May I suggest that you also ask the people for their vet information so that you can make sure they have a history of having taken good care of their pets. I have met many people who I thought were wonderful only to find out that their vet care was scant or non existent. I now do not talk with anyone until I have checked out their references.

Thanks so much for updating. I am happy that you are making sure that you have a back up plan in case it becomes a difficult delivery for Shy. Hopefully it will not be.

Sending best wishes to you and Shy for a successful whelp and healthy puppies

good luck to you

I was just thinking about Shy the other day and wondering how she was doing. Thanks for the update!!

I wouldn't think you'd have much of a problem finding loving homes for the pups on a base!! There are lot's of gf's and wives that spend a lot of time alone while their men are away...I am betting some of them would love to have a yorkie to spoil and love.


On top of the neutering and vet check, if it were my pups, I would also put something in the contract stating that the dogs come back to you to be re-homed if anyone should have to give them up for any reason. Not all people are honest and would return a dog instead of selling it or giving it to a pound or a shelter, but I do know breeders who have gotten back dogs from people who couldn't keep them and it does help prevent dogs from going into shelters if the owners know they can give the dog back.

Any news on Shy??????

She's on day 57 today. still has a little energy. We take the stairs down to go potty, unless she starts grunting (then I carry her, and elevator up always now. We have a vet appointment later this afternoon. I started checking temps twice a day, a few days ago. She's 99 as of last night. I put another box by my bed, so I can have her sleep next to me, just in case she goes into labor early.

She's on day 57 today- although her vet thinks she may be further along than her confirmed locking with Dash. She still has a little energy. We take the stairs down to go potty, unless she starts grunting (then I carry her, and elevator up always now. We have a vet appointment later this afternoon. I started checking temps twice a day, a few days ago. She's 99 as of last night. And is starting to nest. I put another box by my bed, so I can have her sleep next to me, just in case she goes into labor early.

I've purchased a couple tubs of dry formula and a few cans of wet and some puppy bottles. I have a delivery kit on standby and will discuss with her vet on bringing her in or not. Still have option for cesarean...

Anywho, I'll update after appointment today again. Thanks for askin!

So, the vet was happy with her checkup today. Her temp was confirmed at 98.8 degress, from last night. Shy has been fine and her vet let me know to stay close by. No motorcycle stuff for me for awhile. I asked about getting an xray or ultrasound, but, she told me that there's either 2 or 4 pups to come and that I didn't need it. Her last three visits we went over birthing procedures and signs of distress. I have her vet's number on standby, fuel in the truck, her whelping box is the way she wants it, and her puppy kisses are still all over my nose and in my ears! I won't lie, I'm very nervous. I just smile, nuzzle up to her, and pet her gently. Dash seems to feel left out, so he gets a little conned food mixed in with his dry food too, twice a day.

I'd like to keep criticism to a minimal, but, if anyone is reading I have some questions that I forgot to ask her doc...

What type of warming pad, light, or bed do you recommend? I have her with a self- warming bed (operates off her own body heat) right now. I've seen some electronic pet warming pads from various local pet stores (LPS) and online. "Petmate" seems to be the leader so far, along with pricing. I know it's very late in the game for warming pads, that's why I have three microwavable ones as a backup. I don't mind paying for overnight delivery or picking some up at a higher cost. I actually took a few hours manually sewing some patient casualty heating blankets (basically "space blankets") into folded towels. They seem to work very well, since my legs were getting warm as I was sewing them up. Not hot, just warm. I have a lot of chux pads and training pads for the pups' box and was going to place the handmade blankets under them. I've read about placing heating pads under their boxes, but, that seems so very unsafe. I don't really want to do a heating lamp. It seems to be an unavoidable source of heat that neither Shy nor the pups can escape. Anyways, some input on there would be appreciated. I will probably go in to talk with her vet on the matter tomorrow or Monday, if I don't get a reply here.
Another item on the table is formula for her babies. I have powdered and pre-made Esbilac for them, but, I want to make sure it’s suitable. Over the last few weeks I’ve done some searching and it seems like it gets enough good reviews. Opinions?
I had another question, but, couldn’t remember it. Shy’s doc and I have been going over a lot the last few weeks/visits. I may be just wasting money to ask questions and getting her opinion and assessment of my girl, but, when I have something on priority I tend to do it in overkill.
So, do any of you ladies (and gentlemen?) have any input or questions thus far? And again, any responses to my questions would be nice.
Oh! Docking. I’ve been reading that the little ones come in within 3-5 days for tail docking. I’m aware that Europe has banned docking. I’ve also seen a few pics and vids of undocked Yorkies. Any input or opinions on this subject as well?
Well, have a good night. I'll post some pics shortly.

