new to breeding ..

[MissSophie]

As I have read through this thread, I continue to hear the passion everyone has about this breed. I have known many people over the years who have had litters of pups because they just were not being responsible and did not spay their females. I really never thought much about it as they all seemed to do fine. However, as a Yorkie owner and lover, I have learned just how fragile these little beings are. Mine was spayed as soon as possible. I am so glad now. Over the last six years we have had minor illnesses, questions about health, etc., worry......all because she is a little dog, and not little for a Yorkie. What I am trying to say is that I now appreciate just exactly what every one of you is saying, and I hope that those who love their babies will listen carefully.

[NanaDtreasures]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

My heart was broken 2 days after Christmas last year when we lost a pup to a hypoglycemic episode. I thought I had her stabilized after being up with her all night. She was back to her usual self and running around. I took a 3 hour nap and woke to find her dead.

She was the most beautiful precious little girl and I will forever feel guilty about it.

You shouldnt feel guilty. You thought she was ok...
You were up all night with her, and just took a little nap.
She really was PRECIOUS Poor baby
Can I ask how old and how big was she?

[YorkieRose]

I have dealt with dozens of these situations...instead of trying to "scare" the person out of breeding...I try to be truthful. The truth is..most random litters of mixed pups like these are just fine...if this fact was not so, then the pounds would not be full of healthy mixed breeds who must be put down.

The problem is this...it rarely turns out as you plan...circumstances change and people do not foresee coming problems a few months or years down the road.
When a person such as this has decided to breed regardless, as she has...then she should be aware of what lies ahead...be sure to have enough funds and time to care for these animals properly for the next 15 yrs or so.
I, just raised a litter of 3 pups to age 6 months...and I am pooped, poorer and ready for a rest.

Of course, you can always say you will place them if they get to be too much for you..but most pet owners become so attached it is not an option, puppies in a group can be hard to train and housetrain, they can need expensive vet care, non-stop grooming, attention, etc and it all goes to HELL even with the best of intentions...

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

It just amazes me how lightly some take breeding. Dogs can die, puppies can be born sick and deformed, puppies can be genetically prone to develop health problems later in life, heartbreak can be involved for all. Too many people read the horror stories of other's breeding tragedies and think it won't happen to them, and they don't realize just how serious breeding is until something bad happens to them. Breeding is a huge responsibility...more need to realize that. Maybe the OP doesn't realize how risky breeding is...shouldn't be taken lightly.

[BakersDozen]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

We have plowed this ground before so I won't rehash. You're right, some of the posts were polite and informative but some were deliberately sarcastic. As a whole, if folks were trying to prevent her from breeding they failed miserably. This whole issue of the tone of posts has been discussed before with even a moderator chiming in at times about it. I believe there is a broad middle ground between meaness and sarcasm before you approach sugar coating. If you are actually trying to help someone, why not give them advice in a way that they might actually listen to it? A little tact and decorum can go a long way in convincing someone. If you saw nothing offensive in any of the responses, I suggest you read over them again JMHO.

[For My Coby]

I know the OP is gone, but.....

YorkieRose, I appreciate the truth in your post. I think that most people who are interested in breeding without understanding the responsibility, risk, and impact probably know five other people who have had casual litters "successfully" (I know we knew several families that had litters when we were growing up and thought nothing of it at the time) and don't often heed the heavy warnings.

Woogie Man, your story along with the others are so sad, especially told with the pain so evident. Those are stories that may reach people eventually. Unfortunately, maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday the pain that you shared will sink in.

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by NanaDtreasures

You shouldnt feel guilty. You thought she was ok...
You were up all night with her, and just took a little nap.
She really was PRECIOUS Poor baby
Can I ask how old and how big was she?

Thanks for the kind words but nothing will erase my guilty feelings. It's a true privilege to have these babies in our care and I can't help but feel that I failed her. She was 11 weeks old and a tiny 14 oz. I learned a hard lesson from this experience but Dani is the one that had to pay for it. It's amazing just how attached you can become to these babies so quickly; they truly are a gift.

