breeding
 

I have a 4 year old male Yorkshire Terrier, he is black and tan, he is registered with the universal kennel club international inc. I recently aquired him from a friend who could no longer care for him. I was considering mating him before I have him neutered, any thoughts or suggestions. I have no idea how to go about finding him a mate or what is involved in attempting to do this?

Welcome to YT :) What is your reason for wanting to breed him?

I feel bad having him neutered without mating at least once. He is very cute and under the right conditions would have beautiful puppies. What is involved?

I urge you to really research and read before you consider breeding. Breeding is such a huge responsiblity and not to be taken lightly. Honestly, yorkies are so overbred right now that most don't meet the standard and health problems are unfortunately too common. Also, I'm sure you know the pet population is out of control right now...millions of dogs are euthanized in shelters.

IF you decide to breed him, please please please have all neccessary health screening done before you breed him (and on the female). Too many of our babies have genetic defects because health screening wasn't done. It's so unfair to our yorkies and causes heartache for the owners. Some health testing that needs to be done is: a good physical exam, a blood panel, a bile acid test to check for liver shunt, check hips for Legg Perthes, check knees for Luxating Patellas, check eyes and ears, check heart, check thyroid. You also really need to know the dogs' lines because some diseases can skip generations such as liver shunt. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined so its so important to know that there is no history of liver shunt anywhere in the lines...up to 10 generations back.

You also have to do tests for STDs (even if its the first time for both). Dogs can be born with Brucellosis if mother was infected. Brucellosis normally causes abortions and the dog will then be infected for life. Recomendation is euthanasia because the dogs become a public health risk and can transmit the disease to humans. A recent Brucella test is always a must or you may risk having to euthanize your dog.

There is also a lot of responsibilty that goes with breeding. I believe that breeding should be done for one reason - to breed the best representations of the breed and to continue bettering the breed. I really believe that only those yorkies that meet the standard should be bred...i call these "show quality" yorkies (even if the breeder doesn't actually show). I don't believe people should be breeding for pet-quality dogs, breeding for money, or just breeding because they think its fun. There are too many dogs in the shelters to be breeding just to breed.

Also, be prepared that if you breed him that he may have unwanted behaviors for the rest of his life. He may have a "stud dog attitude" for the rest of his life and may mark and hump even after he is neutered. Don't feel bad for neutering him. Dogs don't have a sexual ego like humans. Their only reasons for mating at instinct and reproduction. They are driven by hormones and instinct only, and once you take those hormones away, the urge to mate goes away. Dogs don't miss their testicals I promise you...they know no difference other than they don't feel the urge to run out and reproduce. Unneutered males can smell a female in heat up to a mile away and may do anything to get to her. Many males are injured or hit by cars when they escape from their home and attempt to get to a female in heat. Unneutered males also may stop eating when a female in heat is near by. Neutering really makes a happier and healthier pet. By neutering him, you'll eliminate his risk for testicular cancer and enlarged prostate as well.

You seem like a very educated pet owner. Thank you. This is my first dog. If I neuter him any suggestions? I read on Yorkie talk that the aspca is affordable, is it dangerous to use a public facility vs a private vet?

I would discuss it with your vet and call and talk to someone with the ASPCA. When you call around, find out what is included with the price they quote you. I would recommend a recent physical exam and a full blood panel just to make sure he's healthy and has no underlying health problems that would make anaesthesia unsafe. Other than that, neutering is a routine, simple, and quick procedure. You normally drop him off in the morning and depending on the vet, he'll be able to go home that afternoon or the next morning. They might give you an E-collar (the cone) or you might want to put a baby onsie on him just to make sure he doesn't try to chew at his stitches. Males are normally up and going again the day after surgery.