How often do you breed? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

pebblesmama · 04-27-2006, 08:27 AM

Just curious - do you breeders breed your females every cycle or do you give a break in between. I have talked to a couple of vets on this and they reccomend breeding every cycle but no longer than 6 years. I am not sure I am comfortable with that advice. What do you all think?

yorkiemom1970 · 04-27-2006, 08:41 AM

No I wouldn't breed every cycle. Your vet said to breed every cycle?
I have bred two cycles in a row. Let's take my girl Ginger for example. Ginger had 3 heats before she was ever bred. She had a litter last Summer and one yesterday. She will be skipped her next two. I have a girl who comes into heat every 5-6 months like clock work. She is never ever bred every time! I have a girl who comes in once every 12 months. She is skipped every other.
Tricky stuff...

pebblesmama · 04-27-2006, 08:49 AM

That makes much more sense to me. I can't imagine every cycle being bred. It was a vet that I used for an emergency case that told me this. I think he is a good vet (he saved my females life) but his practice is not primarily small animals. I have bred a few litters using three different females and it was one of my females that needed an emergency hysterectomy during delivery. I was worried that I had bred her too much (once every other cycle) and he told me every cycle would be okay. As I said, I am not comfortable with that but have found very little information to tell me otherwise. Thanks Robbie, I know you know what you are talking about.

txshopper73 · 05-05-2006, 01:05 PM

Breed two cycles and rest one...or two but definitely she gets a rest. I'd hate to be preggers all the time as well. Besides, the uterus needs a break.

YorkieRose · 05-10-2006, 03:01 AM

I go bitch by bitch...but never more then twice in a row..in fact if you join any Yorkie club you will see in the code of Ethics it states just that.

If you go by those vets recommendations, that could mean 12 litters in a row for a 5 to 7 pound dog!!!!!!...again, so much in breeding is COMMON SENSE..and many vets have none.

Lacy's Mom · 05-10-2006, 01:19 PM

I would like to hear some more opinions. I've always heard, not before 3rd heat or after 8 years old. I've been told, breed two, rest one; breed one, rest one; and breed every cycle (if healthy) because false pregnancies are actually worse than the pregnancy itself and they would breed in the wild and mother nature knows what is best.

I was confused when I read this on the web, what type of infection are they referring to:

We breed our females every heat cycle as long as they are fit and
healthy. If they weren't fit and healthy we wouldn't breed them at all. When we first started breeding we
asked our vet if we should do it every other heat cycle. He said no. He said you want to breed them
every heat because not doing so they could end up with an infection. He said as long as they are
healthy and strong we should breed every heat cycle.

kalina82 · 05-10-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacy's Mom

I would like to hear some more opinions. I've always heard, not before 3rd heat or after 8 years old. I've been told, breed two, rest one; breed one, rest one; and breed every cycle (if healthy) because false pregnancies are actually worse than the pregnancy itself and they would breed in the wild and mother nature knows what is best.

I was confused when I read this on the web, what type of infection are they referring to:

We breed our females every heat cycle as long as they are fit and
healthy. If they weren't fit and healthy we wouldn't breed them at all. When we first started breeding we
asked our vet if we should do it every other heat cycle. He said no. He said you want to breed them
every heat because not doing so they could end up with an infection. He said as long as they are
healthy and strong we should breed every heat cycle.

maybe he meant a pyometra. that's a serious uterine infection that unspayed females can get

YorkieRose · 05-10-2006, 01:30 PM

Skipping 1, 2 or more cycles have to date never resulted in a false pregnancy or uterine infection in any of my bitches..BUT I know it is possible.
Clemmie recently had her first litter at 3 years...if she had not been bred this cycle I would have spayed her..I perfer they do not go past 3 for the first litter.

Lacy's Mom · 05-10-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

maybe he meant a pyometra. that's a serious uterine infection that unspayed females can get

I think you are right about it being pyometra. I just looked it up and it is a possibility for every heat cycle that fertilization doesn't occur. So I guess they are saying that pyometra is a bigger risk than breeding every season?

sunset yorkies · 05-10-2006, 03:02 PM

I heard the same thing from a dog reproduction specalist.Said to breed every heat until a certain age then spay her.Not sure if I will do it that way but thats what he said to do.Bigger chances with them getting stuff from the heat than breeding them.

