understand. I have lost a few in my times and only time will help. For the others contemplating becoming a breeder (and yes one litter does make you a breeder), if done with your heart, you will cry, you will worry, you will have sleepless nights, loss of work included, and a lot poorer. It is not for everyone and you better do your research to be prepared to care for these little ones. They deserve the best and only the best. For those of you that think, "I will just put my dog with another and we'll have pups!" - shame on you!!!!! You are not doing this with your heart.

To the OP - if you oil her coat and not wrap it - it will be better for the pups, so they do not get caught anymore. If you are not going to show her, it is easier just to give her a hair cut. Just be sure, if you oil her coat, you wash her tummy off last to be sure no oil is on her tummy. That is what I have done and it worked best for the pups. They are made it, did well, and mom later finished her championship after the litter. So it can be done.

P.S. Belle Marie looks like a sweetie pie!!

cuculinda · 06-15-2010, 11:22 AM

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Topknot-people have no idea how serious this is. We are dealing with life here. I held that puppy all night the previous night keeping him warm between my hands and feeling his little heart beat, just making sure he was breathing. Its amaizing when they pass and in an instant-gone!! its as if the warmth evaporates and coldness sets in.. you know whats funny and i hope people dont think im crazy, my second son was a preemie and i remember holding him skin to skin just tiny little thing ( he is 3 now), my husband and i were saying how this puppy is Belle's (my sons name here). She was so worried about him

In regards to her coat, i have worked so hard on her coat i hope i dont have to cut it

. I oiled, blowdried and wrapped. I will try oiling without wrapping and see how that works. I cant thank you enough for sharing this little tip with me.

I know everyone is free to do as they wish with their own pets but going through this experience first hand has made me realize it is no easy task

TammyJM · 06-15-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuculinda

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Topknot-people have no idea how serious this is. We are dealing with life here. I held that puppy all night the previous night keeping him warm between my hands and feeling his little heart beat, just making sure he was breathing. Its amaizing when they pass and in an instant-gone!! its as if the warmth evaporates and coldness sets in.. you know whats funny and i hope people dont think im crazy, my second son was a preemie and i remember holding him skin to skin just tiny little thing ( he is 3 now), my husband and i were saying how this puppy is Belle's (my sons name here). She was so worried about him

In regards to her coat, i have worked so hard on her coat i hope i dont have to cut it

. I oiled, blowdried and wrapped. I will try oiling without wrapping and see how that works. I cant thank you enough for sharing this little tip with me.

I know everyone is free to do as they wish with their own pets but going through this experience first hand has made me realize it is no easy task

I am just so sorry that you had this type of experience.

You are right...they are so special and fragile...they need us. With my Livi's first litter, we lost all but one and I will NEVER forget how I watched a helpless little puppy suffer as they passed....NEVER! Livi's second litter was also tough. We came super close to losing Livi and all puppies...many complications that led to me having to eye drop milk to all 3 babies for close to a week, plus syringe feeding Livi for that time as well. Breeding is NOT easy and should most deinfitely be taken seriously.

Again, I am so sorry for the loss of your puppy.

cuculinda · 06-15-2010, 12:37 PM

wow TammyJM your experience is heartbreaking, so glad your Livi is okay. Thanks so much for reading my post and actually replying. Im starting to come to terms about losing the puppy and moving on to enjoying the 3 I have left.

Rhetts_mama · 06-15-2010, 02:02 PM

I know I don't have what it takes to be a breeder. It would break my heart to loose a puppy or see something go wrong with my dog. I'd also have a house full of dogs because I would never be able to part with any.

I'm so sorry for your loss. You are absolutely correct in saying it is hard work.

WinstonMom · 06-15-2010, 02:26 PM

cuculinda,
First of all, I am very sorry for the loss of your baby. Some of them just do not thrive, you did the best you could for your baby but sometimes it is just not meant to be.
Secondly, I am so glad that you have posted your story. Most people think of breeding as that basket full of cute, fat, happy and healthy pups that they are choosing a pup from and think that it must be fun. And hey, you are getting money for those pups, so you must be making a small fortune. They know nothing of the sleepless nights, the ups and downs and the occasional heartbreak that comes with holding a dying pup in your hands and not being able to do anything for it. When we try to tell them there is a long and rocky road to the basket-full of beautiful pups, they don't believe and think that the breeders are just trying to keep "all the fun and all the money" to themselves. Breeding is not an undertaking that should be taken lightly, but sadly, even a caring and responsible person such as yourself can run in to difficulties. The reason you are hurting now about your baby is because you do care, sadly, some don't.
RIP little baby.

