To Breed or Not to Breed Our Molly is a little over 2 years old and we have yet to have her spayed (don't judge, lol!) because we still kick around breeding her. We fear the risks involved either way and I just want some outside opinions not just veterinarians. We would probably end up keeping all the pups as we are very attached to our Molly and can't imagine giving away a part of her. Is it to be expected she would probably only have 2-3 pups? Also, how should we expect her to act once the pups are born and they never leave? Will she be maternal and play with them or will she be jealous? I know you can't be sure how to answer some of these questions, but of your experiences out there how would you best answer? TIA |
I've never bred a dog. I've only ever had pet quality yorkies, never championed dogs, so the question has never arose for me. I think most of us here have pets. You might want to post in the breeding section to get the attention of the few breeders here on YT. |
If it were me, I would not ever, ever breed one of my pets - the risk of death to Mom or puppies just would never be worth it for me when I weigh it against not breeding. I'd rather not breed, and just let Momma be a beloved pet. I'd leave breeding to the true experts. |
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I would not breed, but, that's your choice. |
I'm not an expert either, but just reading so many threads on the risks involved in breeding would make me hesitate. It seems like it should be left to experts who have spent their lives learning how to do it properly. I'm sure as the Mama of Molly whatever you decide you will do it with guidance from someone experienced, so she's not in any danger. Good luck:) |
I have not bred dogs put I have bred and showed pedigree cats in the past. I had a Vet tell me once If you have live stock you will have dead stock. and she was right . You must be ready for this in the middle of the night .The other consideration is the cost the vet checks pre and xrays to check how may pups to expect and if she has trouble an emergence C section. A boat lot of money . Bellas breeder just had a litter of 6 : ) I dont mean to be a downer but thats the other side of things I dont think dog would be much different than cats. |
I absolutely would NOT breed her. |
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1) Is the life of my female worth the risk of her dying, in order to have this litter? If you decide you are willing to risk her life to produce a litter of puppies, as a breeder it is YOUR responsibility to assure her YOU have done everything YOU can do to make sure you do not sacrifice her life and/or the life of innocent puppies in order to produce a litter. Clearly, that FIRST starts with knowledge of the pedigrees you are dealing with, in both the sire as well as the dam of that intended litter. Personalities of the dogs in those lines, looks of the dogs in those lines, HEALTH of the dogs in those lines....all these things are passed down generation to generation.....snappy, yappy dogs that are bred because they are available "in the hood" to be bred, will throw the same personalities down thru generations.....genetic issues and health challenges will be passed down thru the generations, and Yorkies that have breed standard faults in conformation and color will also go down from generation to generation, until those puppies do not even LOOK like what a Yorkie is supposed to look like! Blue borns, cleft palates, hydrocephalus, liver shunts, kidney diseases, heart and vascular issues....all genetic/congenital issues. All the questions you have asked, are genetic. Look behind your dog and the sire of any litter you are intending to produce....look back AT LEAST 9 generations, preferably 12-14 generations, to answer your questions. As far as risks in spaying versus not spaying.....every single cycle your intact, unbred female has, increases her chances of multiple health concerns considerably....it is the bombardment of hormones on the system of an unbred, intact female that instigates the development of multiple types of life threatening cancers, among other preventable health issues. If your female is not a thuthful, wonderful representation of what a Yorkie is supposed to be, as outlined by the breed standard, if you are not working with solid, strong, unquestionably legitimate pedigrees and lines, then you have a pet quality female and she should NOT be bred. I have given you FACTS, not opinions, in response to your questions. Your own questions can only be guesstimated by you, from your knowledge of your own dogs pedigree. Her pedigree is the foundation and the building blocks all future litters produced by this female and others she produces.....all cracks, all weaknesses, all failures and faults are directly tied to her pedigree. |
I would never, ever breed one of my females. If anything happened I could never forgive myself. My girls are my little fur-kids, and are not meant to reproduce just so I can have more Yorkies. Breeding small dogs is no easy task, has many risks, and is not for a novice. Also, the longer she goes unspayed, the higher her risk is for mammary cancer and pyometria. |
