Yorkie thinks she has puppiesm

My yorkie is 1 yr and 4 months old.  She is pretending she has puppies.  She took 2 of her stuffed toys and hid them in her bed.  She won't leave them and if the cat or our other dog goes near them she attacks them.  She is even licking them and moves them around by picking them up by the back of their necks.  It's so cute but very strange.  Why is she acting like she has a litter of puppies?

[Jaybay]

Did/ does she show any other signs of false pregnancy like breast enlargement or even lactation?  I'm honestly not sure if it's false pregnancy or simple possessiveness of her toys.  If your Yorkie has not been spayed, now is the time to do so.  A friend of mine had a female rottie who displayed false pregnancy symptoms with every heat.  She'd swell up, make herself a "birthing" spot, eventually strain as if giving birth and actually develop milk.  That would be followed by weeks severe depression.  It was really hard on her body to have this continually happen, so the vet recommended spaying.  No issues after that.

[bellasmomma]

She doesn't show any other signs of false pregnancy.  The stuffed dogs she is mothering have always just been chew toys along with several others.  I don't know what made her choose those two to mother.  She has never been possessive of them before as the other dogs play with them also.  She won't even leave them.  I have to force her outside to potty.  She still wanted to go with me when I was leaving... She goes with me everywhere in the car.  She seemed torn though so I brought the two "puppies" with us and they rode along with her in her booster seat...lol.  I haven't decided if we are going to get her spayed yet.  I would like her to have a litter but I'm scared.  She is so small... Only 5 lbs.  I love her so much and wouldn't want anything to happen to her.  If I decide to I am going to have tests on her to make sure she has a healthy heart, liver etc. People look at me like I'm crazy when I say that.  But u really don't think it would be a bad idea.   Well I still hope this thing waterver she is goin through doesn't last too long... I want my playful little girl back.

[ginger899]

Even without any other obvious symptoms this could be 'false pregnancy' in the sense that her hormones are probably a little out of balance. That may be why she has developed this obsession with 'mothering' those toys.

Yes, from a human point of view, there is something cute about this, and even slightly amusing. I know. I'd feel the same, and smile.
But from the dog's point of view, there is some level of anxiety, even if only mild.
Also, there is nothing about these shows of 'mothering' objects which has anything whatsoever to do with anything except hormonal balance, strange as that may sound.
Take away the cause of these hormone-swings, (ie have her spayed) and you will probably find this doesn't happen anymore.

A tiny little thing like she is may well not have a totally positive pregnancy/birth experience anyway, and you will have big vet bills, perhaps. Not only for her, but for all the pups who will need attention (worming/shots, etc) Then you will have the serious and not always successful problem of re-homing those pups!
Also spaying her will protect her greatly against many serious illnesses perhaps in later life. Think about it

(Sorry, I don't mean to lecture you! I am sure you have thought of all this!)

[Ghilly]

Gathering toys and nesting behavior are classic symptoms of a phantom pregnancy.  Dogs going through a phantom pregnancy can exhibit signs from simply gathering their toys around them and cleaning them to actually producing milk and developing a swollen abdomen.  The symptoms usually begin a few weeks after the dog's heat cycle has ended.  In mild cases, the symptoms subside by themselves after a couple of weeks.  In more serious cases, sometimes hormone shots are necessary to level out the female's hormones so that she will return to her normal behavior.

In a five pound yorkie, the safest thing to do is to have her spayed.  Dogs who display signs of phantom pregnancies tend to repeat these behaviors time after time, some do it after every heat cycle.  It's stressful for her and it's stressful for you.  Rather than let her have to go through this every time she goes into heat, the safest thing to do is to have her spayed.  This will even out her hormones and it will also remove her chances of developing pyometra, which is a life-threatening infection of the uterus.  Since she is so young, it will also lessen her chances of developing canine mammary cancer by as much as 85%.  Had you had her spayed before she went into her first heat it would have lowered her chances of developing mammary cancer to near zero.

If it were my dog, I would have her spayed.  It will prevent a lot of problems in the future, both with more phantom pregnancies and with other health problems associated with intact female dogs.

Ghilly

[bellasmomma]

Wow!  You all have given me a lot to think about.  Thank you.

[Ghilly]

You're very welcome, Bellasmomma.  Yorkies, being toy dogs, tend to live long lives, and yours is just a puppy with many, many happy years ahead of her.  I know you will do what's right for her, you obviously love her and care for her very much or you wouldn't be here asking questions.  Please keep us posted on her progress!  Welcome to the MedHelp Dog's Community!

Ghilly