Help! My 5 pound chihuahua is in heat. How many days do i wait to breed her?

Question

To Romance germ, My dog is is perfect shape and had her shots. I am not breeding for money. My mom lost her dog. I want to give her one. Also i will be giving the others away to my friends. I don"t even believe in selling dogs. I am trying to give them away, to put a smile on someones face. The vet will be on stand by in case anything goes wrong.

Answer 1

SO YOU WANT A LITTER OF PUPPIES?
WHY???
"To make a lot of money." Do you realize the expense involved in such items as advertising, vet bills, stud fee, food, etc., to name a few?
"Because it would be good for the children to watch the birth and play with the puppies as they grow up." Actually, the "gory" parts of the whelping repulse most kids, who are all too anxious to just skip the viewing of the miracle of birth you have planned for them to see. And a litter growing up is too rowdy for most kids who are usually totally disinterested or absolutely terrified of the leaping creatures with the sharp nails and teeth. If you want the kids to see a puppy grow up, it's usually better to buy one.
"Because we love Fido and we want one just like her." The chances of getting one "just like her" are slim indeed.
"Because everyone who comes to the house and sees Fido wants a puppy when she has a litter." Just wait until your litter of 12 is ready to go to their homes and watch all those people back out with excuses like...."The kids aren't old enough."...."The kids are too old now to be bothered with caring for a dog."......"We are going to have a baby."...."The rug is too new."...."The house is too small."...."We'll be moving in 3 months."....."Grandma doesn't like dogs."...."Our old dog hasn't died yet."....."It might not get along with the cat.".....and the list goes on and on!
"Because we really love little puppies." You'd better be sure you love them. You can't fully imagine how much is involved, such as the mess a litter makes. Can you put up with the cleaning that is constantly needed in caring for the litter? There is no way to explain how tired you get of scrubbing up after the puppies, their whelping box, the yard, kennel, or wherever they are kept. They dump their food and water the minute you put it down, step in it, and drag it through whatever else may be in the puppy box, and with 6 or 8 or 12 puppies, there's always something else to be cleaned up too!
Do you understand the RESPONSIBILITY you will have with a litter? It's not just Fido having the litter and caring for it until they are ready to go. Most of it is up to you and you're tied to the litter like any new mother, only you can't take the litter with you to your in-laws for the weekend, or anyplace else for that matter, so you'd better be content to spend all too long, because you have to be there to feed the puppies four times a day.
Now that you have some idea of what is involved other than playing with those cute, cuddly puppies and are still determined to breed, here's something else that should be considered.
Is your ***** of QUALITY to breed? Do you know her faults as well as her virtues? Does she meet with the standard of the breed? Is she in good health? Has she been tested free of the genetic defects associated with the breed? Do you have customers so you won't have to sell the puppies at a price below market value or take them to a shelter?
If you can answer "yes" to the above and haven't lost the determination to try your hand at raising a litter, then read on...
Get an opinion of your ***** from a few reputable breeders. Find out what they think are her faults and her virtues.
Learn about any problems that exist in your breed such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, etc. Study the breed standard yourself so that you are familiar with it when looking at and evaluating possible stud dogs. Get several reputable breeder's opinions of a stud dog who will enhance your *****. Go to see as many of the stud dogs and their offspring as you can.
After you have decided on a stud dog, take your ***** to the vet and have all necessary health clearances done ($$$$). She should have a general health check-up and the vet will let you know if any vitamin supplements are necessary. This exam should include: a worm check (take along a stool sample) , a heartworm check, brucellosis test, updating of vaccinations, blood panel. Don't forget, all this is going to cost money, but it's necessary, part of planning for a healthy litter.
Now while you wait for her to come into season, read all you can on your particular breed, breeding, whelping, and rearing puppies.
Start saving all your newspapers and have your friends do the same (remember what we told you about clean-up?) You'll need all the newspaper you can get your hands on.
