breeding and heat

Question
QUESTION: Hi, we bred our yorkie 21days ago! my male yorkie knows when she is ready and we alound them to mate 3times every other day! the thing is she would of carried on standing for another week maybe a little longer after we let them do the business! should i have let them continue mating or did i do the right thing?We have already had one pup from her in the passed and kept it! do you think she will have just the one again as she is small size 2.3kg ? if she has just the one i will also keep this one - thats if she is pregnant !As she shows no sign her Virginia does not swell or anything she may be  a little of her food!

ANSWER: Hi Mary

What days in her heat was she bred and when does she ovulate? Did you get a tie at each breeding? Very important questions and answers.  



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QUESTION: we think days 12 13 16 we think !as she is a tiny bitch it is very difficult to 100% when she first comes in to season!  but are boy tied with her on the first day that she would stand second day there was a lot of peeing going on from him and her before they done the deed yes there was a tie each time!

ANSWER: If she was ovulating when she was bred, she should have pups.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If it was a few days to early would the spearm survive ? How can you tel if they are ovulating? as i tought it was from the day the bitch stands.
thankyou

Answer
The only way to tell when your female ovulates is to to a progesterone test.  The sperm lives for up to 5 days and a the egg takes 7 to fertilize.  

Some experienced females will stand the first day, regardless of when they ovulate.  I have a female that will stand day 1 and doesn't ovulate until day 19 - 21. And because I know that I keep the male away from her so not to tire and spend the male.

It's important that the male and female eliminate thier bladders before you start mating and it's equally important to put the female in a crate after she's bred to keep the sperm where you want it.