Breeding and Whelping Questions
 

Any breeders comments and opinions are appreciated and welcomed. Please no judging.

Ok so Ive bred yorkies for awhile now and just want to brush up on my skills and knowledge. I havent had a litter in over 1 1/2 years and Im sure I can learn quite a bit from this site and the help of other breeders.

In my past Ive had two breeding females total in my program. I am not a commercial breeder or breed more then one dog at a time. I have been selective in choosing my new female based on so many things.

My current female has had her first and second heat. I chose to wait until her third heat due to her size and wanted to make sure she was big enough to breed. She is almost 5 lbs and compared to my other females she is tiny. My other females were 7 and 8 lbs. She was recently bred with a tiny male and tied several times over the time she spent with him. It was a monitored breeding to make sure things went the way they should. And at this time all is well. We are hoping things were successful and will wait to confirm.

I just have some questions are

1) Will the dam stand for a male if she is not ready?
2) When whelping do you allow the dam to whelp freely or do you intervene and help her cut cords and so on?
3) Do you allow your dam to consume the afterbirth or placentas?

In the past my females have been free whelpers but would like to know other breeders opinions on this. The pros and cons of why or why not to. In my experience these questions may depend on the dam and how she is taking to her litter.

Like I said I am looking to refresh my mind with other breeder stories and experiences. I am not perfect but looking to be better. I breed occasional and choose my yorkies according to AKC standards. I am not a back yard breeder nor do I do this for money. I enjoy my dogs, they are a big part of my family. And by far one of the most important things in my life.

Looking forward to any comments and suggestions.

Thank you

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No problem with answering your questions, but I will interject a couple of things to some of your explanation.

She was recently bred with a tiny male and tied several times over the time she spent with him. It was a monitored breeding to make sure things went the way they should. And at this time all is well. We are hoping things were successful and will wait to confirm.

I'm assuming that you feel breeding a smaller male to your female in hopes to achieve smaller pups (your concern with your girl's size). Breeding a smaller male to a larger female for this purpose is a misnomer. All is very dependent on each of their lines as to the size of the pups.....The female controls the size while the pups are in utero, very dependent on her nutrition, health and the number of pups she concieves. Which is another thing to consider, she may concieve more pups that she is able to carry to term.

Monitoring a breeding and allowing them to breed several times...is not recommened, actually frowned upon by AKC. Breeding should be done with assistance....holding the male and female...

1) Will the dam stand for a male if she is not ready?
No, usually a girl when in Season will not stand unless she is ready to receive the male....a good reason as not to put them together until she's ready, she can hurt the male. Although, I've had hussy's attempt to entice males when they aren't in Season.
2) When whelping do you allow the dam to whelp freely or do you intervene and help her cut cords and so on?
Allowing a girl to free whelp and intervining to assist are not one in the same. I do cut the cords, as in those times when your girl is whelping fast and in pain, she can chew the cord too close and/or pull to hard and pull out intestines, I use a nasal aspirator to remove fluids from the mouth and nose, rub the pup until it does cry, administer NutriDrops, use a warm blow drier to dry it and then place it to mother.
3) Do you allow your dam to consume the afterbirth or placentas?
I don't....there are those the recommend it and others that don't. I prefer not to......diarreah is usually the outcome....so I don't want to tip anything in that direction.

I find it a bit interesting that you would ask question one, about a standing female, when just a bit ago, you answered the same question when asked by another member. It just makes me wonder why you would offer breeding advice to someone if you don't know the answers yourself? :confused:

To answer some of your other question.

I always cut the cords on mine. I am impatient and for my own peace of mind, want to get the little ones free from mom and breathing as quickly as possible. Plus, it's not unheard of for moms to bet a litte over zealous and chewing the cords to short or ripping and possibly causing unbilical hernias. Cutting them yourself just eliminates the possibility.

I let the female eat one placenta as I sit by annd gag at the sight. :p It helps to bring the milk down (or at least that's what I've been told), but too many can cause tummy upset.

I also assist my momma's. I cut my own cords as for the same reasons already mentioned. I also administer Nutri-Drops as well. I break the sacks myself as I am inpatient, also suction throat and suction nose. I don't want them to ingest any liquid before breathing. I never want to lose a puppy for a reason that could have been prevented. Losing a puppy is one of the hardest things about breeding, if it is going to happen, it won't be because of something I couldn't do or didn't do. Placenta, I let momma eat 1-2 depending on size of litter. My current litter, Abby had four, I allowed her to eat 2, she did well, no diarrhea. Diarrhea can happen, but it does help in bringing the milk down, so does Mary's {Mardelin's} whelping pudding, very good nutrition for momma.

Thank you both your your replies.

In answering the other gals questions was a questions I wanted to be sure of. I didnt think she would allow him unless she was ready. Just wanted to hear other peoples take on this. And to reassure myself that this is common practice or not. Like I said Im not perfect. I research and ask a lot of questions to feel better. Techniques and ways are always changing. What works for one may not work for another. you know? I would rather ask questions sooner rather then later.

