How often or seldom should you breed the same female dog and how many times is over doing it?

Question

I have been successful in breeding my yorkie and my female maltese. I do not want to physically over tax her and for the last 5 years she has only gone into heat once a year. This year is different, because she has gone into heat again. She weaned her pups at 6 wks in the middle of March. Will it be dangerous for her to have another litter this year and is it because she is older that this is happening? I love her dearly but as a single mom, the extra income is welcome. Though, I love her more than the money. I was only going to breed her once more and then have her fixed, but I don't want to indanger her health. Should I wait, stop, or go ahead? Please - dog lover's and Vets, don't cast me in hell. I screen carefully and follow up. It's been necessity only. I just want the facts.

Answer 1

ONCE is over doing it.
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)

In six years, one female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs.

Every cat or dog who dies as a result of pet overpopulation—whether humanely in a shelter or by injury, disease, or neglect—is an animal who, more often than not, would have made a wonderful companion, if given the chance. Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed. Here's information about this crisis and why spaying and neutering is the first step to a solution.

Every day in the United States thousands upon thousands of puppies and kittens are born because of the uncontrolled breeding of pets. Add to that number the offspring of stray and abandoned companion animals, and the total becomes even more staggering. Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters; some three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.
Too many companion animals competing for too few good homes is the most obvious consequence of uncontrolled breeding. However, there are other equally tragic problems that result from pet overpopulation: the transformation of some animal shelters into "warehouses," the acceptance of cruelty to animals as a way of life in our society, and the stress that caring shelter workers suffer when they are forced to euthanize one animal after another. Living creatures have become throwaway items to be cuddled when cute and abandoned when inconvenient. Such disregard for animal life pervades and erodes our culture.

The solution can be simply stated. Its implementation, however, requires sweeping efforts from a variety of organizations and people, including you.
The solution is this: Only by implementing widespread sterilization programs, only by spaying and neutering all companion animals, will we get a handle on pet overpopulation. Consider the fact that in six short years, one female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens.

Given these high reproductive rates, it stands to reason that, in only a few years, carefully planned and implemented sterilization programs could produce a dramatic reduction in the number of unwanted companion animals born. In fact, in those towns and cities that have implemented such programs, we've already seen the number of companion animals who had to be euthanized decline by 30 to 60 percent—even in those communities where human populations have been steadily increasing.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/pet_overpopulation_and_ownership_statistics/solving_the_pet_overpopulation_problem.html

Answer 2

If you love her, don't do it. Most of the breeders I know only breed their bitches 3 times total and only once per calendar year. The first time when they're at least two years old. These are responsible vizsla breeders though, so I'm not sure how people with small dogs do it. Growing up my neighbor bred yorkies and sometimes I got to puppy sit the litters if she had errands to run. I don't think she bred any of her dogs more than three times either and only once a year as well. If she is over five years of age I wouldn't breed her again. It's very hard on them and they're not a strong breed as it is. I hope that helps.

Answer 3

Spay your dog now. A small dog shouldn't be bred more that once every 2 years.

However, if you have not had the breeding dogs screened for health risks then it is hard to say how taxing it is. You should always spend as much on the dog's health screens prior to breeding as you would receive from litters. If you want to breed you need to be responsible about it.

However, since you mentioned making money I know you're not a responsible "breeder". No reputable breeder makes money as they spend more on the health of the parents and showing the dogs to better the breed.

Answer 4

More than one litter a year, especially for a small-breed dog that is getting a bit older, is too many. Just stick to one a year until she is 7 years old, or she seems to be having trouble with the pregnancy/puppies, whichever comes first. Definitely do not breed her again after the age of 7.

Answer 5

Spay her. She has had enough.
There are other ways to make money than using your pets!! If you do it correctly, there isn't much money to be made either, and that is why you are making money!!! Are all your females health cheched and cleared for the health problems the breeds carry????? You may love them all, but producing pet quality puppies just for money that can carry genetic defects is just not right!!!! Don't teach you kids that is OK to make money off the pets!! We do not need more pwoplw who do that in the world.
The dogs should never be bred on the first heat and then only once a year for three years. Then you owe it to them to get them SPAYED!!!!!! You made your money on her, now get her to the vet and get it done before she develops a uterus full of pus and dies!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

If she is healthy, then there should not be a problem. She needs to have all her strenght to have a healthy litter. Smaller dogs tend not to have real large litters, so they don't quite need the same recovery time, say a lab who had 13 pups might need. I would say that you know your own dog best and should be able to judge what would be best for her. If you still have doubts and would regrete anything happening to her should it be too soon, then don't. Hind sight is always 20/20 and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 7

To begin with, there are very few reasons for dogs to be bred in a world where so many are being put to sleep in shelters. For income is not one of them, If your dogs are not pedigreed and championed show dogs with all the appropriate genetic testing cleared, you should spay them anyway.

But if you ask any reputable breeder, they only breed their females once a year, and rarely will they breed them more than twice in a lifetime.

Answer 8

I would not breed her again-she has unusual heats-most dogs have them twice yearly and this heat is too close to the last litter of pups and her body will not have proper time to recuperate.If she is about 6 years I would personally spay her -as she gets older it is harder and harder on her body and more risk of mammary tumors and pyrometria(horrible infection of the uterus and life-threatening).Also this litter if your bred her again and as she gets older has a higher chance of birth complications and defects with the pups.Hope this helps.

Answer 9

There are too many animals in this world without homes in shelters and many of them are euthanized because there aren't enough homes for them all.Why would anybody with a brain create more animals on purpose if there are too many already.Stop being so greedy and think about that before you decide to bring more puppies into the world.Some of them could end up in those same shelters and end up dead because there aren't enough homes for all the animals already there.

Answer 10

Don't breed dogs. They take away the opportunity for shelter dogs to find a home. Overpopulation in animal shelters is a serious deal because millions are unnecessarily euthanized. Spay and neuter your pet and let them live a happy life so you can help save animals!!!!!!!