[gemy]

There are many good points that have been raised. Seriously re-consider this for your gal. The fact that you have not researched way earlier what is the prime age to breed your gal indicates you have not done a lot research into what it takes to breed a sound dog to a sound dog, to produce in turn sound and healthy puppies.


I can almost guarantee you have not done the specific pre-breeding tests that are recommended. For example; how sure are you, that your gal is clear of PRA or cataracts? A general vet can't tell you that. You need to see an opthamologist to have her eyes examined. Cataracts can even show up as late as six years old, I know, because I have one retired breeding male that on his last Opthamologist exam, was discovered to have Cataracts. It is thought to be an genetically inherited disease. He tested clear at 1yr 2 yr old 3yr old and 4yr old. There were no overt signs as his cataract is very small.


Have your done a BATS test on your gal? It is one of the recommended tests to be done, and specifically looks at liver function. There is a liver disease actually there are a few, but MVD and LS are two very common ones in Yorkies. The signs n symptoms of either disease can be very mild and are often not investigated by the owner with their vet. In other words un-diagnosed for years, until something *tips* the health of the dog. Imagine if your gal has this and you breed her to a male with this, and or a male who has a lot of liver problems in his background.
And BTW even if you have done complete regular Blood panels on your gal, all liver problems do not show up. You need this quite specific test.

Then there are joint problems. Is your gal clear of LP? Elbow dysplasia and or hip dysplasia? Again ED and HD must be diagnosed through special Xrays and read by a specialist. Very mild cases of ED HD and LP go unremarked for many years, and then ageing starts and *arthritis* sets in, often mis-diagnosed as the normal ageing process..........instead of the consequences of ED and or HD.


C-section? Wow on what basis did your vet forecast a 50.50 chance thereof? Look at it this way, how sure are you that you want to put this gal on the risk of surgery and all surgeries have risks! Also what about after the C section? There are more than a few gals that refuse to nurse their puppy/puppies.


As a breeder I can honestly say I have never seen any gal give signs that she *wants* to have puppies. What is how-ever looked for is a good guess on how well she would be as a mother to pups. This gal is the one who will train and socialize and introduce your pups to the doggy world; and not every gal is temperamentally suited to it. And I am sorry to bring this analog up, but not every woman is suited to be a mother. Dogs are the same way.


Six years old is very late and therefor very risky to have a first litter of pups for ANY breed of dog.


I do strongly encourage you to have a frank discussion with your vet as every season that goes by your gal is at a substantial risk of pyrometra and that is deadly!


IMO you should not breed this gal, and also should spay her for her long term health. Prior to spaying I urge you to not only get the pre-op blood work done, but a BATS test.