What was stated is new to me about the size and so on. Ive always heard its best to breed your female to a smaller male. And to not breed a small female to a bigger male.

As far as them tying it was monitored and controlled the stud owner did tell me she held them until they untied.

In the past my retired female would infact chew the cord to short and cause the puppies harm. At the time I had never experinced this and did not know what it was. Thats what led me to ask the questions about letting the Mama do it herself or if I should help out and cut the cords and so on.

This time I will try following the advise of you both and several other long time breeders and assist her in doing those things.

Thanks again for your advise

Sorry for putting you on the spot like that. I am just a strong believer that people should not be giving breeding advice to others if they are not sure about the answers themselves. Breeding is far to serious a thing to play around with for that kind of thing. :)

No no its perfectly fine. Like I said I am not perfect and I do not know it all. But was I right or wrong in the advise I gave her? Is that the typical rule of thumb? Thats just what Ive heard is the best practice but then again things change so often. So again for me to ask questions serves me best.

Thanks again your opinions will help me grow in my program.

Oh yeah forgot to mention, Good job ALAMBAMA!!!

No worries. :)

Thanks! Most of us are pretty stoked about it around here. Things are dying down now though and getting back to "normal."

What was stated is new to me about the size and so on. Ive always heard its best to breed your female to a smaller male. And to not breed a small female to a bigger male.

Again, this is a misnomer....All is dependent on both dogs lineage.....Breeding yorkies is not pheno to pheno type. It's a very difficult breed to breed.....

I have studs that are small and fine boned and the pups that have been whelped are in the 5 to 6 oz range and have grown to 7 and a couple to 8 pounds........The male does not control the size....it's all in the genetics.

1) Will the dam stand for a male if she is not ready?
It depends on what you mean by being ready. Some females will allow a male to breed them early in their heat cycle but that does not necessarily mean their eggs have dropped. This is why females should be separated from the male at the very beginning of the heat cycle. Once I noticed a female had just came into heat, day one, and I was going to separate her from the male later that day. I walked out of the room just briefly and came back and they were tied. Lucky for me she was a calm female and also the breeding was too early for her to get pregnant. Some females will flag and they will stand but when the male starts to penetrate them they will freak out and run away or sit down. This is why the female should always be held.
2) When whelping do you allow the dam to whelp freely or do you intervene and help her cut cords and so on?
I am completely hands on. I assist with the birth of the pup, break the sack and cut the cord. As explained by others there are too many risks to allow the momma to do it.
3) Do you allow your dam to consume the afterbirth or placentas?
I try to keep them from eating the afterbirth but occasionally some will get eaten. I have actually had some females turn their nose up to them. Can't say that I blame them.

I hope your little momma has a safe whelping. I feel much more comfortable with mommas that are closer to 7 lbs.

None of are perfect and learning all the time. Even the most seasoned breeder.

I will advise what Bama121 has advised....make sure that the advise you give is valid. Make sure you explain yourself clearly, leave nothing to interpretation, YTers can be brutal.........Oh! don't advise over the expertise of a vet, unless you have hard concrete facts and specialist backup.

Hummmm...

1)...Yes, some females will stand for a male before they are ready. It has been answered here by someone else, they may stand before their eggs drop. I have seen so many different opinions on this.
I actually do not hold the "pair" unless i see the need. I feel it is better to let them "go about their business" on their own. Of course i need to be there. My "kids" are too closed to me, if i am talking they come for my love and do not "do it" . so i sit down quiet and watch. mating every other day . I used to o it 3 times only, now i feel that 5 times is working better for me. again, so many different opinions and experiences about it. NEVER just put the male and female together and just leave them there. The match may be painful to some females on their first time specially and if i need i will hold and assist just to make sure no one gets hurt.

2)... I guess the same with the whelping: I am always there, comforting, checking temperature, timing contractions, etc... i do prefer to cut the cords my self, to avoid hernias, and i may help break sacks... each whelp is so different, hard to put into rules. i like to keep the bedding clean, and dry the puppies fast ... and keep putting them to "latch" to encourage more contractions.... i do not leave her side until all puppies are out, nursing well and mom is resting and i see all afterbirths out!

3) ... i allow them to eat one or 2 placentas. if i can throw the others away i prefer. never had any females sick from eating it. But that is just what i do. Well, the other breeders in my family do the same i do about the afterbirths.

We have had many C-sections... all different situations. I would never trust not even a previous free whelper and leave her alone !
I have had females delivering 2 ...3 puppies and getting the last stuck ! .. C-section saved everyone !
My opinion is never to leave a whelping mom alone EVER !

XOXO

Thank you all for your words of advise. Its very helpful to have a group to turn to for support and expertise.

Hey Mary

Can you share your whelping pudding recipe with me? Ive not heard of feeding while whelping. I do however feed pregant females and nursing females Chicken and rice with dry dog food. Any tips?