fales pregnancy

Question
Hi Melinda, after 9weeks waiting I've been told by my vet my yorkie is having a false pregnancy, she carry no pups. Im very disappointing but at the same time Im also wondering why!!! she mated three times during her 9th, 11th and 13th day heat. The stud dog's owner has been breeding yorkies for over 20yrs, her stud dog is approved. At the time I took my yorkie to her, she also think that's the right time. I contacted her today, she is also very surprised. We going to discuss more details next weekend but before that I would like to hear your opinion on how this happened. She is 5yr old and this is her second litter. Last time I bred her at the 12th and 14th day of her heat.After I took her back from the breeder I found she was still has discharge. the dischagre disappear a week after she back home. I forgot last time whether she still produce discharge after mating.  Is that mean we bred her too early this time? Or is she getting older that reduce the chance she get pregnant? or is my yorkie has any problem? or just the timing were not right?
Because I already paid the stud fee and it is non-refundable, so next time she on heat I have to bring her back the breeder. What can we do to increase the chance she get pregnant next time? such as any vet treatment, food or daily care that I should do or take from now.  

Answer
Vinnie,

First off let me start by saying that no one did anything wrong.  Unfortunately a false pregnancy is sometimes just a part of being a breeder.  For whatever reason your females body "thought" it was pregnant. The reasons this happens are usually related to hormones being out of whack and therefore you would have had no idea that this would occur.  I must agree with your breeder that they had been bred at the appropriate time.  Usually you can breed them anywhere between day 7 and day 13 and you will get a litter of pups.  What you look for is around day 7 her discharge should change from bright red blood to a pinkish milky discharge.  When this occurs you should breed her.  The reason you breed her three times is to make sure that you breed her on one of the days that she can get pregnant.

Most breeders stop using a female for breeding when they reach the age of eight.  However, that is not a rule and it can vary depending on the individual dog. There is really no definitive way to tell why she had a false pregnancy.  All you can do is try again and if she doesn't get pregnant the next time it may just be that she is no longer going to be able to have puppies.  After all, we can do only so much and then it is up to nature.