That's too bad. But at least she will be able to be a pet and no more babies for her. I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do in regards to this entire situation. It seems like you have a really big heart, and its obvious that you love Mac and Bevo :)

off topic Isabelleollie: your yorkie is beautiful

Thank you :D.

Cottage cheese is made with cow's milk, so why would you give them that when you can get goats milk and mix it. I have been told not to ever give cows milk to a puppy, but thats how I was told by my mentor/breeder/exhibitor. She has been in it for 35 years, and I have puppies off and on for 20 years and never done it jmo. Goats milk is easier on the puppies stomach. You can give cottage cheese to a whelping mom but not all can handle it, but its good for calcium but if you give the puppy diarrhea from the cows milk, then you risk dehydration. It also has to much sodium in it.

Cottage cheese gave my momma dog the runs so I never thought about giving it to the puppies. It is definately cow's milk. So many other options, I would skip it too. I am a big believer in the goat milk! Mary save me when I was using the prepared formulas for my orphaned pups. She advised goat's milk and they thrived! I did start mixing in baby rice cereal to help them sleep through the night and then made it thicker when I was first getting them to eat from a bowl. ThenI tried mixing in some ground kibble. They wound up making such a mess with this, I just tried the Royal Canine Babydog kibble whole. It is extra tiny and the shape prevents choking. They LOVED it. It might not be the #1 food -- I think it only gets something like 3 stars on the review site. But they truly love it and it is a GOOD balanced and tested food.

I would not worry about pushing a 7 week old to stop nursing. I let my momma dog call the shots. When she was obviously done and wanting some freedom from the pups, I made sure to separate them to give her some peace & rest. But I too, put them together at night and they would all occasionally nurse, right up til 12 weeks. I figured the more they nursed the better -- not only is it nutritious, but it is also continued bonding. They will all eat eventually -- nothing to teach -- it is one of those natural instinct things. The baby is just preferring momma. :)

Thats what I was thinking!!:) Hes a baby...I didnt want to rush him! Although, Hes a sneaky little guy...I think hes been stealing Daddys TOTW kibble! Here I am beating his kibble to a pulp for him and trying to spiff it up, and the little turd walks over to Bevos bowl, grabs a bite, trots off and eats it. Ha ha...but he still chases after his momma to nurse..but they do get settle down at night with each other!

I've always used non-fat cottage cheese, never had a problem. But only about a tablespoon for my dam's with whelp and not every meal. Also with my pups. The one thing I always do is give my pups Benebac whenever I make changes to their diets.......probiotic and no diarreah.....

A few litters back I had put down a bit of cottage cheese for mom (pups not yet 2 weeks of age but, crawling around, but eyes not open). I walked in and there was one pup just lapping on mom's cottage cheese.....

typical Yorkie- they will do anything to get their way- I am sure he is enjoying watching you grind his kibble :p

I do hope you understand how much everyone thinks of you and all you have done for Mac and these other pups. If only everyone's problem was being TOO kind.

Well said! :love:

Kendra, you seem to really put the DOGS first...wish everyone would.

hes soooo cute!!!!!!

So glad to finally see someone say it! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: You have a huge heart, and whether anyone agrees or disagrees with your methods, that can't be argued with. :) Your dogs are very lucky to have you, and same goes for their mommas. I sure hope the whelp goes well for you.

Just finding my way back to this thread... I have very limited experience -- so I bow to your wisdom with the cottage cheese and the Benebac. I still have notes I made before when you recommeneded Benebac. So, I do listen but not sure I will everput any of this to good use again or not. I won't say never, that's for sure. I get too much pleasure out of even reading about newborn pups like yours who sought out the cottage cheese. I can just see a little pup with it's eyes still closed, following their little nose to the prize! A few laps at a cottage cheese curd! :D Ahhhh.... there is nothing like those little pups!

I am confused. I thought you had already brought her to your home? Did you not bring her home or did you take her back already?

BTW re: the line in your post that I put in RED: There is only one way to make sure he will not be bred again -- neuter him. You will not believe the lengths a male dog will go through to get to a female in heat! They will go THROUGH screen doors, chew through plastic, wood or wire, mate right through a crate! I did not like my sweet Ben during the most potent week in each of my dog's heats. He turned into a raving lunatic! It was my full-time job to secure him & not let him get to Sadie. Now he is neutered & I will never have to go through that again! :) My sweet Ben is back for good.

I brought her home...then sent her back after this thread...I am picking her up Saturday to take her to my vet for a sono. I may keep her from there...Im going to talk with him. I havent made my mind up completely. As far as Bevo, I have scheduled his neuter in 3 weeks. I have a few days off then. I wanted to make sure I was off with him. I had a pug several years back that was neutered and he got an infection and nearly lost his leg...So I just want to be sure I can be close at hand in case he has any trouble! Mac will be neutered as well in about 5 months. Luckily for me, there arent any other dogs in my neighborhood. And again, Bevo stays indoors. We have started allowing him and Mac to play in their new yorkie yard if it is a pretty day, and they love it!

Wow -- you brought her home, took her back, and are going to get her again & take her for a sonogram? -- You are one dedicated lady! I am hoping it all pays off for you in a healthy litter!

