Breeding V Buying
 

I am looking your advice, though I already think I know what the response will be.

Millie is now 9 months. I would like another Yorkie as company for her, probably in the next 6 months or so. My dilema is, do I breed her and keep one of the pups, or do I just buy another one. I am going to ask my vet for advice, but want to hear your thoughts.

Firstly, I don’t think Yorkies ever (or very rarely) end up in rescues here, or else that would be my first stop.

I definitely have my concerns about breeding:
Firstly, what if I lost Millie.
What if there were complications and I had to incur the expense of vet fees
What if I couldn’t sell the other pups (either from being too attached or having no suitable/interested buyers)
Could I get the time off work to look after new born puppies.

But then on the plus side for breeding her:
Would there be a better bond from one of her own litter than bringing in a new pup
I have heard different people say (especially breeders), that it is good for the dog to have one litter of pups and then get her spayed.
I'm not sure I could justify the cost of another pup to my husband, when we have a KC registered dog of own that is able to have pups. So it may end up that we don’t get another one.
I have no intention of becoming a back yard breeder and churning out loads of puppies. It would be one litter and then spaying, and I would be very selective as to who bought the puppies.

I would be very apprehensive as to how it would effect Millie (health wise etc), but its probably the most likely chance of having a playmate for her.

What do you think.

She is just finishing her first heat and its the ideal time to get her spayed if thats the decision I go for.

Contrary to what some others may say on here (and I am sure will, lol), I say if you want to, go for it. Educate yourself first, and find someone who is experienced to help you. As long as you are under a vets care, your girl is big enough and in good health, and you educate yourself and place them responsibly, I don't see a problem with it :)

With all Ive seen just on here I would say spay her and buy a puppy. I have seen on here where the breeder lost the female, a puppy or a whole litter of puppies. There are health advantages to spaying also. I just think it is too much of a risk for one puppy. I really wanted my girl to have one litter also but decided against it and got her spayed

I would just look for another dog to get to keep her company. In the long run, it will be less expensive and less of a burden to your little one.
If you desire to breed, then by all means, go for it. Get a mentor, study up and aquire quality breeding stock. However, breeding just to get another dog is never a good reason, IMO.

You have two things to consider
First is whether YOU are up for the job

You have to cooridinate the mateing
You then have the expense of Vet bills for the pregnancy and the birth
Then you have the worry of "if anything goes wrong"

After that you need to consider if this is right for your dog
Is she the right age and size and in the right health and temporment for this

If you answered yes to all of this and willing to go through it
then absolutely ... go for it

It is of course entirely your decision but you need to be aware of ALL of the possible outcomes! To get the best quality stud dog you may need to pay the price of one pup to the dogs owners or give them one pup after weaning (thats usually how it works) and if your dog only has one pup then it will end up costing you even more in the long run due to vets fees and other costs involved in raising that pup to weaning and you may end up with no pup (if they want it or the worst happens and you lose it). If something unexpected happens (eg a c-section) then that one pup will end up costing you alot more then the going rate for a yorkie pup especially if its an only pup and you have to give it away or have already paid the stud dog owner! Also a c-section is more likely if theres only 1-2 pups as they grow bigger inside and have more difficulty getting out and yorkies are known to have small litters especially first time round.
The best of luck to you whatever you decide to do:)

Honestly, I think it would be less money to just get another pup.
I was going to breed my toy poodle but after talking with my vet, she told me all the pros and cons and the cons outwieghed the pros by alot. The big one being that it could kill her. I was no way going to risk the life of my baby for a litter of babies so at 7 months old she was spayed.

A year later we went and got another puppy. ;)

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. :)

My mum had two yorkies Molly and Tim (not related). Molly became pregnant and had 4 puppies. They were all perfect. She kept one boy (TJ) and one girl (Poppy), the boy was very very small.

The bond between mother and puppies was amazing. The puppies are now 11 years old and mother 14 years old and the bond is still as amazing as ever. Molly gives Tj lots of licks. Unfortunatly Tim (dad) died 3 years ago. The dogs were all sad for a couple of weeks.

This is a happy story but it could easily go so wrong. I think its best to get as much info as possible.

Whatever you decide it's your choice and i wish you all the best.:thumbup:

We have one YT but we breed another toy breed (papillons) and only began doing so after years of owning and showing them in conformation, obedience and agility. I nearly lost a bitch last year during a c section and it has been a difficult decision to continue doing any breedings because of that scare. I have one lovely little girl who is the daughter of my all time best dog, but I will not breed her as I am entirely too attached to her, and she is a bit on the small side and the chances of her requiring a section are higher.

Insofar as a bond goes, I have one bitch who has produced two litters. She is close with the daughter we kept from her first litter who is now 1.5 years old, but barely recognizes the existence of the daughter and son we kept from her second litter (now 6 months old). I have dogs that have buddied up with unrelated dogs much closer than moms and pups have.

If my goal was to have two dogs as companions, I would not go through the time, expense, and worry of breeding, I would purchase a puppy whose parents had nice stable temperaments, and who was itself exhibiting a temperament that would mesh nicely with my current dog.

It is a personal choice but one other thing you need to consider is that you said in the next six months. She won't be old enough to breed until about 18 months.