[Sunnie]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

OMG...what a heartache to lose a whole litter. I can only imagine. My heart was broken 2 days after Christmas last year when we lost a pup to a hypoglycemic episode. I thought I had her stabilized after being up with her all night. She was back to her usual self and running around. I took a 3 hour nap and woke to find her dead. She was the most beautiful precious little girl and I will forever feel guilty about it. I wasn't a member here at the time but feel if I was, we might have had a different outcome. Also, now I'm dealing with a little girl that we kept due to her being born with a twisted leg. We thought that was her only problem ( she's 21 months old and has always been very active) and she has given us much joy. In the last few weeks, however, she has started showing outward signs of a heart arrhythmia so I have no idea what is ahead for us with her. The point is, breeding Yorkies can be a wonderful thing but oh, the heartaches that come with it. Hope you all don't mind if I post a picture of Dani, the little one we lost just after Christmas. She was so precious and to think that she is gone still tears me up. She is a great example of what you have to gain, and also to lose, when breeding these little angels.

Aww Dani was so sweet. How sad for you. You know... I really thought I did my homework when Sunshine had her first litter. We did have her health tested, LP tested, brucella (sp) tested.... we also went to an experienced breeder who also shows her dogs. At her suggestion as to which of her studs would be the best match for Sunshine, she was bred with her smallest stud, who was 2 1/2 lbs. Sunshine is 5 lbs. She and I talked many many times before Sunshine whelped. And Sunshine did great whelping them. She had all three in less than 3 hours. That being said, the first weighed barely 2 ounces, the second, who we were never able to get breathing, weighed 1.9 ounces and the last one weighed 1.7 ounces. The two that survived the birth had trouble latching on. After having them vet checked for cleft pallettes, we supplimented them. I also layed all night right next to them to make sure they were nursing. I too, fell asleep after being up for about 36 hours. I slept for 3 hours too and woke to both babies being dead and mommy crying and licking them. I know the guilt... I know the heartache. and I know the shame I felt when I called my breeder/mentor to tell her that all of the babies were gone. It didn't help that she said to me that if the babies were at her house, she could have saved them. I have learned a lot since then, but not a day goes by that I don't remember those 3 tiny little boys..

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Originally Posted by Sunnie

Aww Dani was so sweet. How sad for you. You know... I really thought I did my homework when Sunshine had her first litter. We did have her health tested, LP tested, brucella (sp) tested.... we also went to an experienced breeder who also shows her dogs. At her suggestion as to which of her studs would be the best match for Sunshine, she was bred with her smallest stud, who was 2 1/2 lbs. Sunshine is 5 lbs. She and I talked many many times before Sunshine whelped. And Sunshine did great whelping them. She had all three in less than 3 hours. That being said, the first weighed barely 2 ounces, the second, who we were never able to get breathing, weighed 1.9 ounces and the last one weighed 1.7 ounces. The two that survived the birth had trouble latching on. After having them vet checked for cleft pallettes, we supplimented them. I also layed all night right next to them to make sure they were nursing. I too, fell asleep after being up for about 36 hours. I slept for 3 hours too and woke to both babies being dead and mommy crying and licking them. I know the guilt... I know the heartache. and I know the shame I felt when I called my breeder/mentor to tell her that all of the babies were gone. It didn't help that she said to me that if the babies were at her house, she could have saved them. I have learned a lot since then, but not a day goes by that I don't remember those 3 tiny little boys..

That reminds me of my little Aidyn...

[Woogie Man]

Sunnie, that must have been (and I'm sure still is) so painful for you. It's terrible when we do all we can and it's still not enough. This was the first time I've related the story about Dani because it's still very painful to think about and posting her picture just ripped me open all over again. I'm very sorry to hear the way your mentor responded to you. I'm sure it was the last thing you needed to hear. My mentor has told me, "You have to be hard, Jim" but I guess I'm just an old softie. After Dani's passing, I resolved to myself 'never again' and have made every effort to be the best breeder I can be. I feel it's the only way to honor her memory and, like you, not a day goes by that I don't think of her. It's also reassuring to know that if I ever need help, I can find it right here. We don't get any do-overs but we do get the chance to do better. I'm glad to see you haven't given up. The Yorkie world needs more caring people such as yourself.

