It is difficult to know how to mate dogs, especially if it is your first time. It’s not ideal to force your dog into a mate with a little female. You must allow things to flow naturally.
How Do You Go About Mating Dogs?
Your bitch and stud can have unpredictable interactions in the beginning. When introducing dogs as mating partners, the best practice is to let the dogs meet before the mating day.
The first impressions can be crucial and set the tone for a long-lasting relationship between the dogs. You should choose your dogs with consideration for their temperament, age, and breed. This will help you determine the quality of your litter.
You need to introduce the dogs together if your dog has been known to fight with other dogs. This will make sure that the dogs get along well on their mating day.
A prior meeting will eliminate any anxiety towards stranger animals. As a dog owner, you will be able to see if the bitch or stud has similar temperaments that can be passed on to the litter.
Play with the dogs and make sure they get to know each other’s smells during their first meeting. Although you might not expect it, this first meeting can help speed up the process of mating by getting the animals to feel at ease with each other. This will improve the chances of successful dog breeding.
You can also evaluate if the dogs are compatible during the initial meeting. You must ensure that they are both healthy for the best results.
Keep in mind to take a look at her heat cycle to ensure she is able to conceive. We’ll discuss this aspect in detail below.
Pick the Right Day for the Pitch!
If you don’t know the season of the bitch, your efforts could go sour. Make sure to record the day she started bleeding in order to ensure the entire process goes smoothly.
For the week following her bleeding day, you should not introduce any dog partners to mating. She will likely run away if she is not able to stand any other dog. You can arrange introductory meetings for her during this time. Dogs can play together, become familiar with one another, and even flirt.
It is important to wait till the next week. This is the best time to introduce dogs to mating. She can be very active and will even run off to find her male. You must keep your eye on your bitch and take the necessary steps to allow things to flow naturally.
The basic rule of the thumb is to introduce your dogs on day 8. To make a litter, you can keep them together on the ninth to eleventh and thirteenth days of your bitch’s cycle.
You can also ask her for possible signs. If she isn’t ready, she might just sit there or snap.
Mating Inexperienced Dogs
You should be aware of the potential dangers when you introduce inexperienced dog partners to mating. Be sure both owners are present.
Both dogs might feel anxious if they are new to each other. There might be a variety of issues – the dogs may feel shy or aggressive, and they could learn to communicate with each other. The male may not be able to mount the female or the female might start yapping at him.
You need to watch your dog closely to help them. Talk to your dog in a calm voice to calm them. You don’t want your dog to be scared by you shouting at them or being harsh to them. For successful mating, you want them to feel relaxed. This stage is not the best for anxiety.
While it is important to monitor your dog, it is also necessary not to distract them.
If they have problems with locking or penetration, you can help them, but it is best to remain silent and invisible if possible.
Your dogs will become distracted when you are in the area. You will find that they will play with you more than with their mate, which is what you want.
Don’t rush the process. Even if they have been friends for years, it can take several hours or even days to get comfortable with each other. This is especially true for novice sires and dams.
You can bring your favorite toys and blankets from home to help them get used to the environment. This will help them feel at ease and aid them in the mating process.
Breeding can be a very long and difficult process. You can help your dogs when they need it, but don’t get too involved.
Dogs should be Leashed Immediately
I don’t mean to be negative, but it is essential that your dogs are kept leashed when you introduce dog partners for mating. This is to allow you some control. Make sure that your dog doesn’t hurt the bitch. You never know what they will do when they meet.
To reduce tension, you can keep your dogs leashed but let them run free. Allow them to interact on their own. Even if they are feeling awkward or completely ignored, don’t force them to interact.
The first interaction should be brief. Allow them to touch each other’s noses and smell each other. If all goes well, let them play together with their leashes still on. When you both feel they are having fun and not feeling anxious or afraid, let them go.
They will enjoy each other’s company and may be able to form a quick bond that will lead to a quick mating.
Remember to let your dogs out at the correct time. If you wait too long, your dog might feel uncomfortable.
You can achieve the right balance by paying attention to your dog’s comfort and mood.
Select a Confined Space
Consider the environment when introducing dogs to mating. When you feel the dogs enjoy each other, it’s time to search for a suitable breeding area.
You should concentrate on finding a place that will allow your dogs to be as relaxed as possible. It is a good idea to keep them at the stud’s house. Because male dogs are territorial, it is a good idea to keep them indoors.
For successful mating, it is best to choose a small area. You don’t have to make it a small room. Just give your pets enough space to live in and have fun.
Also, make sure that there are no other dogs in the area you choose to breed. This could distract the couple. This can also cause jealousy among other dogs, and they may end up fighting for their female.
The best place to breed is the private one, where the male is present. If your dog is attempting to mate for the first time, you might need to help him mount the bitch.
Allow them to play in the area for a while. When the bitch is ready to go, she will let the stud lick her vulva.
The bitch will signal her male by raising her tail and keeping it away from the way. This is when the male should approach the bitch from behind. The two dogs are now bred.
Conclusion
Although breeding is a long process, it is worth taking your time. Thus, do not rush. Make sure your dog is happy and healthy in order to breed successfully.
Introduce dog mating partners gradually. Play with them and monitor the bitch’s heat cycle. When the time is right, get them close and create the right environment.
It may take several attempts to make it successful but with the right techniques, you can master the art and science of breeding.
As we always say at Our Dogs World 101 “May Your Home Be Filled With Love And Dog Hair”
Mark
Founder of Our Dogs World 101.
This has been a very helpful post. There were some basics that I already knew. But there were a whole array of tips you gave us here that can really make a difference. I didn’t know that bringing blankets or stuff they like from home could help them feel more relaxed. I will sure implement that.
Glad you enjoyed the post Ann.
Please forgive my ignorance on the subject, but how often does the dog have a mating cycle. Is it once a month kind of like humans? Or is it more often or less? I have never had a dog that was not spayed or neutered. In the future, we would like to get a purebred Boston terrier, and then we may need to know these things.
Hi AL most dogs come into heat about every 6 months.
Your smaller breeds can come on heat 3 times a year, while my English Mastiff which is regarded as a giant breed comes on heat once a year.
Mark
Very informative article here on dog breeding for those of us newbies. It is still hard for me to call the female dog a bitch! It is a shame there has to be such a negative connotation with the word nowadays. 🙁 Still, this is intriguing.
What if the two dogs never start to warm up to each other? How long do you wait to see if they will adjust? Or do you just move on to a new partner?
Also, in the past, I have seen issues where a male gets stuck inside a female. What do you do in a situation like that?
Also, is there a size recommendation for breeding? Like would you not want to breed two dogs that are largely different in height and stature, or does it not matter?
Thanks for all the help.
Hi Ashley,
I’m with you on the female dog being called a bitch (Its even hard typing the word)
Speaking with breeders I know if two dogs never warm to each other then unfortunately you will never get them to breed.
A male and female dog stuck together while mating is a natural thing.
However, if you notice that the dogs are tied for too long and that it’s really too painful for them, you can stroke the female dog gently on the head. What this does is help the dog to calm down and relax all the muscles so that the male dog can slowly separate from the female dog.
While there really is no size recommendation for breeding you wouldn’t want to try breeding say an English Mastiff with a Chihuahua LOL!
In saying that the Bullmastiff originated from crossing an English Bulldog with a English Mastiff.
Thanks for the great questions Ashley and I hope I have answered them for you?
Mark