Hints for Mating Yorkies

Yorkshire terriers are small, long-coated lap dogs and are one of the most popular toy breeds in the world. Well-bred Yorkies have friendly, personable temperaments and make excellent companion animals. Before mating your Yorkie, consider both who will be adopting the puppies and whether or not you have the time for the entire mating process. Successfully mating Yorkies takes time, care and patience.

  1. Maturity

    • Both male and female Yorkies should not be bred until they are over two years of age. While dogs are physically able to be bred at a much younger age, waiting until they are two years old allows you to learn more about the dog's positive and negative traits. This prevents them from passing on genetic conditions that might not be evident until adulthood. In addition, waiting a couple of years also allows you to breed only dogs with good temperaments.

    Checkup

    • Before breeding occurs, take both the male and female Yorkie to the veterinarian's office. The veterinarian checks to ensure that both dogs are healthy enough to breed and that they are up to date on their shots. Checking the health of the female Yorkie also prevents her from becoming ill during pregnancy and when she is nursing her puppies.

    Standing Heat

    • Standing heat is the stage when the female Yorkie is fertile and ready to be bred. A female Yorkie may come into heat between one and three times a year, and during this time, she is willing to stand still to allow a male to mate with her. The first signs that a female Yorkie is in standing heat include swollen vulva and bloody discharge from her genital area. During this period, she begins to urinate more frequently and may become more affectionate and cuddly. About 10 days after the bloody discharge first appears, she is ready to be mated. Mate the female with the male on at least three different occasions on three separate days to ensure a successful breeding.

    Veterinary Assistance

    • Yorkshire terriers are toy dogs, meaning they are very small. Because of their size, pregnancy complications may arise if the female is too small or weak to deliver her puppies. Stay nearby when she gets ready to deliver and be ready to call the veterinarian if she shows signs of pain or if is struggling to deliver for more than two hours. Call the veterinarian as well, if it has been more than 70 days after the mating and she still has not delivered.

    Finding Mates

    • To ensure high-quality puppies, find a good mate for your female Yorkie. Place an advertisement in your local paper to search out other breeders and ask at your local veterinary office. If your city has a Yorkie fanciers club, attend a meeting and see if anyone offers stud services. Tell your family, friends and co-workers that you are looking to breed; word-of-mouth can also help you find the right stud.