Dog mating is far more complicated (and far more expensive) than human mating. Dogs do not instinctively know how to do the deed and females do not instinctively know how to whelp. Before you decide to breed your dog, please check out the facts about mating and whelping for your dog’s breed. Some breeds like the bulldog can only deliver puppies by cesarian section.
Only breed the best dogs possible so that their puppies can find homes. Dogs should be physically impressive, possess amiable temperaments and pass whatever medical test their breed association recommends. Keep in mind that toy dog males often are too small to mount females. They wind up being “lap-bred,” which means the whole canine mating act is done with the female in between your legs and the male balanced on your lap. Breeding dogs requires a major commitment and a willingness to appear silly.
Natural Breeding
There are three main ways to get a female dog pregnant – from the old-fashioned method; from artificial insemination with fresh semen or artificial insemination with frozen semen. Although the old-fashioned way seems the cheapest and easiest, it does not guarantee pregnancy. Male and female dogs may injure each other during the breeding process. After copulation, dogs “tie”, as in their genitals swell so they are locked together for about twenty minutes. But a tie does not guarantee pregnancy.
Male and female dogs do not always get along and may refuse to mate. Although male dogs have the reputation of “being dogs”, they do have personal preferences as to what female dogs they mate with and may refuse a female for no known reason other than he does not like her or she does not like him. Virgin male dogs will not know what to do and may have to be positioned to mount the correct anatomical opening.
Artificial Insemination
There are a lot of advantages to artificial insemination. The male and female dogs do not need to meet and risk the chance of not getting along or injuring each other. Females do not have to make long, stressful journeys to where the stud dog is kept. If a veterinarian performs the insemination, then the female has the best chance of becoming pregnant.
Sometimes stud dogs that have proven to be aggressive with females in the past mount a dummy while the female in season is in the room. The dog ejaculates into a container and the semen is inserted into the desired female within 48 hours. Some kennels will offer fresh semen in case the female cannot travel. Most offer frozen semen, which has a longer shelf life.
Other Problems with Doggy Love
Female dogs come into heat twice a year for three weeks at a time. Ideally, females should be bred after their first heat to ensure they are physically ready to produce puppies. Dog sperm can live up to one week inside of a female’s body. This is fortunate for the dog breeder since females are most fertile on the 10thto 14th day of their season.
But deciding when the female’s heat begins can be difficult. A veterinarian may be needed to help determine when the female is most fertile. It may require multiple expensive insemination attempts in order to produce just one litter of puppies.
Additional Resources
Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook. Debra M. Eldredge, DVM, et al. Howell Book House; 2007.
The Veterinarians’ Guide to Your Dog’s Symptoms. Michael S. Garvey, DVM, et al. Chronicle Books; 1999.