When I got my Cali she was being shown and doing very well -- however, the very very very experience breeder who was showing her was feeling like she was not going to "make weight". To this experience breeder who will not breed any female Yorkie under 5 pounds that Cali was probably, in her estimation, not going to make the 5 pounds. My breeder, who shows her dogs, only breeds for the betterment of the breed and to get her next champion. Flash forward -- indeed this experience lady was correct. Cali is not five pounds, in fact she has barely even made 4 pounds. I take my hat off the this experience person for getting that right. So at 10 months Cali came to own me -- I wanted a show quality Yorkie (having previous had a fairly well breed Yorkie who hD had some health problems And lived to be -1 years old). Obedience and agility Are my interests. Don't have the knowledge to breed. But hear is what I learned. When Cali's show dog momma sold her to me she gave me a 3 ring binder of all her testing, showing, vet visits and developmental growth. It was at least 2" thick And included great stuff about Yorkies that I did not know. When I looked at all the tests, geniology, DNA.....and on and on, it dawned on me -- she did not make any money on selling me this perfect little pup because she had spent a fortune on being sure she knew exactly whT she was breeding. I still see this lady at dogs shows and think she is great - picky but great - And I have the best dog ever. She was used to being groomed and shown and had the best temperament and socialization! Did I know then that I was getting all that -- not at all! I know now, of course. And as I take the confirmation course now at my local AKC club I have been asked to help a local breeder to show one or two of her pups with her mentorship. Cali still participates in agility, and I continue to learn, but I doubt I will ever breed:D |
I would get her spayed ASAP. The only reason to breed even if you plan to keep all the pups is to better the breed. When breeding it is very important that you know the lines many many many generations back because there could be serious health issue that could run in the genes and cause your pups to be born with some serious issues that might not show up until 2 years of age or older that could cause you a lot of heartbreak and cost you a massive amount of money. Dogs don't have the need to be mothers like a lot of human women. Your female could also not accept the pups and that means every thing falls on you feeding them at least every two hours, cleaning them, stimulating them to go potty, keeping them warm and so on. You didn't say how big your female was but if she is under 5 pounds it becomes more then just the regular dangers of loosing her. A female under 5 pounds should never be breed because it is extremly dangerous. Giving birth whether human or dog is very painful so is that something you really want to put her through? I also would not delay spaying any longer because every heat she goes through her risk for mammary cancer rises and rises. Her risk for poymentra also rises and that can be a death sentence even if you get the emergency surgery. |
I agree you should spay her. My dog had a healthy mom and dad yet he came out with several health problems, things from further down the line can pop up unexpectedly. His health problems have cost me thousands and while I eventually got another dog I couldn't have afforded a sibling with similar issues. Also while it's common for them to have small liters that's not always the case- what if she has 8 or 12?! Just look at all the yorkies in shelters, people may have the best intentions when they are puppies but would you risk giving the pups away to people who may eventually give up on them? If you need a puppy fix volunteer at your local shelter. Spay your girl and enjoy your time together. |
Also if you're breeding with the hopes of getting another Molly, be aware it often doesn't work out like that. Another member did that and she's having a lot of behavior issues with the daughter. My aunt also had mother and daughter, they were both wonderful dogs but completely different in personality. I had littermates and they were complete opposites physically and with their personality. |
I agree with what everyone has said above. More things to think about is where did you get your yorkie? Is she of breeding quality? Is she healthy? Does she have any issues such as LP which a huge majority of yorkies have it? Is she AKC? Does she fit the standard? And did your breeder give you breeding rights? If you can't imagine giving away any of her pups, could you imagine losing your Molly? |
I have a sweet but melodramatic yorkie girl, whom I love with all my heart and truly believed she was fated for me, even though she has LP (her parents didn't have it). Before I got her spayed, I've had people suggest I breed her and can make money off her (since the breeders I got her from, gave full registration rights). I've made it clear to the breeders before I even saw her and made it clear to all those who've made such a suggestion. "I will never breed her, she's my furbaby." I know that's it's costly and heartbreaking to be a proper breeder. As much as I would've loved to have more of her, I'm more concerned with her continued health and my ability to help her. That's my priority. There is so much responsibility to breeding, that I know I cannot handle it. I don't recommend it for those that won't know how to be very serious about it. I agree with others, you breed for the best of the breed as you possibly can. But if you are willing and able, then take the greatest of care, get a mentor, even if it's for having the pups for yourself. You'll want to breed for the best, to give them the best chances. |
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