The Yorkshire terrier is a very popular small dog, perhaps for that reason many people who already have one consider having offspring. Remember that the gestation of a dog must be well thought through, but we will talk about that later.
The number of offspring will depend directly on the age and size of the parents. For this reason, if the mother of the future puppies is a first-timer (second or third heat) and small in size, we can expect between 2 and 3 puppies. The most experienced or elderly mothers can have up to 5 or 6 pups.
In this article on our site we give you the keys to knowing how many puppies a yorkshire terrier can have and how we should approach this topic to that the pregnancy is carried out properly:
How many babies can a yorkshire have
The average number of offspring that a Yorkshire terrier can have is around 3 puppies although it may vary depending on the age of the dog. Sometimes they can have up to 8 small Yorkshire, it will depend on the particular case.
First-time mothers who have their puppies in their second or third heat tend to have fewer puppies than those who have already given birth or have had several heats.
The number of offspring is also determined by the male's sperm. The most mature ones will fertilize a greater number of ovules than the younger ones.
Details to be considered
To begin with, it is essential to understand some fundamental details about the parents to avoid complications in childbirth or future illnesses:
- Avoid Inbreeding: It is very important that you understand that mating genetically related animals increases the likelihood of offspring being affected by recessive traits that cause genetic damage to offspring. This implies the appearance of mutations, diseases and other he alth problems.
- He althy specimens: Obviously you should never breed a Yorkshire terrier that suffers from any serious degenerative or he alth problem. Genetic problems that can be passed on to puppies should be avoided at all costs. The best known are osteoarthritis and dysplasia.
- Physical defects: Before thinking of having our dog bred, we must be sure that he does not suffer from any type of physical defect. It is not an aesthetic issue, on the contrary, a malformed jaw can be inherited and harm the future development of the puppy, for example. Physical defects may or may not be transmitted, but if it occurs with a greater intensity than that of its parent, it would be a serious problem that should be treated with expensive surgery. Think about it.
- Size of the male: Being very clear about the size of the male is essential to prevent problems in the delivery of the bitch. We must choose a male smaller than the female so that the puppies are not excessively large and can get stuck in the uterus.
- Problems in childbirth: If we do not respect the size of the male (and even if it is so) problems can arise that can lead to the death to the puppies or to the parent. Learn about all the calving problems that may arise and be prepared to take action or call the vet.
- Puppy Responsibility: If you are determined to have your Yorkshire Terrier bred you must be very aware that you are (along with the other owner) responsible for the life of these little animals. You cannot abandon them or offer them poor care, nor give them away to someone who is not going to take good care of them. Remember that there are millions of abandoned yorkshires all over the world, if you are not going to be able to take care of them all if there is an inconvenience better not look for pups.
- Puppy Care: Puppies can be rejected by their mother, be born sick, or develop problems if not fed properly. You must be sure that you can attend to all feeding requests if they occur. Discover on our site the care of newborn puppies.
- Yorkshire Terrier Puppies: Unlike other breeds, Yorkshire Terrier pups are especially delicate. Poor care can lead to the loss of some puppies.
- Financial solvency: You must prepare yourself for the possible appearance of a large litter or medical complications. Remember that veterinarians are expensive as well as food or artificial formula milk. It is very important that you consider this before starting a litter of small yorkshire terriers.
The pregnancy
Remember that, due to the number of problems related to pregnancy and the high number of abandonments of this breed around the world, it is not recommended to breed a Yorkshire Terrier.
However, if you have already found the perfect partner for your Yorkshire and have decided to go ahead with this gestation process, I recommend you follow our article on a dog's pregnancy week by week so that you are clear what you will find at all times and how to act
Pregnancy and childbirth are very special moments but they must be treated responsibly. Learn also about the resuscitation of newborn puppies.