Glad you will be able to be home with Bevo -- he will appreciate the extra time with you no matter what. :) But as for nothing happening, I have to reiterate -- only two ways to prevent a pregnancy are spay & neuter. I keep mine inside too and was keeping mine separate. I made it through the first heat without my girl getting pregnant but I gained an understanding of just how difficult that is! They become very resourceful, persistent and even down right obstinate! I have been a member here long enough to have read about every imaginable story. We cannot be naive enough to think that accidents will never happen to us. Everyone is suceptible! You still have the nursing momma in your home to worry about too. I found a site that says "Mother cats or dogs can become pregnant while nursing. It is important to keep a nursing mother away from other adult cats/dogs of the opposite sex." So it CAN happen. Most reference say things like "it is unlikely" but that is sure no guarantee against it! Bottom line is you just cannot become complacent -- that is when the accidents happen. You only have 3 weeks to be vigilant. I am sure you will be fine. But it does not hurt to heighten security. :) Consider this like the presently being phased-out Terror Alert System -- The COLOR is now ORANGE! Not quite RED as it would be if we had an unaltered male & female in heat in the same room, unattended, but definately NOT GREEN as it would be if either would be neutered or spayed. :D

On the subject of the nursing mother.....she really isnt nursing anymore...Mac is consistently eating kibble now. He is 8 weeks old. Do you still recommend we keep her here another month? I know pups are recommended to say with their mothers until they are 12 weeks old, before going off to their new homes, but this is obviously a unique situation and he isnt going anywhere!!:) I will be more than happy to keep her awhile longer, just didnt know if it was truly necessary at this point.

It isn't so much that Mac won't adjust to your home, but what social skills mom can still teach him for another 4 weeks. I think it's even more important for Mac since he has no other siblings from his litter. Mom can teach him doggy manners and bite inhibition.

I agree. Sending his mommy home now would be the same as if you were buying a puppy from a breeder and bringing it home at 8 weeks. Keep her another month.

Just thought I'd give a quick update. I took the mama yorkie to my vet yesterday. He did another sono and confirmed there are 3 babies. He thinks she will be fine to deliver. I have ultimately decided to keep her at my home. She is here now and seems to be well adjusted. She spends much of her day laying on her back on my lap, and I sit and stare at her tummy moving around. She is a sweet little dog, and I have thought long and hard abut my decision to keep her here. I know many will disagree, but I feel as though I've made the right decision. She is on day 54. I have all the supplies I should need, and the vet gave me his cell phone in case an emergency arises. I have begun to take her temp, even though this doesn't always promise to be helpful! Her owner as well as the other ex- breeder I have previously mentioned will be here when the time comes. Just thought I'd let you all know.

1st let me say good luck, I hope all gos well for you,mom,and pups, I still feel bad that Macs momma is going to go back to the breeeders home in a cage after 12 weeks of freedom, and now another mom will go threw the same thing a taste of freedom and then back to the cage. I can only wonder what these girls are saying, "What Did I Do Wrong?" As many have said in this thread you really are treading on a thin line between caring and supporting a bad breeder. Every time you take one of her momma dogs, pay for vetting, do the whelp, take care of the pups and then hand the pups back to the breeder, you are making her money and doing all the hard work and heartake that comes along with breeding. At some point you must ask your self, how is what am doing stopping this breeder from breeding? Best of luck to you.....

Sending good wishes...feel free to email or call me day or night.

I know...:( however, this will be the end of our relationship. If I hadn't decided on keeping the pup she offered, I doubt I would do this now. Maybe that sounds horrible, but I would rather our baby be cared for properly in a good environment. I do believe she has reconsidered breeding all together. I can only hope.

Macs mother hopefully is going to the owners mothers as a pet. (what she told me anyways) I surely hope so, and I'm sure I will cry when she leaves. We have all grown attached to her and love her.

Thank you to all of those whom I have talked to privately. There are so many wonderful people here and I am thankful I have a place to share my yorkie world, because most folks just don't understand.

I love visuals of who Im talking about...Here is Mary Kate (the new mama) hanging out with Mac (our blue born)....Just so you can put a yorkie face with the scenerio!!

I just took these...they are being lazy!!

she is a doll; and looks so happy and comfy- and Mac surely seems to like her... doubt he'll mind sharing his house! :)

How adorable!! I am rooting for you. Please keep us updated as to the progress and when the BIG day arrives.

I wish you all the best in this awesome thing you have taken upon yourself with your giant heart. She's a wee cuteness and I would also be hardpressed to give her up.
Mac is a wee Munchkin and they seem to have bonded.

I look forward to hearing everything went well

Thank You! She is on day 57. Im guessing Sunday or Monday may be the day....maybe sooner. maybe later...lol!! Im really hoping she will have a temp drop that will clue me in....I do work during the day, however I am only 3 blocks away, so I check in often!! But I have the entire weekend set aside for her....She is such a sweetheart....such a different personality from Macs momma! She will be the one I will want to never give back! :) (but we love Macs mommy too!)

They looked almost "cooked"...good luck

In other words - she'll go when she's ready......

Exactly! Can you tell me though how often youve had success with getting a hint as labor is coming with temperture taking? Ive read it is and isnt reliable!! Just would love your intake....