breeding a yorkie

Question
Denise I had bought a little female yorkie to breed with my 3.5 lb yorkie male. She just turned 7 months old and only weighs 2.5 lbs. I was wondering if I should try to breed her or not. She is small and I would not want to hurt her in any way. I don't think she is going to get any bigger. Do you think she would have trouble carrying the puppies or the birth process?

Answer
Hi Lisa:

Well, I don't know that I can really give you a definitive "yes or no" kind of answer to your question. Frankly, all dogs, regardless of breed, size, etc., may not be prime candidates for breeding. Considering her very tiny size, I would first of all wait at least another year to see if she does get any bigger - she may at least become a little heavier & more sturdy once she's at her full adult size. Then I would seek the advice of your vet - definitely have any & all recommended pre-breeding health screening tests performed & ensure she has no issue that may impact on her ability to breed & produce sound puppies. Your vet is in a much better position to assess whether or not she'd be able to safely carry, whelp & care for a litter. Surprisingly, many small dogs can be extremely sturdy & excellent mothers - in my opinion, she's too young to make a decisive decision at this point. Of course, if a year from now she hasn't filled out to a degree with which you feel comfortable, then by all means I'd certainly not risk her health by breeding. I've seen many perfectly strong, healthy girls lose their lives from breeding complications or experience near misses. I applaud your obvious concern for her welfare - I wish more people truly put the well-being of their beloved pets ahead of their own needs & wants!