Mating dogs: rules and features of mating pets

A few words about knitting

The term “mating” refers to the process of mating of individuals, after which fertilization occurs. If the pregnancy proceeds well and without complications, then the mother will eventually give birth to healthy puppies.

Usually there are more demands placed on a male dog than on a female dog. If we are talking about breeding, it is important that the dog has not only certain physical, but also psychological qualities (not too cowardly or aggressive).

Some believe that purebred individuals can happen as they wish, because their bodies are supposedly no different from mongrels and stray dogs. But that's not true.

When breeding dogs during estrus, human accompaniment should be provided from the very beginning of fertilization until the birth of the babies, especially if the animals have high breeding value. To do this, a person needs to have special knowledge about the animal, about the bitch’s pregnancy and much more. Most often, four-legged animals require assistance during childbirth.

To begin with, the bitch should be prepared for mating and, at a minimum, wait until she is physically ready for this. The fact is that four-legged animals reach sexual maturity early: from 5 months - males and from 6 months - females.

But this does not mean that you can bring them together at such an early age. It is advisable that both partners are over 1 year old, very large dogs - at least 2 years old. Otherwise, the fragile bitch will have a very difficult time with pregnancy, and the young male will give birth to weak or even non-viable puppies.

Fertilization should be carried out on the second, and preferably on the third estrus. It happens once every six months. Thus, the ideal age of a bitch is 18-20 months. It is also better not to breed old individuals (over 6-7 years old), since they do not have the strength and health necessary to produce offspring.

2 weeks before the planned mating, both future parents should be treated for parasites: use flea collars or drops on the withers. It is also important to deworm your four-legged animals. While the puppies are gestating, the female cannot be handled, so all manipulations must be done in advance.

It is necessary to visit a veterinarian for an examination to make sure that the wet-nose is completely healthy and ready to reproduce. You will also find out exactly what day the bitch should be bred from your veterinarian. The specialist will do an ovulation test and an ultrasound, which can help identify problems with the reproductive system.

It’s difficult to answer unequivocally on what day to breed a dog. On average, females are ready to mate on days 10-14 of the cycle, but each creature has its own body. Some individuals are ready to conceive within a week after the start of estrus, while others need to wait 17 days. This takes into account that the duration of the monthly cycle is from 15 to 30 days.

As a rule, ladies are brought to the territory of their boyfriend so that the dog is not distracted by anything and is in a familiar environment. The owners of both animals help their charges and hold them. But if one of them resists, don’t insist. It is advisable to prepare a muzzle for an aggressive animal (usually it is put on the bitch, since she will most likely try to bite the gentleman).

It is necessary to fix partners if this is the first mating for both of them or if they bark at each other. In other cases, fixation is not required.

When fertilization has occurred, the female's genitals swell and grasp the male's organ in a lock. A couple connected by a lock can stand like this from several minutes to 2 hours. It is important for owners to ensure that the expectant mother does not sit down or lie down at this time, as... this will damage the male's sexual organ. To make it easier for the boy to stand, you can carefully throw his paw over the partner’s croup so that the animals stand with their backs to each other.

If you are not sure of the positive outcome of the meeting, the next one can be repeated - but not earlier than 24 hours.

It is not enough to keep your ward in good physical shape and feed him well for him to be considered an excellent candidate for fertilization. The owner will have to additionally take care of the following:

1. Preparation of documents so that the born puppies can later be included in the official pedigree and so that, when they grow up, they can also participate in breeding.
2. Examination by a veterinarian. The doctor will identify hidden defects that may become an obstacle to procreation. If something like this is revealed, then mating cannot be carried out: it is dangerous for both the mother and her babies. Also at the clinic, the pet will be tested to determine how fertile she is and whether she is able to conceive and bear healthy offspring.
3. No later than a month before mating, you will have to be vaccinated and treated against external and internal parasites.
4. Get tested for sexually transmitted infections.
5. One day before meeting the female, the male dog must be bathed and, if necessary, taken to a groomer. But you can’t bathe a girl during her period. This is fraught with diseases of the reproductive system.
6. On the day of mating, the receiving party (usually the dog’s owners) prepares the premises. You need to put things in order, remove everything unnecessary, so that nothing distracts.
7. Before mating, both animals are walked.

On day X, the male is given half as much food as usual, so that he does not crave at the most inopportune moment and does not experience heaviness in his stomach.