TammyJM · 06-15-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinstonMom

cuculinda,
First of all, I am very sorry for the loss of your baby. Some of them just do not thrive, you did the best you could for your baby but sometimes it is just not meant to be.
Secondly, I am so glad that you have posted your story. Most people think of breeding as that basket full of cute, fat, happy and healthy pups that they are choosing a pup from and think that it must be fun. And hey, you are getting money for those pups, so you must be making a small fortune. They know nothing of the sleepless nights, the ups and downs and the occasional heartbreak that comes with holding a dying pup in your hands and not being able to do anything for it. When we try to tell them there is a long and rocky road to the basket-full of beautiful pups, they don't believe and think that the breeders are just trying to keep "all the fun and all the money" to themselves. Breeding is not an undertaking that should be taken lightly, but sadly, even a caring and responsible person such as yourself can run in to difficulties. The reason you are hurting now about your baby is because you do care, sadly, some don't.
RIP little baby.

That's another thing that some do not realize...the expenses involved!!

I am soooooo in the hole between Livi's two litters!

tjdmom · 06-15-2010, 03:25 PM

Thank you so much for posting! You are so right! I want to express my sympathies on your loss and share that I too know what it feels like. It's just heartbreaking. I lost a little one with my Zoe's first litter. He just failed to thrive despite the fact that I was up tube feeding him every 2 hours even during the night. I just put so much into him as far as time and emotions and it's just devastating when they don't survive. And Tammy, I agree with what you said too! To do things right, it very expensive. I was in the hole with my first litter and I'm just talking with vet and stud fees. I'm always buying some new supply for my whelping box.. just in case. Not to mention, how much I paid to get nice dogs with nice pedigrees, I don't even count that cost! This time, I hope I'll break even. And my Zoe had a relatively easy delivery. I couldn't imagine if I had complications or a c-section. I really do love the little ones and they make me feel so fulfilled but I just don't know if I can afford this. And it really is alot of work too. My puppies are raised underfoot and I block off my dining room and I wash the floor daily. When they are out to play, they manage to find things to chew on and rip to shreds. I don't even know where they find the stuff. I really do think you have to be a special sort of person to breed....

scrapindee · 06-15-2010, 03:36 PM

I am sorry for the loss of your puppy and I wish you well with your litter of 3. I am also happy that you chose to post your story here for the many others who will come behind you asking if they should have that 1 litter. I so often tell puppy owners that having that 1 litter is a 24/7 job for 12 or more weeks. It means the first two weeks of the litter's life getting up every hour to check on mom and the puppys. It sometimes means hand feeding or bottle feeding or supplementing their feeding. As the puppies begin to grow and start to wean, it is making sure they transition to puppy food, socialize with each other, with humans, to noise, get their shots, etc., etc., etc. Taking pictures, finding homes, socializing.

It is a full time job. And it can be joyous. And it can be heartbreaking.

YorkieRose · 06-15-2010, 05:05 PM

People have told me for 35 yrs how lucky I am to be having so much fun breeding Yorkies...fun, fun, fun...

kpstoybox · 06-15-2010, 09:34 PM

Oh Yilda....
So sorry to hear you lost a little boy. But thrilled to hear the remaining pups are doing good. Keep us posted as they continue to thrive and grow. Oh...and give that Biewer boy of your's a kiss from me!!

