How to Know Dogs Mated Correctly

Mating dogs requires careful planning and should take place under the supervision of an experienced breeder. Dogs can become stressed and fail to mate correctly, while if they do mate and form a "tie" they must be kept calm afterwards to make sure neither dog gets injured while they wait for the swelling to subside and the tie to release.

Things You'll Need

  • Dam and sire
  • Secluded yard, garage or shed
  • Muzzle
  • Cushion or platform (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select your sire and dam well ahead of time. Female dogs usually come into heat at around 6 months old and approximately every 6 months thereafter. A female should have at least three seasons before breeding her. You can anticipate when the female will come into heat by counting the months from her last season.

    • 2

      Count the days from the time the dam begins to show a bloody discharge. By the 11th day she is likely to be ready to "stand" for the male for the first time, and will continue to be ready to mate for approximately 15 more days.

    • 3

      Withhold food from both dogs on the morning of the planned mating. Dogs may not become sexually aroused if they have full stomachs.

    • 4

      Bring the dogs together in a place that is both secure and private. They will be able to focus better if they have no distractions. Make sure that they cannot escape and run off at any point in the process, and prevent any other dogs from coming close.

    • 5

      Fit the dam with a muzzle, especially if it is her first mating. She may panic and attack the male, who could then lose interest in her.

    • 6

      Give them time to work it out for themselves, particularly if the stud dog is experienced. The male is smaller than the female it may need to be raised up on cushions or a platform in order to reach. However, if you are mating two dogs of the same breed it is unlikely that the size difference will be significant.

    • 7

      Hold the dam still if necessary to enable the stud dog to position himself and enter her. It is not unusual for the female to cry during the process. Once the stud dog has finished mating with her, the head of the penis becomes swollen while still inside the dam, which makes it impossible for him to withdraw until the swelling goes down. This is called the "tie."

    • 8

      Keep the dogs calm while they wait for the "tie" to end. The male will usually swing his leg over so that the dogs are positioned rear to rear. They can remain this way for up to an hour, and it is important during this time to prevent any activity so that neither dog gets injured.

    • 9

      Repeat the mating 3 times at 48-hour intervals. If the dogs "tie" well each time, they have been mated correctly. However, you should keep the dam away from other male dogs for the remainder of her season to avoid getting puppies fathered by more than one male.