[mypreciouspups]

Originally Posted by KYBLUE

ok how about i am now subfeeding a little boy every 2 hours so my life is right here at home until only god knows when
do you work out side the home are you able to get up every 2 hours around the clock if not well pup won't make it
or what if it is the whole litter?
that you have to potty and feed and weigh etc it isnt even about mixing
the breed it is about the night mare that can occur and how mentally exhausting it can be and how attached you get and still maybe loose
the pup or litter please do your homework it is so much more than just breeding a dog and if you want to know when the right time is well take her to the vet he can tell you!!! put money away just in case of a c-section most vet's want money upfront and double that for a night c-section
than put money away for vet check and shot's and a good puppy food and
for a good calcium supplement for momma and a high quality food for momma
and buy you some good breeding books so you undertand the good and oh so
bad about whelping and than a nose sucker and clamps and all the whelping supplies than money for tails and dew claws
also remember it is summer be prepard to give up going to the lake or a vacation or outings for weeks until pupies are ready to go
you need expen and puppy pads and washing little buts and cleaning poo for weeks than vet checks to make sure you are not selling a sick pup and believe you me cleaning alot of puppy poo and little buts for at least 12 weeks can be so much fun and giving albon for days if pups get coccidia
just please rethink what you are about to do it can be very costly and
heart breaking and money to be made well i am always going in the hole.
good luck!

I might add that two years ago I had a tiny that had I not tube fed her night and day every two hours on the button she would not be here today.. we lived like zombies my husband and I.. then at 4 weeks she could not stand up right.. we had to have a brace made.. first vet only gave leg exercises to do.. I was not outside the home for 6 weeks unless it was in my own back yard with the dogs..
Prior to birth I layed on the floor for three nights prior to whelping.. In the end it was a very expensive puppy....I was fearful. I was nervous, I was scared I was going to lose her, or she would aspirate when i was tube feeding,. had to ensure we got the tube down her throat and not into her lungs.. we were so totally exhausted when the tube feeding ended..

And if you male is too big for your smaller girl, trouble could be in the works before you ever get to see the babies..
what ever you decide.. please do some homework on whelping a litter..anne

[TeddyandTiffy]

I want to say this from my experience from this past week with my 2 older daughters...& I'm not saying this to anyone who breeds any breeds (Mix or Purebred) responsibly...That meaning they know what they truly are getting their selves into, have studied their breeds and has seriously thought the whole breeding issue through, has the money for emergencies and all supplies needed for Mother and new Puppies when they arrive, and also have the time and patience to put into a new litter of any breed puppies.

Breeding is not just putting two dogs together to have pretty puppies...This is NO reason to BREED any purebred or mix...I will stand firm on that. I’m sorry this is so long , but I want this Gal who is even thinking about breeding to see what I’ve been through this week with my own Daughters. & I'm not saying she herself would do this but this is something to not be taken lightly by no mean.


My oldest daughter (24) got her a mix breed puppy he's 5 weeks old, a lab and husky mix, they named him Jake...Keep his mix breeding in mind...I wouldn't allow her to bring him here...She got him last Wednesday April 30th...Well I couldn’t tell U how many times that girl has called me sayin’ mom he's doing this or mom he's doing that what do I do...

I said heather he's a mix breed and U're gonna have some thing in him that U wouldn't normally have with one breed such as attitude, chewing, health, potty training...She got the picture.

Finally I allowed her to bring him to our house in the front yard only…Keep in mind that I haven’t held or been around another breed dog in 3 years…I haven’t even held another breed dog…Well he is the sweetest cutest, adorable mix breed puppy I’ve ever seen has the most beautiful husky lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen…Has the husky coat & yes he stole my heart, but he is the most persistent little thing U ever seen, I have roses and that fur ball would not stay out of them for nothing…So here I am trying to get him out of them, he finally got the message after 30 minutes of teaching. He is meek and mellow dog other wise, very good with our girls and granddaughter but very very persistent.

Now she is trying to playpen train him so he will be puppy pad trained, nope he’s not having it for he yelps to high heaven every single time she puts him in it…I told her she has to keep it up with him. So she is at least trying him.

Oh that isn’t it, so she decides she wants another dog that is another mix breed of Jack Russell and Chihuahua, so she goes and gets the new mix breed this Sunday May 4th, he looks like the Jack Russell, she sends me a text photo of him…Gets him to her house and calls me saying him and Jake are fighting something bad she hadn‘t had this dog for a hour mind U…I ask how many was in his litter, she said the house was full of them, said it was an older lady that had him…I said well Heather I’d say he has had to fight before due to having so many in the house and U’re gonna have problems with him wanting to be the dominate one…She said Jake was just laying there not fighting back with him, he was taking it.

