How do you know if your dog is right for breeding?
 

What I mean to say is . . .how do you know if your little girl can handle it? Besides the vet testing I mean . . .I mentioned this to a breeder I work with when she asked me if I was going to breed Rhianna because they had now lost both their females (car accident and wood pile). When I told her I was unsure and asked her how I would know if Rhianna would be able to carry pups and care for them, she looked at me like I was on some kind of drug . . .She didn't understand what I meant . . .she was very much like . . .well, if she gets pregnant, than a week before she is due you'd take her for x-rays and the vet would be able to tell you at that point if the pups were able to be born naturally or by c-section . . .I'm not sure if she is very non-chalant because she's done it a dozen times or feels its not a big issue . . .but to me, that isn't a good enough answer? I mean from all I've read here of all the tragedies and triumphs I'm sure it's not that way.

Good for you for being concerned. You know you could take all the necessary precautions. Besides the preliminary tests and making sure that she meets the standard, taking her to the vet having an ultra sound done of her reproductive organs. Does she come from a long line of free whelpers? Even with all that, you are right........ Will she concieve a large litter, is she big enough to carry it, and will the pups stretch her out during the gestation period. Will she have enough stamina to whelp a large litter, if not that can lead to a C-section after whelping a couple and the rest may have to be deliverd by C-section. A pup could get stuck in the birth canal, emergency C section. So many things can go wrong. Even with the healthiest best speciman.

All may turn out fine, but I guess what I'm attempting to say is that if you have any reservations, you feel uncomfortable.....don't do it.

Thank you Mardelin! I was hoping you'd answer this thread. I've seen all the great advice and help that you have given others and I truly appreciate it. It's not that I'm having too many reservations, it's just that Rhianna is my first priority . . she's MY baby, ya know? She's first, she's all that matters . . .I've always wanted to whelp a litter. The closest thing I have ever done was breed rabbits . . .and since they were outside, I never actually took part in the actual process. The first litter I had there was a singleton and he died . . .he was somehow very very large and was born stillborn. The second litter there were 6 of them . . .5 made it . . .the 6th one was doing fine and then one day the mama moved him away from the rest . . .I didn't understand, so I put him with his litter mates and that is when the mama bit me as if to say "hey, I don't want him, there is something wrong with him" I removed him from the cage to nurse him myself, but, he didn't make it . . .it was heartbreaking, but at the same time, there were 5 other healthy ones that were thriving. I guess she knew better than I. All 5 babies found homes . . .thankfully since at the time I had 8 rabbits. . .I never mated her again after that.
I know puppies and baby bunnies aren't the same, but that is the only experience I can go by . . .:)

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I agree. There is always a risk. If you are not fully convinced it's right, I would say, Don't do it! Sometimes I get a gut feeling that even a superb female just shouldn't be bred so I spay and place in a pet home. The guilt when something goes wrong, is overwhelming!

Yes you are having reservations and a big one, Rhianna is your first priority. If you aren't prepared to lose her (yep! there's no easy way of saying it) then don't do it.

I'm like that with just every day life in general, with any decision I have to make . . .I'm always playing both sides of the fence . . should I, shouldn't I . . .just ask my husband . . :p He's had to deal with me the past 22 years . . .:D I'm just one of those people that go back and forth, constantly changing my mind . . .I'm a libra, I need to be balanced . . .;)

I don't know if a breeder who'd lost both females in car and wood pile (?) accidents is a real good judge of how risky breeding Yorkies is .........

ITA! Which is why I pose my question here . . .it absolutely made me sick to my stomach when I heard about the tragic loss of her 2nd female . . .I mean the first one she lost the dog got out and ran out to the street, but the wood pile accident . . .:eek:

Prior to those 2 females (they never were bred they were still young) she had an additional 2 females that she had retired 2 years ago . . .with one male stud. She was going to use my Brody for her stud for her other 2 females . . .I was shocked to find out about the 2nd one though, the first one died about a year ago.

Hehehe I am the SAME way and a Libra too...must be the reason! LOL Drives my husband crazy!!