Faith

YorkieRose · 05-10-2006, 06:00 PM

Do I understand you to say ...it is better to breed a bitch from the second heat and every heat there after until 6 years, THEN risk pyometra?? I sure hope that is not what you are saying...

I have 33 yrs of breeding Yorkies and skipping many cycles..none have ever had pyometra or a false pregnancy. It is so unwise to breed a bitch non-stop..the uterus will become like an overstretched balloon..each whelping will produce a need for more and more oxytocin..and the risk of sections.

A bitch needs to be built up after each whelping...nursing a litter is much harder then gestation and whelping as a rule.
It is very common to see Yorkie rescues take in puppy mill bitches who have been bred non-stop for years..I have seen them, poor things are a broken down, bag of toothless bones as a rule.

BUT if a repro specialist thinks that is the best way to breed TOY bitches, then who am I to diasgree with someone who breeds on paper.

sunset yorkies · 05-10-2006, 06:08 PM

I am just saying what I heard,and I didn't say until six years of age.
I also never said I did it this way.

Faith

Lacy's Mom · 05-10-2006, 06:13 PM

Yorkie Rose,

I respect your opinion, experience and obvious knowledge, but more and more vets are stating that you should breed every heat or get them spayed and they are backing it up with scientific evidence. I have pm'd several breeders and they have said the same thing, but said they would not say it on this forum for obvious reasons. All told me their vets had agreed to this.

Yes, puppy mill breeders are a sad sight, but I think lack of care, lack of quality food, lack of exercise, lack of a clean environment, no health or dental care, being exposed to so many others, etc. is more the reason than breeding every cycle.

BTW I have never bred two cycles in a row and have never bred more than 3 litters (usually just two) from one female.

One question, do you find that when you skip a heat cycle it takes longer for the next cycle to begin? Thank you for sharing your experiences.

YorkieRose · 05-10-2006, 06:14 PM

Check with the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America...I would trust most any breeder there over a non-breeder vet.

Lacy's Mom · 05-10-2006, 06:24 PM

I did actually check with ytca first under their code of ethics, but it says the following - this statement is very vague.

3) Healthy spacing between litters will be a priority and unspayed bitches will be protected from unplanned matings. Bitches will in no case be bred before their second heat or before they are at least 18 months of age, whichever comes first, nor be placed at risk by an unreasonable number of cesarean sections and then only with the concurrence of a veterinarian.

Something to think about - even the most experienced breeders go to a vet for advice or a c-section.

04-27-2006, 08:27 AM	#1
pebblesmama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 84	How often do you breed? Just curious - do you breeders breed your females every cycle or do you give a break in between. I have talked to a couple of vets on this and they reccomend breeding every cycle but no longer than 6 years. I am not sure I am comfortable with that advice. What do you all think?

05-05-2006, 01:05 PM	#4
txshopper73 Donating YT 14K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Victoria, Texas Posts: 14,178 Blog Entries: 1	Breed two cycles and rest one...or two but definitely she gets a rest. I'd hate to be preggers all the time as well. Besides, the uterus needs a break. __________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley Gracie, London and Dallas

05-10-2006, 03:01 AM	#5
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	breeding I go bitch by bitch...but never more then twice in a row..in fact if you join any Yorkie club you will see in the code of Ethics it states just that. If you go by those vets recommendations, that could mean 12 litters in a row for a 5 to 7 pound dog!!!!!!...again, so much in breeding is COMMON SENSE..and many vets have none. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

05-10-2006, 01:30 PM	#8
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	breeding Skipping 1, 2 or more cycles have to date never resulted in a false pregnancy or uterine infection in any of my bitches..BUT I know it is possible. Clemmie recently had her first litter at 3 years...if she had not been bred this cycle I would have spayed her..I perfer they do not go past 3 for the first litter. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

05-10-2006, 06:00 PM	#11
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	pyrometra Do I understand you to say ...it is better to breed a bitch from the second heat and every heat there after until 6 years, THEN risk pyometra?? I sure hope that is not what you are saying... I have 33 yrs of breeding Yorkies and skipping many cycles..none have ever had pyometra or a false pregnancy. It is so unwise to breed a bitch non-stop..the uterus will become like an overstretched balloon..each whelping will produce a need for more and more oxytocin..and the risk of sections. A bitch needs to be built up after each whelping...nursing a litter is much harder then gestation and whelping as a rule. It is very common to see Yorkie rescues take in puppy mill bitches who have been bred non-stop for years..I have seen them, poor things are a broken down, bag of toothless bones as a rule. BUT if a repro specialist thinks that is the best way to breed TOY bitches, then who am I to diasgree with someone who breeds on paper. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim Last edited by YorkieRose; 05-10-2006 at 06:03 PM.

