Wednesday, 31 August 2011

Breeding with Yorkies

Here are some questions and answers to help with the breeding process with Yorkies.


What types of Yorkies can breed well ?
I found that the medium sized Yorkies breeds the best. They normally have their litter by themselfs, and will let you know if there is something wrong.
The miniature and pocket sized ones, tend to have more difficulty when having their litter!


How do I know my bitch is in heat ?
The most common sign is, you will find little blood stains where she sits down or lie down.
The other sign to look out for is, all the dogs especially the males will follow her around, and smell her behind!

How will the males react ?
You will find their behaviour changed, the tend to become agressive towards one another , and their jaws will move up and down once they smell the bitch!



Can a Yorkie female copulate with more than one male?
If you have more than one male she will mate with whom ever mounts her first!

Feeding during pregnancy and after? 
feeding is very important during pregnancy, she will eat more and need more supplimenst to feed her growing belly.
You will find that once she gives birth she does not want to eat immediatally, it might be a good idea to take the food to her at first!


How long is the Yorkie's pregnancy ?
The pregnancy tend to range between 58 days and 63 days, however it can vary from time to time.

What can I do to make it more comfortable for her ?
During pregnancy she will become more uncomfortable as she reach the last stages of the pregnancy, I tend to put down a soft pillow wich she can lay on and also rubbing her belly is soathing for her.
After pregnancy be careful not to pick the puppies up to much as this will make the mom uncomfortable and she might reject one or more of the pups!

How many babies can I expect ?
In my experience the normal litter is 4, but I have had a litter of six and seven!


What should I feed the puppies ?
The puppies will suckle their mom four four weeks before their teeth starts to come out, once they start chewing and playing with each other, you can start with puppy foor that you will get from your vet!
I normally feed my puppies from 5 weeks old, and I give them the same food I give all my dogs.
Do NOT- give them any dairy products, and NO fish bones or chicken bones!


How long before the puppies can find new homes ?
The recomended time is 6 weeks after birth, this is the time they build up all the neccesary enzimes to fight off sickness.
I find that if you leave the puppies for longer than 6 weeks, they learn more on behaviour and deal better with other pets! 

How can I help during delivery ?
It is best to just stay calm and let nature take it`s course, pop around every now and then just to let her know you are there.
Don`t be alarmed if it is three hours after her water broke and still nothing, the first pup always takes long. There after the second and third one will come fairly quick, but may be delayed up to 6 hours.
Don`t try and help once the puppy is out, the mom will eat off the sack herself, this in turn gives her nutrience and energy for the next delivery!

No comments: