I have a female German Spitz who is 29cm at the withers, and she is about to go into her third season. (I was told the second one would have been fine, but I didn't want to take any risks, even though plenty of Spitz owners breed them on their second). The vet has said she's mature enough to have one litter before she gets spayed.
Anyway, about a four-hour drive from me, there is a cream Pomeranian who is 20cm at the withers, and the owner said we could give it a go. I've seen a Pom and a Medium Spitz mate before, even if they had a few struggles... does anyone have any tips to help ensure a successful mating?
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Generally speaking, even if you aren't manually helping the dogs, it's always best to keep a close eye on the pair.
A ***** who isn't ready or isn't keen on the male can react aggressively, and some males don't position themselves correctly—basically, anything can happen...
Even if the size difference isn't that big, you'll need to assist the male and make sure the ***** doesn't get too restless, specifically to avoid any pain. Holding the dogs steady while they are "tied" is also recommended.
The most important thing is that both partners accept each other; if the ***** clearly isn't interested in the male, there's no point forcing or restraining her. Gently holding her during the mating is fine, but pinning her down so she can't get away if she's not into it is a definite no.
Hi, the answer to whether mating is possible is yes... A smaller male might need a bit of a boost during penetration so he doesn’t wear himself out (a stack of books has been used before, as long as it’s stable). As for the rest, whether it’s beforehand (health tests, bloodline research, legal requirements), during the pregnancy or after, the other members have already covered what needs to be said 😉 Take your time, your girl is at the right age and there’s a male available... But even if you wait until her next season to get everything sorted, it’s not a problem.
Thanks so much for the reply!
I wanted to be sure because even if he manages it, there’s the risk of an accident during the tie and them both getting hurt etc... I’m happy to have the extra info but basically I want to know if he’s the right stud or not... plus she won’t be in season for another 5 months! But I like to plan ahead.
To answer your question, yes, mating is definitely possible... A smaller male might need a bit of a boost during the process so he doesn't tire himself out (I've even seen people use a stack of books before, as long as it's steady!).
As for everything else—whether it’s the preparation (health screening, checking bloodlines, legalities), the pregnancy itself, or the aftermath—the other members have already covered the essentials 😉
Take your time; your girl is at a good age and there’s a male available... But even if you have to wait until her next season to get everything properly planned, it’s not a problem at all.
What about health tests, even without Kennel Club registration? Even if you know the dogs' pedigree, despite your girl not having papers herself, you likely have her parents' records (which you can ask the breeder for – it was quite irresponsible of them not to register your dog with the KC, by the way) to avoid any poorly managed inbreeding. Every litter carries risks: puppies being too big, complications during whelping, and so on... yes, there’s a real risk of things going wrong. I don't know how to prevent that; I’m not a professional in this field. And I completely disagree with what you’re saying. We all have to start somewhere, and everyone has a first time. But you absolutely shouldn't dive into breeding without proper know-how or solid knowledge. You don't just learn as you go; you take training courses, do placements with other breeders, consult your vet... and no, the moment you start breeding (even if it’s just once), you aren't just a private owner, you're a breeder (which is why the law requires a local authority breeding licence or registering the puppies with the Kennel Club). So, I'm sorry but it's the truth: you currently don't have enough knowledge on the subject. Your girl is young; you have plenty of time to brush up on your knowledge to avoid putting her at unnecessary risk.
She’s fully registered, 20 cm, from a Russian champion bloodline. And I know plenty of people who do this...
And what about health testing, even if she isn't KC registered?
Even though you might know the dogs' pedigree despite yours not having one, you probably have the parents' details (which you could ask the breeder for – it was pretty irresponsible of them not to register your dog with the Kennel Club, by the way) to avoid any poorly managed inbreeding.
Every litter comes with risks: puppies being too big, whelping complications, and the list goes on... yes, there is a risk that things could go wrong. I don't know how to avoid that; I'm not a professional in this field.
And I really don't agree with what you're saying. We all have to start somewhere, there's a first time for everyone. But you absolutely shouldn't dive into breeding without solid knowledge; you don't just learn as you go. You should take courses, do placements with other breeders, talk to a vet... and no, from the moment you start breeding (even if it's only once in your life), you aren't just a pet owner, you're a breeder (which is why the law requires a breeding licence or registering the puppies with the Kennel Club).
So, I'm sorry to say it, but it's the truth: you currently don't know enough about this. Your dog is young; you have time to brush up on your knowledge to avoid putting her through unnecessary risks.
Hi there, it seems you clearly don't know much about breeding; we keep saying it on this forum, but you can’t just become a breeder overnight. Kikaah has already explained the rest to you.
Excuse me, but at what point did I ask for advice on whelping? The vet has given me some info and I'm still doing my research. I've already got the heat lamp, puppy pen, milk, etc. I just want to know if the size difference between the 20cm toy and my girl, who is 29cm, is going to be a problem.
And there are plenty of breeders who start with zero knowledge and learn as they go... many of them were just regular pet owners to begin with, so give it a rest!
First of all, is she KC registered and has she been "confirmed" for breeding? (Same for the male). Most importantly, have you had her knees X-rayed? And what about other health screenings for the breed? (Ask the same for the male) to make sure she doesn't have puppies with health issues. If she's not registered, you'll need to look into a breeding licence from the local council (I believe this has been mandatory since 2016) if you want to receive any payment for the puppies. Think about the setup too: a whelping box, heat lamp... As for the mating itself, I don't have much advice other than to stay with them to make sure it all goes smoothly. Don't forget to get an ultrasound done. And make sure you have a stud contract with the owner of the male to avoid any legal trouble.
The puppies will be staying with us or going to family members, so they aren't for sale. Yes, there will be a contract; if no puppies are born, I’ll get a full refund. The male is KC registered, but my female isn't, though she's very "true to type"... people are often surprised she isn't registered (I don't really understand it myself, but the breeder said her parents were KC registered but she wasn't...?).
Financial compensation... you mean the sale price?
And regarding the mating, I just wanted to know if a height difference of nearly 4 inches would make things difficult, as the breeder isn't sure it'll work. I don't want to go down the artificial insemination route... she's a maiden, it feels a bit too clinical!