Have a whelping box built or, if you are handy, build one yourself. More $$$$.
When the ***** comes in season, contact the stud dog owner with whom you have previously made arrangements regarding the breeding. You will be advised on when to bring your *****. Plan to pay the stud fee at the time of breeding ($$$). There may also be a boarding charge if your ***** is to stay with the stud dog's owner ($$$). Be sure you understand in advance what the payment of the stud fee is guaranteeing. The suitable stud for your ***** may be some distance away involving additional traveling expense ($$$). Getting your ***** bred isn't always as easy as you might imagine and may require repeated trips to the stud dog.
After your ***** is bred you have about 63 more days to do more reading and thinking, and laced with the good thoughts about the precious darlings will be some horrible thoughts about what can go wrong and how much it will cost you, both financially and emotionally.
We hate to keep dwelling on this but things DO go wrong occasionally and you should be prepared in case it happens to you.
(1) What if your ***** has problems and requires a Cesarean section or other extensive vet services ($$$)?
(2) What if the puppies die?
(3) What if she is not in whelp or has a miscarriage?
(4) What are you going to do with 10 six month old puppies that you can't sell, give away, or have the heart to put to sleep? Do you have adequate facilities?
(5) What if your ***** can't or won't nurse the puppies? Are you prepared to feed them every two hours for the next three weeks?
(6) And worst of all, what if Fido dies while whelping or afterwards? Will it have been worth it?
The days pass, and Fido whelps her puppies without any problems, but you still have to take her to the vet to be checked over within 24 hours of delivery. She will probably get injections to prevent infections ($$$). Lucky for you, Fido whelped 10 healthy puppies.
They are almost 6 weeks old now and in two weeks it will be time to sell them. First they will all have to make a trip to the vet. Their check-up will include shots and a worm check with medication if necessary (10 x $$$).
Now that you know they are healthy and ready to go, you'll want a breeder to see just how gorgeous they are and how great you did on your first try. Of course, you think they are all show quality and worth show prices. But again be prepared because you might be told the following:
(1) The best male has only one testicle.
(2) The next best male toes out badly (but has both testicles.)
(3) The really pretty ***** has a bad bite.
(4) The smaller ***** has a proper bite but her topline is bad.
(5) The ***** with the prettiest head is cowhocked.
(6) There are four who are average, nothing really wrong but nothing outstanding either.
There is one who is show quality. The "show quality" one is the one you were going to keep just as a pet because the kids liked it best (another mouth to feed $$$) and you're feeling down at the breeder's opinion of your litter. But you're told to cheer up, one outstanding puppy is better than a lot of people get out of a litter and you should consider this a successful breeding, Some consolation when you were going to sell them all as show puppies!
Now you have your litter graded and priced accordingly and you are ready to sell them. By this time, are you knowledgeable enough about your breed to be the expert every buyer assumes you are? Are you prepared to answer questions on training, housebreaking, feeding, grooming, etc.? Are you prepared to answer these questions not only at the time of purchase, but months later or when someone calls at midnight because the dog isn't eating right? Can you direct buyers to obedience classes, breed handling classes, help them get into showing, recommend a vet, etc.? Remember, you are now the breeder and the responsibility doesn't end when a puppy is carried out the door. Do you have a pedigree ready to go with each puppy, as well as the registration forms? Are you prepared to advertise extensively ($$$) if needed?
If you have a good ***** and have bred to a stud dog owned by an interested breeder, they may send referrals to you, but don't depend on others to sell your puppies, and advertising expenses can really add up. Don't expect the buyers to flock to your door the day the puppies are ready to go. It may take weeks, or even months, before they are all sold. This results in lots of food costs and more trips to the vet ($$$).
We hope that if you breed your ***** you do it the right way and only for the right reasons and put lots of time, thought, and love into your decision.
THERE ARE TOO MANY UNWANTED PUPPIES PUT TO DEATH EACH YEAR DUE TO IRRESPONSIBLE AND IGNORANT BREEDING. DON'T LET ANY OF YOUR PUPPIES END UP THIS WAY.