06-15-2010, 04:51 AM	#1
cuculinda Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 25	Breeding is much harder than i thought Hi friends, i mostly lurk but with my recent experience with breeding my girl Belle I felt the need to share. I have been doing my research on breeding, purchased books etc. My girl tied twice and whelped 4 puppies at 57 days on June 4th. Very healthy pregnancy, uneventful etcc. then come the puppies. OMG its like i gave birth myself. Sleepless nights, worrying all the time. I have the vet on speed dial and talk to him practically everyday with something new. The puppies were 3oz-3.5oz. One started to fall behind and while his 2 brothers and sister doubled their weight at 10 days, he stayed the same. He died yesterday and i did not realize it would affect me so much emotionally. I did everything i could yet i have this on going thought that i could have done more. I almost lost another one yesterday that got tangled in Belle's leg hair (she has a full coat) i wrapped her coat but thought the hair on her legs wouldnt hurt a puppy. Well this puppy must to have rolled i dont know how many times cause it was so tight around his neck, i noticed cause i opened the door to her crate (big one) and she was dragging the puppy My intention is not to discourage anyone who comes to this section to learn about breeding and doing it right. God knows it was so helpful to me but just know that it is very difficult and time consuming. Today still i cant get over the little guy that passed away, i was going to keep him! Picture attached from yesterday little guy.jpg puppy.jpg I will post one of Belle Marie next when she was still a mommy of 4!! Thanks for letting me share

06-15-2010, 05:42 AM	#3
LunasMomma Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 8,799	Your Bella is beautiful! I'm sure that her surviving pups will be as well. I'm so sorry that one didn't make it I hope that you will keep us all updated on how they are all doing. Yes, all the stories I've read here since joining totally convinced me that I don't have what it takes to be a breeder. I used to think that one day I'd like to breed Yorkies, but got over that very quickly! I'll leave it to the pros There is so much to know and learn, and even then---bad things can still happen. I just am not strong enough to withstand that, myself. __________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna

06-15-2010, 08:58 AM	#5
topknot Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: GA Posts: 3,787	Welcome to posting on YT, and thank you for having a voice and letting others know that this job of being mom is very hard. Yes, I said mom for the others that are reading. When you bring these babies into the world you are their mom. They are very defenseless and need all our help and care. There is not one second that goes by your mind is not on your pups and how are they doing. I am so sorry to the OP that you lost your little one. Life can be so cruel. It is like part of you died. I totally understand. I have lost a few in my times and only time will help. For the others contemplating becoming a breeder (and yes one litter does make you a breeder), if done with your heart, you will cry, you will worry, you will have sleepless nights, loss of work included, and a lot poorer. It is not for everyone and you better do your research to be prepared to care for these little ones. They deserve the best and only the best. For those of you that think, "I will just put my dog with another and we'll have pups!" - shame on you!!!!! You are not doing this with your heart. To the OP - if you oil her coat and not wrap it - it will be better for the pups, so they do not get caught anymore. If you are not going to show her, it is easier just to give her a hair cut. Just be sure, if you oil her coat, you wash her tummy off last to be sure no oil is on her tummy. That is what I have done and it worked best for the pups. They are made it, did well, and mom later finished her championship after the litter. So it can be done. P.S. Belle Marie looks like a sweetie pie!! Last edited by topknot; 06-15-2010 at 09:00 AM.

06-15-2010, 11:22 AM	#6
cuculinda Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 25	Thanks everyone for your kind words. Topknot-people have no idea how serious this is. We are dealing with life here. I held that puppy all night the previous night keeping him warm between my hands and feeling his little heart beat, just making sure he was breathing. Its amaizing when they pass and in an instant-gone!! its as if the warmth evaporates and coldness sets in.. you know whats funny and i hope people dont think im crazy, my second son was a preemie and i remember holding him skin to skin just tiny little thing ( he is 3 now), my husband and i were saying how this puppy is Belle's (my sons name here). She was so worried about him In regards to her coat, i have worked so hard on her coat i hope i dont have to cut it. I oiled, blowdried and wrapped. I will try oiling without wrapping and see how that works. I cant thank you enough for sharing this little tip with me. I know everyone is free to do as they wish with their own pets but going through this experience first hand has made me realize it is no easy task