04-27-2006, 08:41 AM	#2
yorkiemom1970 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,947	No I wouldn't breed every cycle. Your vet said to breed every cycle? I have bred two cycles in a row. Let's take my girl Ginger for example. Ginger had 3 heats before she was ever bred. She had a litter last Summer and one yesterday. She will be skipped her next two. I have a girl who comes into heat every 5-6 months like clock work. She is never ever bred every time! I have a girl who comes in once every 12 months. She is skipped every other. Tricky stuff...

04-27-2006, 08:49 AM	#3
pebblesmama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 84	That makes much more sense to me. I can't imagine every cycle being bred. It was a vet that I used for an emergency case that told me this. I think he is a good vet (he saved my females life) but his practice is not primarily small animals. I have bred a few litters using three different females and it was one of my females that needed an emergency hysterectomy during delivery. I was worried that I had bred her too much (once every other cycle) and he told me every cycle would be okay. As I said, I am not comfortable with that but have found very little information to tell me otherwise. Thanks Robbie, I know you know what you are talking about.

05-10-2006, 01:19 PM	#6
Lacy's Mom YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 2,931	I would like to hear some more opinions. I've always heard, not before 3rd heat or after 8 years old. I've been told, breed two, rest one; breed one, rest one; and breed every cycle (if healthy) because false pregnancies are actually worse than the pregnancy itself and they would breed in the wild and mother nature knows what is best. I was confused when I read this on the web, what type of infection are they referring to: We breed our females every heat cycle as long as they are fit and healthy. If they weren't fit and healthy we wouldn't breed them at all. When we first started breeding we asked our vet if we should do it every other heat cycle. He said no. He said you want to breed them every heat because not doing so they could end up with an infection. He said as long as they are healthy and strong we should breed every heat cycle.

05-10-2006, 03:02 PM	#10
sunset yorkies YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 407	I heard the same thing from a dog reproduction specalist.Said to breed every heat until a certain age then spay her.Not sure if I will do it that way but thats what he said to do.Bigger chances with them getting stuff from the heat than breeding them. Faith

05-10-2006, 06:08 PM	#12
sunset yorkies YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 407	I am just saying what I heard,and I didn't say until six years of age. I also never said I did it this way. Faith

05-10-2006, 06:13 PM	#13
Lacy's Mom YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 2,931	Yorkie Rose, I respect your opinion, experience and obvious knowledge, but more and more vets are stating that you should breed every heat or get them spayed and they are backing it up with scientific evidence. I have pm'd several breeders and they have said the same thing, but said they would not say it on this forum for obvious reasons. All told me their vets had agreed to this. Yes, puppy mill breeders are a sad sight, but I think lack of care, lack of quality food, lack of exercise, lack of a clean environment, no health or dental care, being exposed to so many others, etc. is more the reason than breeding every cycle. BTW I have never bred two cycles in a row and have never bred more than 3 litters (usually just two) from one female. One question, do you find that when you skip a heat cycle it takes longer for the next cycle to begin? Thank you for sharing your experiences.

05-10-2006, 06:14 PM	#14
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	age Check with the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America...I would trust most any breeder there over a non-breeder vet. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

05-10-2006, 06:24 PM	#15
Lacy's Mom YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 2,931	I did actually check with ytca first under their code of ethics, but it says the following - this statement is very vague. 3) Healthy spacing between litters will be a priority and unspayed bitches will be protected from unplanned matings. Bitches will in no case be bred before their second heat or before they are at least 18 months of age, whichever comes first, nor be placed at risk by an unreasonable number of cesarean sections and then only with the concurrence of a veterinarian. Something to think about - even the most experienced breeders go to a vet for advice or a c-section.