How to Breed Yorkies Together

Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies for short, have been popular pets since the second half of the 19th century. As of 2006, they were the second most popular breed registered with the American Kennel Club, following only the Labrador retriever. The small, long-haired breed (weighing less than seven pounds full-grown) is known as an intelligent, friendly and loyal pet. If you own a beloved Yorkie, you may wish to breed him or her for fun or profit. It is not an enterprise you should undertake lightly as it is very labor intensive, so be sure to follow some key steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding pair
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a stud or dam that complements your dog's strengths and weaknesses.

    • 2

      Find a stud or dam that has successfully bred before.

    • 3

      Make sure that the stud and dam are at least 18 months old.

    • 4

      Allow the female to have at least one estrus (heat cycle) prior to being bred for the first time.

    • 5

      Give the female a complete physical examination by a veterinarian, including all blood work, and make sure her vaccinations are current.

    • 6

      Look for and wait for signs of heat. Females only come into heat twice a year, so know the signs and make sure the male is nearby. The female's vulva will swell, and she will have discharge when she is coming into heat.

    • 7

      Put the male and female together and allow them to mate several times during the heat period, preferably on days one, three and five of the heat cycle. When the timing is right, the female will be willing to be mounted.

    • 8

      Have the female tested for pregnancy several weeks after the mating.

    • 9

      Plan for puppies nine weeks after the date of conception. The mother will take care of the puppies, and you won't need to do much, but make sure the mother gets all the food and water she craves.