First Litter...Need advice!

[mommytoSadie]

Hello everyone!

This is my first post here, I had no idea this forum existed or I would have been here a long time ago!

I have one Yorkie named Sadie, she is 3 years old and the love of my life!

I bred her for the first time in October and her due date was this past Sunday, Dec 18th. I took her in a little before 2 weeks before her due date and did xrays and was told that she wasn't pregnant, even though she was showing all signs of it, vet said it as a false pregnancy.

I had already been feeding her puppy food, because I had anticipated a pregnancy. After being told she wasn't pregnant, I continued her on the same food and good thing I did!

Imagine my surprise when this past Thursday, the 15th, Sadie went into labor and delivered one healthy male puppy! I had anticipated her going through the motions of labor, since I read up on false pregnancy but was not prepared to see a little rump and feet! Lol! It was a pleasant surprise!

Both mom and pup have been to vet and both are very healthy. Sadie is a great mother and is very relaxed. Me, on the other hand, not so much! I feel like I just had my first human baby (which I have 3 of now!) I'm a nervous wreck checking body temperatures, nursing, etc. Vet has assured me that I have a very good mama and a very healthy, plump and content puppy.

Since we were told she wasn't pregnant, we had made plans to be with my husband's family this year for Christmas. We were planning on leaving the 26th and coming back the 30th.

I'd like to get advice from some experienced breeders and your thoughts on if I should still make this trip or not. we would be traveling in the car for 6 hours, Sadie travels great, to my in laws house, where Sadie has been many times, so it wouldn't be a new surrounding for her, but the puppy is only going to be 11 days old.

what do you guys think? And please be honest. My husband says family is most important and it is Christmas, but MY priority right now is providing the best care for Sadie and puppy.

Thanks so much!

[carmen in nj]

Well honesty is the best policy, If it was me I would stay home, a bitch can go into distress of low calcium and you NEED to be there for her, to make sure she is ok and the puppy is doing well.. they will understand that the well being of your dog and her puppy right now is most important..

[dawn27]

WOw.... Surprise !!

I'm a bit confused, are you considering taking the pup and mother with you or are you plannig on leaving them home?

[bellemarie]

Welcome to the forum!
I am going to agree with you rather than our OH; The extra stress of a pup in a different environment than Her territory could push er to do something Very out of character and could even hurt the pup.
Your OH is right, family is important at Christmas, but your little girl is your family, and she needs you to be with her in her home, not a strange place with lots of people she barely knows; where her baby is concerned, anyone that doesn't live with her could be deemed a threat.

[mommytoSadie]

@Dawn: yes, I am talking about bringing Sadie and her pup with us. I don't have anyone that could come stay with them.

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm having a hard time convincing my OH that it's not a good idea to take them. However, he grew up with his dad breeding hunting dogs and even though they took great care of them, I have found, at least in our case, that it's a different mentality with the way they look at dogs and puppies.

[chachi]

I would explain to him a small breed pup like a yorkie is alot more fragile than a hunting dog. There is no way I would travel with that pup and new mom. What if something happened to go wrong while you are there. How prepared and able would you be. Plus the stress on the pup and mom would be great. They need to be in a quiet environment

[beecee]

Congrats on the healthy baby boy

I agree that you should stay home with them. The good thing is that you were already planning to stay home and you broke your stay home plans because the vet said she wasn't pregnant

So, plans back on Best to stay home I'm thinking. Cuddle by the fireplace and enjoy your new family member.

[Micah my love]

Congrats on your baby boy We are making a huge choice, when we choose to breed a animal, we need to be able to put everything on hold, if they need us...sometimes there are huge sacrifices to be made, but like children we do what is in the best interest of a child/dog..

[abbey46923]

Congrats on your bundle of joy!! I agree with what everyone else says, i hope you make the right choice and stay home with your babies, so many things could go wrong if you decide to take them out.

[tinalove]

Its good that little guy came before you went out of town.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by mommytoSadie

@Dawn: yes, I am talking about bringing Sadie and her pup with us. I don't have anyone that could come stay with them.

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm having a hard time convincing my OH that it's not a good idea to take them. However, he grew up with his dad breeding hunting dogs and even though they took great care of them, I have found, at least in our case, that it's a different mentality with the way they look at dogs and puppies.

If it were me I would stay home.

As hard as it would be to miss out on the celebration with family. I would send your hubby and kids off to enjoy the holidays with the family and you stay home on wet nurse duty. It is too big of a risk for the health of the pup and mother to take them with you. Mother dogs can do some strange things when they feel stressed and uncomfortable.

[luckylady]

Congratulations!!! I had a singleton litter once too.

Absolutely a NO NO to take mom & baby on such a trip. The trip, holiday commotions, and exposure to weather and possible germs would be very stressful on them. I know some breeders that even do their own tail docking & dew claw removal because they don't want to chance exposing pups to such things.
Family IS very important, I come from a large close-knit one myself. But IMO the fur kids are family too. I just missed a family holiday gathering last week sitting home with a one day old litter of four.

Send your love...................and stay home with the little ones.

[gloriajean]

Does your Vet offer boarding?

[bellemarie]

Originally Posted by gloriajean

Does your Vet offer boarding?

But again that would be unnecessary stress on the momma- new place and strange people trying to handle her baby (or worse not checking the weight etc at all!). I have known of terriers 'disposing' of her brood if too stressed, and one who accidentally killed one of her pups trying to move it (she was a 1st timer and picked it up to hard). I'm Not saying that your mommadog would be that careless or get That stressed out, but it does happen. Best not to chance it at all unless 100% necessary.

Any more pictures!?!