Consequences of unwanted mating

The results of random intercourse include:

• infection with infectious diseases and sexually transmitted pathologies;
• obtaining “defective” offspring - outbred puppies, babies with hereditary disorders and abnormalities;
• with an excessively large partner - problems with gestation and subsequent births in small individuals.

Pairing is difficult, although the procedure seems simplest. It must be carried out under the control of both owners, this is the only way to count on the expected results. In any case, especially during primary intercourse for one of the partners, a preliminary consultation with an experienced dog handler and veterinarian is necessary.

Phases of estrus in a bitch

A girl's sexual cycle includes 4 stages. Each stage has its own characteristics.

Proestrus

. Lasts from 7 to 10 days, starting from the first days of the cycle. External signs: swollen loop. During this period, the lady is not ready for mating and reacts aggressively to males, while she herself shows interest in them.

Estrus

. Lasts from 4 to 12 days. At this time, the egg moves to the uterus. Ovulation usually begins 2 days after this phase. The expectant mother is ready for the reunion and willingly lets the dog near her.

Metestrus

. If the lady is not fertilized, her body goes into the next phase - anestrus. The attraction decreases, she no longer allows male dogs, the noose takes on its usual appearance.

Anestrus

. This is a state of rest. Continues until the next heat.

If the animal has not been in heat for more than 9 months, this is a reason to consult a doctor. The same can be said about bleeding too often.

Castle phenomenon

Why does a dog dig holes in the yard: what to do

The purpose of an animal's existence is to give birth. Dogs do not mate for the sake of pleasure - a natural physiological process has the ultimate goal of prolongation of the species. Crossing and sticking together is a guarantee of fertilization and a successful outcome of intercourse.

Important! Dogs stuck together are pitiful and helpless. They are dependent on each other and vulnerable.

At this time, a serious process is underway in the female’s body - sperm tend to the uterus and end up deep in the womb. The risk of loss of material is eliminated - the female has every chance of becoming pregnant. Another important point is that when the lovers open up, the weakened partner will not have the strength for another contender. “Love Lock” is insurance for a male dog to conceive puppies from him.

This behavior and physiology is characteristic of many school animals. The pack is divided into alpha males and weak, unworthy competitors. Strong animals strive to be the first to cover the female. The “lock” phenomenon is observed in the closest relatives of dogs - wolves, as well as foxes and hyenas.

When breeding dogs during heat: what day is suitable for mating

On average, females are mated on the 11th, 12th or 13th day of their period, but for some it can be a longer period - from 10 to 15 days. It is difficult to say which day is ideal for fertilization. Some owners trust their experience and intuition, while others trust specialists.

The concept and timing of ovulation

The ovulation period lasts about 5 days, starting around the 13th day after the start of bleeding. But all the dates are conditional: each four-legged lady has her own cycle, so it’s worth taking her for mating on the 2-3 day of ovulation - it’s more reliable.

Calculation of the best day based on external signs

You don't have to rely 100% on these signs, but they can be used as an auxiliary method. So, if a bitch is ready to meet a dog, she will be restless and disobedient. Madame may also freeze and move her tail to the side when you stroke her back.

Calculation using modern tools

Not everyone, even the most experienced breeders, can accurately determine on what day it is better to breed a dog. The best option is to contact a veterinarian who will do a progesterone test. Based on its results, the specialist will tell you on what day the dog is ready for mating.

Age restrictions

Physiological maturity (the ability to reproduce) occurs before growth and development are completed. In addition, small dogs “mature” earlier than large ones. Taking these features into account, age restrictions for mating have been introduced:

• Toys and small ones: females - from 15 months, males - from 12 months.
• Medium: females - from 18 months, males - from 15 months.
• Large: females - from 20 months; males - from 18 months.
• Giant: females and males - from 22 months.

Veterinarians do not recommend untethering a dog older than 4 years.

The mating process depends on the nature and individual characteristics of the dogs.

Breed characteristics

For a successful mating, it is important to take into account not only the days of the female’s cycle and the characteristics of the male, but also the breed of the animal. The belonging of dogs to one or another variety can radically change the principle of mating.

Large breeds

Representatives of large breeds, for example, Caucasian Shepherds, Alabais, St. Bernards, Huskies, etc., should be adopted no earlier than one and a half years of age, ideally at 2 years. If you do this earlier, you can ruin the health and psyche of the wet-nosed ones. In a large female, you need to skip the first 2 heats and breed only on the 3rd.

