Should I breed my furbabie?

[chachi]

Shes gonna be too small to breed

[vviccles1]

1st of all you dont breed a bitch unless she is 5 pounds and is entering her 2nd or 3rd heat!

[pheonix]

My Tiff was 5.2 lbs but only 11 months old and that was way too soon! If I had to do it over I would have prevented it.

She was 3.6 lbs when we got her and we put her on the best quality food we could find. We made sure got exersize and play time with our other dog. She did grow. But I would have gotton her fixed before letting her mate under 5 lbs.

Read the tales of people in breeders and yes there are happy storys but a lot of stories were things dont go well. Get as much info as you can before even considering letting your fur baby mate.

We were lucky but still lost the runt after 2 weeks.

[Bhikku]

9.6 million animals are euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

Please don't let your dog reproduce unless you are a professional dedicated to spending the rest of your life and career preserving the breed. Otherwise you're cheating adoptable animals out of a chance at life for no reason other than self-indulgence...

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Limelitediva

She is 3lbs now and is 7 months old, so I am hoping she will get bigger. I would love to breed her cause she is such a beautiful and wonderful dog. She doesn't bark much unless she sees/hears something (she is an excellent watch dog). She is also very smart when it comes to obedience, and isn't aggressive at all she loves people and other dogs. Her health is good and I have registered her and have a pedigree on her. She comes from AKC champion bloodlines. I know a couple of people who really want puppies from her. But I don't want to do it if it is going to put her in jeopardy. Please let me know all of your opinions. Thanks!

As a breeder/exhibitor; reputable breeders do not breed anything under 5 pounds. However, there are other factors that fit into the equation. Bone density, health tests (bile acids, CBC, eyes and ears tested, temperament tests, hips and knees x-rayed, STD tests) , good representation of the breed coming from a long line of free whelpers. All the tests should be performed on the mating pair.

But, first and foremost are you prepared to lose her? The possibility exists that you can lose her and the pups. Are you prepared to give up approximately 8 to 10 weeks of your life? Do you have a money put aside (a sizeable amount) for any emergency that may happen during the welp. There will be whelping supplies that you will have to purchase. As well as vet care for pups after they are born.......Not an inexpensive endevor......

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

As a breeder/exhibitor; reputable breeders do not breed anything under 5 pounds. However, there are other factors that fit into the equation. Bone density, health tests (bile acids, CBC, eyes and ears tested, temperament tests, hips and knees x-rayed, STD tests) , good representation of the breed coming from a long line of free whelpers. All the tests should be performed on the mating pair.

But, first and foremost are you prepared to lose her? The possibility exists that you can lose her and the pups. Are you prepared to give up approximately 8 to 10 weeks of your life? Do you have a money put aside (a sizeable amount) for any emergency that may happen during the welp. There will be whelping supplies that you will have to purchase. As well as vet care for pups after they are born.......Not an inexpensive endevor......

, MANY slepless nights, grey hairs from worrying, double guessing yourself..why we do it? because we love the breed and ALMOST perfection is our goal..
other than that is non existent..

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

, MANY slepless nights, grey hairs from worrying, double guessing yourself..why we do it? because we love the breed and ALMOST perfection is our goal..
other than that is non existent..

Carmen.....

We do it because we're NUTS!!!!!!

Whelping is not my favorite thing......1 maybe 2 litters a year, sometimes skipping a couple of years.......

Nothing as scarey as putting your girl in that situation and if something goes wrong the guilt that your decision put her there.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Limelitediva

I understand 4 and 6 lbs is really very small to breed, but don't show dogs do it? They have to stay with in breed standards of 4-7lbs for yorkshire terriers. Are they able to breed their little ones safely?

The standard reads not to exceed 7 pounds. Exhibitors do not breed small girls and very few take a girl that is small into the ring to be Championed. That would be a waste of money. We show and Champion to get approval of our breeding stock. So, we take into the ring what we can breed.......I prefer my breeding girls between 5 1/2 and 7 pounds.....but I look at so many other things when I pick my girls.

[tegamom1]

You have received excellent advice. Have her spayed to avoid any other problems and just enjoy your little girl and let her be just that, your little girl.

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Carmen.....

We do it because we're NUTS!!!!!!

Whelping is not my favorite thing......1 maybe 2 litters a year, sometimes skipping a couple of years.......

Nothing as scarey as putting your girl in that situation and if something goes wrong the guilt that your decision put her there.

I know but I HATE to admit to strangers that I am NUTS......only my close friends and family know that... I can only handle one litter a year, go figure...LOL
me too, whelping is nerve wrecking to me.. I guess done right and for the right reasons that is how it is....

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

I know but I HATE to admit to strangers that I am NUTS......only my close friends and family know that... I can only handle one litter a year, go figure...LOL
me too, whelping is nerve wrecking to me.. I guess done right and for the right reasons that is how it is....

Family has a hard time dealing with the fact that Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, and weddings sometimes go by the way side.......a litter is due or pups are too young to be left for any great length of time.

[carmen in nj]

That's for sure my mom is coming to help me cook thanksgiving dinner because I would not let the new puppies alone..LOL good thing she is my mom... my family is kind of use to it, that is why they think I am nuts...
besides I have my mentor coming tomorrow to dock the babies.. go figure...

[Limelitediva]

I am absolutely 100% dedicated to the yorkshire breed and I am prepared to get her and the stud tested for eyes, hips and knees, CBC, etc...

I am an intensive care nurse at a very prominent hospital in chicago IL, so I am used to dealing with health emergencies should anything go wrong. Also I would never breed her before her 3 heat, so we have a long time to make this decision. And hopefully she will grow more in the mean time.

I have health insurance for Penny, and can afford the vet bills with no problem. I have a lot of time that I can dedicate to her and her puppies, I am in my 20's so I have the energy to do it and I don't leave the house much unless I am working or at school. When I am at work/school my mom is there to take care of Penny so she is never alone. I am the main care giver, and I am fortunate that I have the help of my mom when I'm not there. We have a clean nice house with a lot of space and we have been using our vet for over a decade.

[Limelitediva]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

From what I understand, reputable breeder will not breed under 4 lbs. which makes sense since the standard is 4-7 lbs. I think reputable breeders do a lot of research into the lines- to make sure the stud has not produced large puppies, nor has the dam or any dogs in their lineage.

This makes sense. I never thought about the sire producing large pups. I have one picked out so I will start to research into his lines and get him tested. Thanks!

[Limelitediva]

Now she is 3.5lbs I think?? Definately bigger than before, and she is 8 months old. Still growing a lot. Every week she is getting bigger! Any thoughts on breeding her?