BEAUTY
We have been breeding Yorkies for the last thirty years and our yorkies are our children in the house.
We usually have about four to five females and only replaced any that have for any reason died.
So we normally have about three dogs which we are using for breeding.
Once you have made the decision to breed Yorkies properly and ethically, it will involve a lot of elements that come into play...and come together, during the process and your program.
One must consider if you will be breeding your Yorkie only once or if you actually wish to enter this world and learn how to breed Yorkie puppies.
Those who believe that breeding will be a great method of gaining a 2nd income should be aware that most ethical, caring breeders put quite a bit of the money back into the dogs.
Do note that we say quite a bit, not all...there is some profit to be made, however it will only work well if your main goal is the joy of doing this and not for monetary gain.
I myself keep only females and hire a male when needed, this saves a lot work trying to keep males and females separated.
It is an ongoing cycle of working hard to improve the bloodlines, create dogs who meet the standards of the Kennel Union in regards to conformation and produce healthy pups who are well socialized and happy....all while maintaining the integrity and health of both female and male.
When Buying your own Yorkies, it is best to take an expert on Yorkies with to make your selection, also check all the pedigree paperwork.
Breeding will never make you rich. Breeding a Yorkie, in the ethical way, is done to create happy, healthy puppies... and the love of the dog comes first and the money comes secondary.
It is recommended that a female is bred after her 2nd heat and before she is 5 years old.
Now, a female can enter heat as young as 5 months old, this is much too young to become pregnant.
It would put too much stress on the body and it is unethical and unhealthy for a growing puppy to have the additional task of the rapid growth of pregnancy.
On the flip side, after the age of 5, with 7 being the absolute limit, the female needs to rest.
If a person is only planning 1 litter and does so when the dam is 4-5 years old, another litter can be carried safely at age 7.
However, if a female has had 3 or more litters, she should be retired at the appropriate age of 6 or 7.
If not, there can be many complications, not limited to the need for cesarean, uterine infection and more.
When learning about how to breed a Yorkshire Terrier, one must keep in mind the size of both male and female partners.
This breed is so small, so when a female is going to be paired with a male, the female should weigh more than the male. This is a key component in aiding the dam to carry well and deliver with the least possibility of complications.
The male should be under 2 kg.
Also check out the weight of the male's parents, they should be between 1.8 kg to 2.5 kg. Doing this, will give the female Yorkie a better chance of being able to have her puppies naturally.
When these guidelines are not followed, there is a greater chance that the female will need to have an expensive cesarean section.
With this in mind, the dam should be between 2 and 3kg.
The Heat Cycle and the Role it Plays
Your Yorkie's heat cycle will last approximately 21 days.
This occurs approximately every 6 months. It is not exact.
All dogs are different so keep a calendar of when your Yorkie enters heat and you should be able to determine your dog's particular schedule.
Check your Yorkie for
A leak of clear fluid for a couple of days
A change to a cream colored fluid
A change to blood, this may be a light pink color in toy breed dogs
An Enlarged vulva, on a Yorkie the vulva may be moderately enlarged
When the bleeding stops, your Yorkie may still be in heat for a few days.
If you carefully touch the base of her tail and she moves her tail to the side, she is still in heat.
One of the most important aspects is to be in full control of mating.
A female can become pregnant by 2 different males, if she ties with both during her cycle.
Ties should be planned, try to plan around the middle week.
At all other times, the dam should be separated from any other nu-neutered males.
It is amazing how many owners I have been in contact with who say, "But I only left her alone for a minute" or "I don't know how he escaped and mated with her!"
One must be vigilant in keeping a close eye on all dogs.
After Breeding
A female should be retired from breeding at the age of 7 years maximum.
A female Yorkie may need to be retired much younger and this will depend on the recommendation of an experienced and trusted veterinarian.
Who should make a determination after evaluating the individual dog's health and history.
It is highly recommended to have your female Yorkie spayed if you will not be breeding her.
It is certainly recommended to spay your female if you have bred her & will be retiring her.
Spaying greatly eliminates the chances of developing ovarian cancer and reduces the risk of mammary cancer in female dogs. The younger, the better the odds. However, spaying at any age will help.