06-15-2010, 02:26 PM	#10
WinstonMom YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 384	cuculinda, First of all, I am very sorry for the loss of your baby. Some of them just do not thrive, you did the best you could for your baby but sometimes it is just not meant to be. Secondly, I am so glad that you have posted your story. Most people think of breeding as that basket full of cute, fat, happy and healthy pups that they are choosing a pup from and think that it must be fun. And hey, you are getting money for those pups, so you must be making a small fortune. They know nothing of the sleepless nights, the ups and downs and the occasional heartbreak that comes with holding a dying pup in your hands and not being able to do anything for it. When we try to tell them there is a long and rocky road to the basket-full of beautiful pups, they don't believe and think that the breeders are just trying to keep "all the fun and all the money" to themselves. Breeding is not an undertaking that should be taken lightly, but sadly, even a caring and responsible person such as yourself can run in to difficulties. The reason you are hurting now about your baby is because you do care, sadly, some don't. RIP little baby. __________________ Audrey

06-15-2010, 05:02 AM	#2
cuculinda Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 25	Belle Marie and her Puppies 4.JPG Belle and her puppies.JPG

06-15-2010, 06:05 AM	#4
TammyJM No Longer a Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: With My Beautiful Fur Babies! Posts: 5,525	Congrats on your newest little ones....I am very sorry that you lost one!! Breeding is so much harder than people may realize! There is a LOT that goes into these babies and when something happens, it's heartbeaking.

06-15-2010, 12:37 PM	#8
cuculinda Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 25	wow TammyJM your experience is heartbreaking, so glad your Livi is okay. Thanks so much for reading my post and actually replying. Im starting to come to terms about losing the puppy and moving on to enjoying the 3 I have left.

06-15-2010, 02:02 PM	#9
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	I know I don't have what it takes to be a breeder. It would break my heart to loose a puppy or see something go wrong with my dog. I'd also have a house full of dogs because I would never be able to part with any. I'm so sorry for your loss. You are absolutely correct in saying it is hard work.

06-15-2010, 03:25 PM	#12
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 5,847	Thank you so much for posting! You are so right! I want to express my sympathies on your loss and share that I too know what it feels like. It's just heartbreaking. I lost a little one with my Zoe's first litter. He just failed to thrive despite the fact that I was up tube feeding him every 2 hours even during the night. I just put so much into him as far as time and emotions and it's just devastating when they don't survive. And Tammy, I agree with what you said too! To do things right, it very expensive. I was in the hole with my first litter and I'm just talking with vet and stud fees. I'm always buying some new supply for my whelping box.. just in case. Not to mention, how much I paid to get nice dogs with nice pedigrees, I don't even count that cost! This time, I hope I'll break even. And my Zoe had a relatively easy delivery. I couldn't imagine if I had complications or a c-section. I really do love the little ones and they make me feel so fulfilled but I just don't know if I can afford this. And it really is alot of work too. My puppies are raised underfoot and I block off my dining room and I wash the floor daily. When they are out to play, they manage to find things to chew on and rip to shreds. I don't even know where they find the stuff. I really do think you have to be a special sort of person to breed....

06-15-2010, 03:36 PM	#13
scrapindee Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Redlands Posts: 4,842 Blog Entries: 2	I am sorry for the loss of your puppy and I wish you well with your litter of 3. I am also happy that you chose to post your story here for the many others who will come behind you asking if they should have that 1 litter. I so often tell puppy owners that having that 1 litter is a 24/7 job for 12 or more weeks. It means the first two weeks of the litter's life getting up every hour to check on mom and the puppys. It sometimes means hand feeding or bottle feeding or supplementing their feeding. As the puppies begin to grow and start to wean, it is making sure they transition to puppy food, socialize with each other, with humans, to noise, get their shots, etc., etc., etc. Taking pictures, finding homes, socializing. It is a full time job. And it can be joyous. And it can be heartbreaking. __________________ Scrapindee--Team Furry & the Biewers www.houseofwags.com

06-15-2010, 05:05 PM	#14
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	People have told me for 35 yrs how lucky I am to be having so much fun breeding Yorkies...fun, fun, fun...

06-15-2010, 09:34 PM	#15
kpstoybox Do you like Parti's?" Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,337	Oh Yilda.... So sorry to hear you lost a little boy. But thrilled to hear the remaining pups are doing good. Keep us posted as they continue to thrive and grow. Oh...and give that Biewer boy of your's a kiss from me!! __________________ Karen and the PartiTime Kids There's always a parti at my house!