Answer 2

Sounds like you've thought of many of the problems you might have. Don't blast Romance and others who recommend you don't breed your dog. They're trying to help you and maybe save your dog's life. We've seen too many people who were completely unprepared for what they were getting into.

I'm going to give you a few other things to think about, just in case you don't have dog medical books now - you can get them and look them up.

Have you priced an emergency c-section at your vet? That could cost as much as buying your mom a pup. Toy dogs are not always easy whelpers and Chihuahuas have big heads for the size of their bodies. Do you know how to tell if she needs a c-section? Do you know how to build a proper whelping box with a pig-rail, so that none of the pups can be crushed behind or under their mom? Do you know what eclampsia is? If you don't, your dog could die. Do you know how to tell when all the pups have been born? If there are any left inside her, they could die and so could she.

Dogs often deliver in the middle of the night - it's good that you'll have a vet on standby. If there are any problems with the whelping, it may cost you $100 just to walk in the emergency clinic's door - then all the other costs on top of that.

Before you breed, you should have your vet do a health exam and fecal tests and blood tests for intestinal worms and heartworm to be sure her health is good - which I'm sure you did. Then make sure your dog and the male you select (who should be a champion - your pups will be worth more!) are tested for Brucellosis - a canine VD.

If you just want a pup to keep for yourself or your mom, it's a lot easier (and maybe cheaper) to buy one than to breed your own. The pups are going to need food and shots and worming and lots of care for eight weeks. If the mother rejects them, guess who is going to be up twice a night and four times a day hand feeding every pup? Have you got the time and energy?

If you're still reading and decide to buy a pup instead, go to www.akc.org and look up breeders. The best breeders will show their dogs in breed, obedience and/or field work - and they will be members of a dog club that promotes breeding health, good-tempered dogs.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/chihuahua/index.cfm

http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm#503

Good luck either way.

Answer 3

"How many days do i wait to breed her? " *You* don't. With 3-5 million unwanted animals being killed each year, including chihuahuas, only professional, responsible, reputable breeders should be breeding their animals. If you don't know when to breed her, you obviously are not a professional or reputable breeder.

Have you done genetic testing?
Is she old enough and healthy enough to have & carry puppies?
Do you know the genetic background of at least 3-5 generations of her line?
Are you willing to take back her offspring, no matter how old, if they can no longer be cared for?
Are you going to requre a spay/neuter contract of all your clients?
Do you already have all the puppies sold?
Are you willing to do home visits and vet checks on all your clients?
Are you willing to spend the hundreds of dollars on vaccinations and check-ups?
Are you willing to spend thousands of dollars if complications arise?
Are you willing to keep, for the rest of their lives, and alter any puppies that you cannot find homes for?
Are your female and the prospective male prime champion examples of the Chihuahua breed as judged by a professional in the dog showing field?
Did both parents come from reputable breeders? Not backyard breeders. Not pet stores. Not puppy mills. Not accidental breeders.
Is your house free of fleas, ticks, and any other hazardous pests?
Is your house a safe area for the puppies to grow up in?

If you answer 'no' to even one of these questions, then you should not be breeding any animal. Sorry, but too many animals lose their lives because of overbreeding. And, too many people further weak and unhealthy genetics because they don't know what they are doing.


I'm going to link to a few sites that will help you understand why other people don't breed their sweet, wonderful, beautiful dogs; what a responsible breeder is; and what people expect from a responsible breeder. One site is for another breed of dog, but 90% of the information holds true for anyone.

Answer 4

Wait forever!!! With all the unwanted dogs why breed? Adopt one of them. If you do choose to breed her though you should know that about 98% of the time Chihuahua's don't free whelp and need a c-section. Make absolutely sure your vet knows this and is ready to perform the operation cause if you wait too long the pups will die. I got to help with a c-section on one of my folks Chi bitches about 2 weeks ago. Most of the time the vet won't let you help but if they know you well enough you can ask and see if they will at least let you go in the back. See how your vet feels about it.

Answer 5

between the 11-15 day is the best days to breed. Some will even say 11-13 day. I do the 11-13 day rule. I would suggest in reading a little or a lot about breeding. So you know what to look for. what complication to look for what to do if you need to assist without vet help during the birth and so forth. everyone has got to start somewhere people. good luck.

Answer 6

With all the stray dogs in the world? Be responsible and get her fixed.

Answer 7

I don't think YOU should breed her, find another dog.

Answer 8

if you want to get your mom a new dog, go adopt one from the shelter.

Answer 9

If you dont know...Then dont breed..you obviously have no idea how to...

why dont you go to http://www.petfinder.com and see how many Chihuahuas need homes already...or go to http://www.petakillsanimals.com

Answer 10

Please get her fixed....there are thousands of chihuahuas that are homeless.If you are not a licensed breeder then it is also illegal and punishable by law.

Answer 11

If you do not know the basics, please don't try to breed. This is the easy part.