To Breed or not to Breed?!
 

My little yorkie girl is 10 months old and is in heat as of this past Saturday. A friend of mine has a little yorkie boy who is around the same age...should I breed my baby girl now? I really don't want to have to go through this heat process again...but I'm worried about her. Won't she change after she has puppies? What happens after the puppies are born? Will she get depressed? Ugh...decisions!:confused:

She's too young to be bred and if you have her spayed you won't have to endure the heat process ever again.

no,!!!!! she is way too young, please do research on this forum befor you do anything, there are many threads covering this.

we have bred akitas in the past, so i would be knowledgeable on that breed, our female was 2 had all her health checks, our male was a fantastic example and one us many shows as a novice, but it takes a lot of time and money, AS DOES BREEDING. it is very expensive and in my opinion should only be done to enhance the breed not for money,

this is just my opinion and i am sure more lernard members will give the best advice

Thank you all! I thought she was too young...I am probably going to have her fixed as soon as she finishes this cycle!

I had an appt to get my female spayed, she came in heat, and then we were faced with puppies. (I had the male, also). Never had any intention of having puppies and I did not buy them to breed. Well, I thought I read everything about how to prepare, but after reading all the posts on here, I was not prepared at all. I did get a box for her, blankets and all that, I put it in the dining room, out of the way, and I was with her when she gave birth. But, heat lamps, quiet time, I didn't do any of that. We were lucky, she only had 2 (she is tiny), they were and are healthy, but it still bothers me the things that could have gone wrong. I got them both fixed as soon as possible. I would never breen just because she is in heat, too much can go wrong and then you've lost your baby.

I definately would not breed her the first time she goes into heat. A minimum of 2 years old or at least their second heat is recommended. My advice right now would be do not breed your dog, get her spayed.

If you are really interested in breeding, then take this next year to do a lot of research. Have your girl evaluated for the Yorkie standard by a couple of experienced breeders who have shown their dogs. Evaluate her physical attributes for carrying puppies along with thorough testing for genetic and communicable disease by the vet. Read all you can about breeding toy dogs. Understand that it is always a risk even if your girl is over 5 pounds and in excellent health.

Then IF your girl is really breeding material, be very careful about choosing a mate. The sire should compliment her -- for instance, if she is within standard but has ears that are a little on the large side, find a male with small ears; if she is a little short legged, find a male that has a more square measurement overall, height being equal to length). Make sure the male has also been genetically screened and is in good health.

Do not breed just because there are a couple of cute dogs and one is in heat. It is just not worth it and you may be very sorry in the long run.

Here are a few links to read -- all with titles like "Should I Breed My Dog" :
Breeding Your Dog
To Breed or Not To Breed, Should I breed my dog?
Should I Breed My Dog?

She is WAY to young!!
Wait at least until she is 2 years old, now she's just a puppy!
Its like if a 13 year old kid would get pregnant, that isnt good.

Read about breeding before you breed.
And not every dog is suppose to be breed, if a dog is healthy, good natured, has gone in a dog show and done great there, THEN you should at first think of breeding.
And the dog has to be at least 2 years, not younger.

I always thougt it sounded so 'romantic' to have a litter of yorkie pups BUT after reading everything that has gone wrong in the welping process...I would never attempt it. That job is for y'all who have nerves of steel!