It is important to take into account the size of the individuals: they should not be the same for a boy and a girl. Otherwise, half the litter will be born defective. It is imperative that one of the couple is larger. Usually boys are bigger.

When it comes to large quadrupeds, it is ideal if both or at least one of them is experienced. Something goes wrong - the owners will not be able to cope with their oversized comrades. It is advisable for both to wear muzzles so that they do not inadvertently bite either each other or their owners.

Medium breeds

These include pugs, Jack Russell terriers, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, sharpeis, etc. Usually, medium-sized dogs are not aggressive, so muzzles are rarely put on them. But the presence of a collar is mandatory - it will be convenient for the owner to hold the ward by it.

Small breeds

Small ones are a Chihuahua, a Yorkshire Terrier, a Russian Toy Terrier, a lapdog, etc. These kids require almost no help during the task, but this does not mean that they can be left alone without any control. It is convenient for small dogs to be placed on some elevated surface, for example, on a table.

Diagnostics

Any discharge from a dog's loop requires attention from its owner. But his particular concern, in addition to the above, should be:

• the occurrence of severe thirst;
• deterioration in coordination of movements;
• bloody trail after urination;
• swollen condition of the animal's loop.

If you notice at least one of these manifestations, your pet should be taken to the veterinarian. After all, such symptoms are a direct indication of the inflammatory process in the uterus. There the animal will be examined and the necessary tests will be performed, including:

• laboratory tests of blood and urine;
• bacteriological examination of the microflora of the urinary tract and vagina;
• vaginal smear for cytology;
• abdominal x-ray;
• Ultrasound;
• biopsy of vaginal abnormal tissue;
• examination of the vagina and cervix;
• test determination of possible damage by brucellosis and herpes;
• coagulation (for poor blood clotting), etc.

There are a lot of diagnostic methods, and they allow you to determine the exact picture of the illness, as well as prescribe appropriate therapy.

Features of the first mating

The first mating must be approached very seriously, since the animal does not yet have experience, and it may do something wrong. It is desirable that at least one of the partners is “experienced” in this matter.

If an animal is engaged in procreation for the first time, it will take him more time to understand what is being done and how. Also keep in mind that the dogs will need some time to get to know and get used to each other. But it may also happen that the boy runs away from the girl, afraid of her. Or he will torture his partner with unsuccessful hookups.

In this case, the owner of the dog will have to put the dog’s paws on the girl’s back, place the pelvis in the right place and direct the boy’s genitals into the girl’s loop.

Tips and tricks

Experienced dog handlers advise adhering to the following recommendations on how to bring dogs together for the first time:

• Before the procedure, the animals must be allowed to get to know each other, otherwise they may show aggression;
• if the bitch was not mated, it is recommended to breed her only with an experienced male who has had experience of successful matings;
• It is advisable that the bitch does not go to the toilet for the first time after fertilization;
• After mating, the animals must be fed, as they will be tired.

It is possible to determine if a pet is pregnant no earlier than after 3-4 weeks. To do this, you can use special tests or do an ultrasound.

When is human help needed?

The help of a professional will come in handy if your wet-nose has not previously bred, and you yourself are a novice dog breeder. The specialist will also assist when it comes to mating purebred animals, which have strict requirements. A knowledgeable person will calculate favorable days for mating, carefully study the characteristics of both partners and will personally be present at the mating.

Also, invite a specialist or experienced breeder to attend the female's birth to prevent possible complications. The services of such people may seem expensive to you, but it is advisable to play it safe and pay rather than treat your friend later after an unsuccessful meeting or pregnancy with negative consequences.

General symptoms indicating illness

In addition to discharge, which is not always a full indicator of the dog’s health, it is important to monitor its behavior during pregnancy and respond to any changes. You should be concerned about your dog's health in the following cases:

• loss of appetite and interest in food;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• irritated or depressed state of the animal.

The general apathetic state of the dog, combined with a lack of appetite, is an alarming symptom.

Requirements for partners

Participants in mating must not only be physically ready for sexual intercourse. There are other requirements for them:

• an impeccable pedigree, in which the “noble family” is reflected at least up to the 4th generation;
• experience of participating in shows with high scores: “excellent” is desirable for a male, “good” is possible for a female;
• good physical health, confirmed by a medical certificate;
• adequate mental and behavioral reactions.

Compliance with the listed criteria is checked before breeding dogs. Under the condition of breeding, even more claims are made regarding the selection of candidates for mating.