Michelle,
Welcome to the world of Yorkies. I can't imagine how you managed living without a doggy to love in the years before you came into the light
I will give you MY opinion on what a BYB is. To me, yes you will be a BYB. BUT don't take that as I'm calling you a bad name. I mean it in the sense that if your breeding dogs are not tested for genetic problems that may passed these problems on to the pups. So, yes that's a BYB.
PLEASE, hear me out. I speak from experience in the sense I have dealt with four dogs that came from what I now classify as BYB. AND my dogs have paid for their bad breeding with their pain, one even lost her life.
I'll explain...first was my German Shepard. We got him from the SPCA. He had hip dysplasia that started at the young age of three. With tons spent in vet visits / treatments he lived to be ten years old before passing. X-rays of the parents that the breeders decided to breed would have shown if they had signs of this painful condition. They should have never been breed.
Second is my nine year old toy poodle. She came from a small, family breeder. Much like what you are describing yourself to be. So I thought well she only breeds once a year, so the dam is healthy. I met both parents, they were very lovely, and friendly dogs. I had to have my poodle. Well, she had patellar luxation (where the knee cap pops out). She jumped off a bed one day, like she did every day, but this time she landed wrong and it blew out her knee cap. $1700 later and three weeks of rehab and tons of pain later her knee is well now. Again simple X-rays prior to breeding would have shown that the dogs should not have produced puppies to spread this painful genetic condition to.
Third was my doberman pincher. I thought I was educated now, so I asked the breeder if she showed her dogs and if they did genetic testing. She assured me she did and the ears were already cropped, which is common with good breeders of dobermans (I thought). So I took her word and the fact that she charged me $750 for the dog,that this was going to be a healthy dog. A friend of mine even bought a sibling to my dobbie from this lady.
At the age of 3, the sibling was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and died within two weeks of being informed she had it. My dobbie lived six months longer, we thought we dodged the genetic bullet, but one day she started walking stiffly. The next day she couldn't get up. A trip to the vet and several x-rays later she was diagnosed with Wobblers (a condition that effects the spine). The bills to treat this were in the thousands, and she would never run again. This was a dog that loved running and within two days she was down, never to run again. We had to have her put to sleep.
Think about this...how horrible it was to sit with her as we had to give the order for the vet to overdose her on the knock out stuff they use to put you to sleep for an operation. Only she would never awaken after that. To this day I can't see a doberman without feeling the pain of losing my lovely Faith. She was so beautiful and looked like that picture of health, it was devastating.
Fourth is my Great Pyrenees. I got him from a farmer. The parents were there and they were working dogs. So I thought, they have to be healthy. Well......He is actually bow legged which causes his knee to pop out of place. We actually took him to an orthoptic surgeon to see what could be done for his problem. Just to see this vet it's $100 to walk in the door.
He told us if Garrett (GP) was a human he would have to under go extensive and numerous surgeries to break the bones and set them in braces to redirect their growth in become straight. However, since big dogs don't live but ten to twelve years, he advised against such drastic treatment. As most of Garrett's young life would be spend in surgery.
He recommend supplements of glucosamine and fish oil, and restricting his exercise to no running for two months and daily walks to strenghten the ligaments to hold the knee in place. Doing surgery on the knee may or may not work because his leg bones are not straight. We decided not to try a surgery that would be tons of pain if it wasn't necessary. We are putting the work in and have seen great improvement in him since starting this treatment six months ago. However, if he get overly excited the knee pops out. The vet showed us how to do stretches and massages to help get it back in place.
My yorkie came to me just three weeks ago from a rescue group. He was probably a product of a BYB as he was dumped in a shelter with tons of health issues at the young age of 1 to 2 years. He even has a broken canine tooth...can you imagine the horror he went through to break a tooth? I have become momma bear over him. He will never be hurt again and be the healthest he can be.
All my dogs are fixed. I had tons of family asking me to breed my toy poodle when we first got her. It was because she's so small and they wanted a little puppy too. I refused and got her fixed as soon as she was old enough. It may seem unfriendly or selfish, but I explain that she's not perfect and I won't want to pass on genetic problems to a puppy.
My sister had a female dog who came down with mammary tumors and she was never fixed. I assure you it is true that female's who are not spayed are very prone to this. She was 9 when they started. My poodle doesn't have them, because she doesn't have all the hormones running in her body to cause them.
I think if you love your babies don't do it! Don't you remember how painful pregnancy was? Your baby will become a mom and not be your baby during that time as she will have to take care of her own babies.
And what if she has trouble with delivery and needs a c-section or worst dies during the birthing process. Will being able to give your family members a puppy be worth all this to you? It wasn't to me.
When I agreed to add each and every one of my dogs into my family, I agreed to be their parent, their provider, their protector...NOT someone who puts their health and well being in jeopardy.
Recommend a rescue to your family, or a breeder who does do the necessary testing so they receive a pup that is as healthy as it can be.
I urge you to go and look at the yorkie health forum on this website and educate yourself.
You said your baby helped you out of depression, imagine how you will feel if you lose her because of a bad discission you made to make someone else happy.
Think of your dog. She helped you,
now you look out for her and get her spayed as soon as your vet says you can do it safely.
As you can see, I've had my share of dealing with BYB. Please, look at the post on BYB...it puts numbers to this. Even if you find homes for the puppies you produce if just 1 is put to sleep that is maybe a great grand child of your dog...that's 1 too many!!!!!!!!!
I will happily talk more with you if you need more information or have questions. Please, do not it. It's taken me a great deal of time and emotions to explain this to you. I hope it has helped. In momery of my Faith I urge you again...Please don't.