So guess what my 24 year old that I never ever raised this way said? I don’t want him…I said what, oh yes she said it again…Well of course I gave her a butt chewing…I said call his breeder back and if she is a responsible breeder then she’ll take him back, she called nope she wasn’t having him back, she said she gave him to them and she wasn’t taking him back for anything (Sad but this does happen U know with people) well that went through me.

I told Heather what I thought about that breeder being that way. So I said well call a guy that works with my Hubby he might take him, she says U call I said Oh no U got U’re self into this U’re getting U’re self out of it…She got mad and all huffy but she did the calling, he said no he didn’t want him…She calls me back saying he doesn’t want him…I’m taking him to the Humane Society she said, Well that went through me I said the H--- if U are, no way U’re not doing that to any dog…Heather U take such animals on they are now U’re responsibility and U have to find him a good home.

I said call Mamaw & Papaw (My Mom & Dad), they have Muncie & Faith (2 females) which by the way was her dogs that are Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix breed also but she had to move to get out of a bad situation with a guy and couldn’t keep them so my Parents took them…My parents live on 40 acres & they are well kept, have a very large playhouse my Dad built for a dog house, I mean my Hubby can stand up in the thing…It’s very nice and right across from their driveway and they can see them from their kitchen and living room windows and door…They have a fenced in yard attached to the dog house to play in and heat in the winter…My Dad does take very good of their dogs, even mix breeds and he raises pure bred Beagles.

So she calls them and like usually they come to my girls rescue when I can’t or don’t… They took him…& love him said they was going to train him like Muncie to get moles out of their yard & be a Snake watcher and Muncie is such a good dog for my parents, she will not let my parents out around a Snake, if there is one close to them, Muncie stops them from getting near it…She will kill the Snake and bring it on the porch for them to see…One was under the porch last Summer and Dad tried to come out the door, Muncie wouldn’t let him out until she killed that Snake, then she brought it on the porch for Dad to see. So this story has a very happy ending, thanks to my Parents. Heather is keeping Jake.

My other Daughters’ boyfriend is looking for a puppy not a older dog, he wants one for outside…I said go to the Humane Society to find one, he said they don’t have puppies I said yes they do, they have litters sometimes just threw to the sides of the road and they have mommies that come in there that are ready to whelp…Go look, but I also tried to tell them that if U get a mix breed dog U’re looking at 2 different breeds coming into one body…And they are different then a full bred dog.

I looked up this OP age and she is right around my daughters age…I honesty feel she needs to do her research before any breeding of any dog is done. But this is just my OPO and what I’ve been through this past week with my daughters… Hope this will help her in her choices, Lee

[navygirl76]

i love that everyone here is so passionate about this! the world needs more passionate ppl who care for dogs and their wellbeing, there would be less dogs in shelters being euthanized and homeless eating out of the trash.

i wont interject my opinion, because i see that it wont matter anyways to the poster. best of luck in breeding her, i can only hope the painful and catastrophic results that plague the professionals here somehow avoid you.

[britt1005]

SO ALL OF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN OPINION ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH MY DOG AND THATS FINE .. I STILL THINK THAT ALL OF YOU ARE COMING OFF IN A MEAN WAY .. SOME I FEEL ARE JUST SO HUNG UP ON THE MIX BREED THING ITS SILLY ... SOME OF YOU ARE TRYING TO BE FUNNY AND ITS NOT WORKING ..

AS A MATTER A FACT I WENT AND GOT A BREEDER BOOK .. I READ EVERY THING YOU GUYS ARE SAYING AND I ALSO BOOKED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY GIRL AT THE VET TO BE SPAYED .. ....

I THINK THE NEXT TIME SOME ONE ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THIS .. YOU SHOULD ALL NOT BE SO MEAN .... OR SO AGAINST IT .. I ASKED SIMPLE QUESTION AND YOU ALL JUST JUMPED ON ME ... I REALLY FEEL LIKE YOUD RATHER ME BUY DOGS FROM YOU THEN TO TRY AND DO IT MY SELF ... BUT OH WELL .. I DONT WANT TO LOSE MY GIRL .. AND ID RATHER HAVE HER THAN ANY PUP ......

[Chrissy0277]

Thank God your doing the right thing.

Sorry for being a bitch about it