-James

Excited and nervous for you at the same time. Looks like you're on track. I don't know much about welping - but I will say that my yorkie's have been docked but I just love the long tails and the wag - so I would say leave em :)

Yeah, I am kind of against de-clawing cats also. It's a moral thing I suppose. I don't know, I was thinking of docking half of them. Although, it's apparently not as painful as we'd like to think. I've read the nerves haven't grown grown far enough through the tail at a few days to be too painful. And their tailbone structure isn't calcified yet, so again, less pain. Either way, I've heard and read that it isn't really as painful as we'd imagine.

2-4 & no x-ray? That's a wide guesstimate, you NEED to do an x-ray. You need to know how many puppies to expect & need to count all placentas, bc any retained placenta will make her very very sick. You also need to see if Shy can deliver the pups on her own, the vet should be able to see the heads of the puppies on the x-ray & determine if they will pass through her pelvic bones. Please get an x-ray or another vet, your girl's life depends on it!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I thought it was odd she didn't want to and why I was planning on going in tomorrow again also...

You need an X-ray to know how many pups there are for sure. I think you should do what the standard says and dock the tails. Also dew claw removal should be at around three days old and coming from a person who has gone through my Yorkie ripping hers off and having to be sedated to have the nerve and vien cut back and now a few years after that she has something wrong with it that we are not sure what it is we have tried two weeks of strong antibiotics and soaking with no change still swollen painful and red so now we are trying anti fungal soak and oral meds and if they don't work it will have to be removed and at her age it is considered an amputation. I also grew up with a dog who had terrible dew claw issues so please please have the dew claws removed.

Depending on where you are, I don´t think it´s odd that your vet didnt do an Xray (I´ve now learned that some vets dont).I went into see my vet last Monday and he didnt want to do an xray then either.He said he could clearly feel 2 pups (showed me where they were and even measured one with a tape from the outside) and then he just did a quick ultrasound to see the heartbeats.
Aparantly, it´s not something our vets do with every single bitch, infact, I was told that the xrays are usually for breeds who are prone to difficult births, like french bulldogs, bulldogs etc.I phoned on Friday to see if she should have one (thinking she did) and he said no.
Bella is on the 57th day of her pregnancy and at this point, I´m just nervous, exited, hoping that all goes well and that the pups dont come before their due date (I had a premature baby of my own and since then I´m just super paranoid about that) and that everyone is healthy and safe at the end of it.

I am as nervous as if I were waiting for my own child to be born..beleive it or not, the feeling is actually similar.

Edited to add: I wont be docking my pups either.I LOVE the tails (my two have tails) and I have a thing about cutting/altering something that´s already naturally perfect :D

Isn't this your 1st litter too? Of Yorkies? What makes you think this breed gives birth easily? Yes, Yorkies can have difficult births too & always needs assistance. There are lots of emergency c-sections, bc the 1st pup is usually & always breech, esp if it's the 1st time for the mom. All the experienced breeders here recommend an x-ray on day 59 or 3-4 days b4 whelping. I recommend you get an x-ray for your girl too, not all vets are experienced in the reproduction area. I'm not saying your vet is not, I'm saying you need to take the full responsibility & do what you can for the safety of your girl.
For the OP, he really needs to get an xray bc he has no idea of the background of the breeding pair.