Minimum breeding weight? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

chattiesmom · 12-21-2005, 01:23 PM

Personally I think a 3 lbs. female is WAY too small to breed. This might be a "carry over" from breeding horses, but there is way more to determining the mininum size for breeding than just the weight and appearance of the bitch in question. You need to look at her siblings, from the current litter, along with siblings from other litters. Remember, the ultimate goal in breeding is to produce offspring which is BETTER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARENTS, in appearance, conformation and healthwise.

topknot · 12-21-2005, 01:35 PM

To answer your question - no.
5 # is the starting weight to breed yorkies. It has always been the rule of thumb and in my opinion I will follow this rule. Anything under 5 # is risking the life of your baby (the female). I have one that is 3.5 pounds - KeeKee. She is only 6 months right now. I am still praying and hoping that she will grow more. But my plans are to spay her. No need to risk an accident. I also check her every morning to make sure she is not in heat yet. And I mean every morning and even at night sometimes. Since she is smaller - she probably won't come into her first heat till she is between 9-12 months, but I am not taking any chances.
T.

YorkieRini · 12-21-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by char7

Hi All,

You may have remembered me posting pictures of my newborn yorkies recently. They are all doing fine and thriving!

I have a 3-1/2 pound female(Casey) that came into heat not long ago at the age of 9 months for the first time. I made sure she didn't get with my 5 pound male.

What I'm wondering is, is Casey too small to breed?? Of course I would see to it that she is not bred to a male larger than 3 pounds. I'm wondering ahead of time so that when she comes into heat again I will know what to do.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,

Her being 9 months she may squeak to 4.5-5 pounds if you feed her and wait till her 3rd heat. I had a female that I bred at JUST under 5 pounds, but I waited until her 3rd heat. My vet examined her pelvis and said it was fine to whelp puppies. Well she had 4 pups her first litter and free whelped, now she's just over 5 pounds. Have a vet that's experienced with Toy breeds look her over and give you his assesment. No need to rush. give her time to mature and grow.

Best of luck!
Irene

topknot · 12-21-2005, 02:02 PM

I forgot to add that you are doing great - asking first for opinions. Good job! That is how one learns.

T.

char7 · 12-21-2005, 03:32 PM

Thank you. That's what I was looking for as far as when the size is ok. I appreciate your respond.

Charlotte

yorkieangel · 12-21-2005, 04:20 PM

I think she was only asking because she has a dog she likes and just wanted to know. I think it was responsible of her to ask instead of just DOING it

LOL.. That's why alot of us come here... to ask questions...oh yeah... and BRAG

char7 · 12-21-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRini

Hi Charlotte,

Her being 9 months she may squeak to 4.5-5 pounds if you feed her and wait till her 3rd heat. I had a female that I bred at JUST under 5 pounds, but I waited until her 3rd heat. My vet examined her pelvis and said it was fine to whelp puppies. Well she had 4 pups her first litter and free whelped, now she's just over 5 pounds. Have a vet that's experienced with Toy breeds look her over and give you his assesment. No need to rush. give her time to mature and grow.

Best of luck!
Irene

I'm hoping she'll get bigger too. I have been at my vet and we have discussed her. He doesn't seem to think that there will be a problem as long as the male is smaller. As always, no guarantees, but her well being will come first. I bought her as a puppy and never expected her to be so small. That's why I had the questions. I've used my vet for 20 yrs now and trust him thoroughly but still wanted to hear it first hand

She's a little angel and I'd never do anything to put her in harms way.

I appreciate the info you gave me on waiting. Then I can make a decision that I can live with. As you said, I won't rush her and I will give her time to mature and grow.

Thanks!

Charlotte

char7 · 12-21-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieangel

I think she was only asking because she has a dog she likes and just wanted to know. I think it was responsible of her to ask instead of just DOING it

LOL.. That's why alot of us come here... to ask questions...oh yeah... and BRAG

Thank you so much! You hit the nail on the head!

char7 · 12-21-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieangel

I think she was only asking because she has a dog she likes and just wanted to know. I think it was responsible of her to ask instead of just DOING it

LOL.. That's why alot of us come here... to ask questions...oh yeah... and BRAG

Hopefully I will get this down and quit replying to myself

You are so right!

Olivier · 12-21-2005, 05:01 PM

Do you have pictures of her ?

char7 · 12-21-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olivier

Do you have pictures of her ?

I will take pictures of her and let my son put them on here.

char7 · 12-21-2005, 05:37 PM

OK, here's Casey............

Olivier · 12-21-2005, 06:30 PM

She looks like my Gioia .

Bjcunard · 06-20-2015, 05:27 PM

New to the forum format. As an off question because I have a similar situation as Charlotte. Is it safe to have my 3 pound- 10 month old female spayed. Any suggestions?!

Lovetodream88 · 06-20-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjcunard

New to the forum format. As an off question because I have a similar situation as Charlotte. Is it safe to have my 3 pound- 10 month old female spayed. Any suggestions?!

Yes as long as you do pre surgery blood work.

12-21-2005, 01:23 PM	#16
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,674	Personally I think a 3 lbs. female is WAY too small to breed. This might be a "carry over" from breeding horses, but there is way more to determining the mininum size for breeding than just the weight and appearance of the bitch in question. You need to look at her siblings, from the current litter, along with siblings from other litters. Remember, the ultimate goal in breeding is to produce offspring which is BETTER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARENTS, in appearance, conformation and healthwise. __________________ Silk Step-In Harnesses www.foxypups.etsy.com

12-21-2005, 04:20 PM	#21
yorkieangel Rescue Angel Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: md Posts: 1,530	I think she was only asking because she has a dog she likes and just wanted to know. I think it was responsible of her to ask instead of just DOING it LOL.. That's why alot of us come here... to ask questions...oh yeah... and BRAG __________________ Yorkieangel

12-21-2005, 01:35 PM	#17
topknot Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: GA Posts: 3,787	To answer your question - no. 5 # is the starting weight to breed yorkies. It has always been the rule of thumb and in my opinion I will follow this rule. Anything under 5 # is risking the life of your baby (the female). I have one that is 3.5 pounds - KeeKee. She is only 6 months right now. I am still praying and hoping that she will grow more. But my plans are to spay her. No need to risk an accident. I also check her every morning to make sure she is not in heat yet. And I mean every morning and even at night sometimes. Since she is smaller - she probably won't come into her first heat till she is between 9-12 months, but I am not taking any chances. T.

12-21-2005, 02:02 PM	#19
topknot Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: GA Posts: 3,787	I forgot to add that you are doing great - asking first for opinions. Good job! That is how one learns. T.

12-21-2005, 03:32 PM	#20
char7 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 778	Thank you. That's what I was looking for as far as when the size is ok. I appreciate your respond. Charlotte

12-21-2005, 05:01 PM	#25
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	Do you have pictures of her ?

12-21-2005, 06:30 PM	#28
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	She looks like my Gioia .

06-20-2015, 05:27 PM	#29
Bjcunard YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Flushing, Ohio, USA Posts: 1	New to the forum format. As an off question because I have a similar situation as Charlotte. Is it safe to have my 3 pound- 10 month old female spayed. Any suggestions?!