I dont have a contract with my breeder either. We discussed breeding before I made any decisions. she was happy with me breeding from her lines.

Most of my puppies have homes already and they arent even conceived yet! they will all be going to people I know and who have admired Taylor since I got her and love the breed. I would rather keep them all than let them go to people I dont trust. You are right, these days the contract can be worth less than the paper signed on :( I want it to include spay and neuter clauses though mainly and I WILL check up on my babies at the given time. If not done according to the agreement I will have to be hardcore! But im planning on it all going smoothly :)

Maxine usually makes a sneezing sound and then spins in place to wake Marge up at around 6 am. I usually do not get up until 7 am. With Marge gone, Max now starts making racket at 5:30 am. I have been up 3 hours and now feel bad for Marge getting up so early everyday. Carlo and I usually sleep in. I know, Men!

My mentor was a bit more stringent; it was a year and half before she allowed me a pup. Traveling with her, studying, learning, etc, assisting her in whelps. Finishing 3 Champions before allowing me near a whelping box with the bitch she entrusted me with.

Spay/nueter clause is great....but, be inclusive of their housing, medical care, etc......

Sound like I have lots to look forward to! spinning and barking at 5:30am is fine for me though because im up at 5am every morning ;) My dogs usually go for their morning stroll at that time! and if im late im in BIG trouble!

With regards to whelping boxes, i find every breeder has a different idea. Is the full scale box with pig rails the best way to go? My fiances father said he will help build one because he has good carpentray skills. Then I see other people who just use a kennel or a box high enough to let mommy come and go and keep puppies in. But I want to do this right - I have the time! I was thinking about building a wooden box with good proper floowing for warmth just without the pig rails. Is this safe or do they need the rails?? The lady that bred my female just left them in a kennel outside (yes outside!) which was fenced and mommy could get in and out. I was very shocked with that though! When i got my puppy she had a big grey tick on her neck :( then nearly died the same night so im not willing to make even the slightest mistake here. Yet her daughter in law who bred my male had them in a wooden Wendy House outside, especially built for her dogs wiht litters with heating and proper care which is why I have stuck with her because I believe she is as particular as I aim to be. But she doesnt use a box as such because her room is specially built to house the mother and the puppies safely. Mine however will be inside our house so I need the right thing!

I really do wish I had the time and freedom and assistance to find a mentor like yours Mardelin! You are very privelegded :) That's the kind of thing I dream of!

The pig rail whelping box is very unnecessary for toy breeds, at least in my opinion. Your main concern is keeping them in a quiet, warm, draft free enviornment. Away from the normal hustle and bustle of family.

A whelping box is usually put inside another confinement such as a puppy play pen and some use x-pens. I prefer keeping them off the floor as cold air drops. I use to use a puppy playpen. Lined the grated floor with newspapers (to keep draft from rising underneat), on top of the newspaper I use interlocking excesise squares (rubber type tiles) for sure footing for mom and pups when they begin venturing out of the whelping box. On top of the rubber tiles I lined the entire area with piddle pads. Then added the whelping box. The box I use is plastic, completely lined with lambs wool and I add washable crate pads that are made of warm cozy material. I've also added velcro to the bottoms of the crate pads so they stay in place (safer for the pups). Also added around the play pen a cover to keep drafts out and anyone from looking in (some moms are very protective of anyone looking at their pups).

What I use now is a baby crib, removed the mattress, added plywood to the bottom and completely lined it with plexiglass and afixed it to the crib. Then lined the bottom with pish pads...and inserted a whelping box. Draft free and sanitary...very easy clean up.

I was thinking of making a wooden sided box with a wooden floor and putting those same kind of mats at the bottom. I have seen some that they use for kiddies play boxes and/or yoga types mats. The are washable as well! and then lining that with newspaper because I know newspaper retains warmth. I live in South Africa and she will have her pups in late summer / early autumn so I have also got an electric heated pad but Im a little nervous of it in case it gets too hot. I thought if it is deep enough under the blankets etc that it would be ok. it only has one set heat. I actually have a pure sheep skin cured skin that I hate but they can have! now that you mention it what a good idea! I always wondered what on earth I would do with the thing!

The velcro is a great idea too! thanks so much, i have a lot to work with now!

My puppies will be housed in our spare room which is quiet and away from the TV and lounge and is carpeted and warm. I keep my bird in there as well to keep her out of drafts. It's Taylor's favourite room of the house so I think she will nest well there.

I would set up a cot for yourself in the room, you'll have to be vigilant for the first few weeks.....

I usually don't use a heating pad, as pups usually gravitate toward mother and I usually keep the room warm. If I do need extra heat, I use a heating lamp. What you really need to be concerned with is drafts.

Noted :) Thanks! I dont have a heating lamp but I live in a warm country so the cold shouldnt be a huge problem.

Do the dams get upset if you move the whelping box around? what I mean is, if she sets up nest in one spot and I love her to our room after the pups are born would she reject the box?

Mmmm. Yorkies are a bit different than other dogs. You do not allow them to set up nest, willy, nilly. You take control over this. A week before her first due date. Place her in the area where she is to whelp, you want her in a quiet area. This will get her ready for the task at hand; whelping and being a mom. This is for her benefit and the pups. You don't want her going into whelp and dropping the pups where ever and risking chill.

Thats a good idea. A week before?? I must note that down. My fiance's Husky gave birth on his couch when he was very young - he never knew she was in Labour and went to cook and came back to her in labour on his sofa! He had given her a proper nest but she chose the couch!

I know Taylor will just be very happy to have a warm bed inside our room and will take it over just great! Our house is small though so i really need to think about the spot well. Is it advisable to have daddy sleep in his usual spot the entire duration of her pregnancy and after the whelp? He currently sleeps outside in a kennel in Summer time. We live in a very hot place! They made the outside choice themselves! I can call them in at night until im blue in the face and they ignore me!!!!!

Are speaking of Daddy/Sire? Again, I can't state strongly enough; your girl and her pups should be kept in a quiet place, away from traffic and other animals......

Husky/Yorkies.....apple and oranges. However, the whelping process is serious business no matter what breed. But, yorkies require whelping assistance, human intervention, so many things can go wrong. They are a small breed.

I hear ya sister! All I want for Christmas is for my dogs to sleep in until 7 a.m. . . .

Daddy/Sire is mine so he will be home of course. He is a very soft, loving little guy but very curious so I dont want him disturbing them. So it's best then to keep them away from all 'traffic' including him I suppose.

As for assistance, We have two 24 hour emergency vets in our area, one is my personal vet. They will both be on standby! We have another 2 within a 20 kilometer radius as well, one of which is one of the best pet hospitals in the country. We are very blessed in that regard!