A lot of you will know that I never get bitches tested, as my own boys let me know when to cart my girls of to their chosen suitors.

Well, I have a girl that is now two and a half (this is a breed best mated at 18 months.)  She has only ever shown a slight amount of swelling for a few days, gone back down, then nothing!  No bleeding, no discharge.  And not one of my boys had ever shown any interest in her.

For once, I actually wanted her mated to one of my own boys, but have just assumed that she hasn't ever ovulated.  When she had her annual health check a couple of months ago, I discussed this with my vet, who suggested she go in for testing as soon as she showed signs of a season. 

She was swollen last Thursday night, so I took her in for testing on Friday.  I then received a phone call to say go back Sunday.  Saw another vet this time, who said that when they get the "mate in a couple of days message" that would be for a normal bitch, which would probably mean that my girl needed mating right away.  Does that make sense (I don't normally do this.)

I got a phone call Sunday night advising that she needed to go back today.  Another different vet when I took her today, and I got a phone call tonight to say mate in the next day or two.  This is in house testing, premate.  Anyhows,,,,,  I tried my boy with her tonight, and got a slip mating, will try again tomorrow.  But is there really any chance of pregnancy - this is only day 4!!!

Experiences please - has anyone honestly had a bitch mated this early in a season?  Bear in mind that she has only ever been swollen for a few days anyway.

Hi Jean  I don't really know the answer but with my girl the vet said to mate on day 7, took her to the stud and he was interested in her but she wasn't having none of it. Took her back to him daily and she didn't tie until day 10.

My fried didnt seperate her two intact dogs until day 5 as she said he couldn't get her pregnant until much later. She ended up with 16 puppies most of which died because the bitch was only 7 month oldand couldn't feed them all. She was a Neopolitan Mastif sire was a lurcher. Such ugly things.

> most of which died because the bitch was only 7 month oldand

Poor, poor bitch.  :-(

My first lab had 3 litters. The first one she was mated day 12 and produced 5 pups. The 2nd she was mated day 24 and produced 6 pups and the 3rd litter she stood day 2 and she took with 5 puppies. All of these matings took place after premate testing.
Her grand daughter also stood and produced a litter on a day 2 mating.

Wow!  Day 2, thank you so much for giving me hope.  I would just love a pup off her before she is spayed.  I had almost given up hope.

My bitch mated on day 7 and went on to have 7 puppies.
It was her first & only litter (planned).

So mountaindogs did you have her bloods took on day 1 then?

I took blood from my girl on day 6, Idexx phoned the next day to say get her mated straight away.  She'd missed twice before and ended up with 3 b eautiful pups.

one of my girls mated day 3 and had 7 puppies :-)

No she came into season and was standing the next day so rushed her to the vets and did a premate test. They said mate straight away so we did I didnt think it was correct but went with it and we got puppies.

Did she only mate on that day aswell?

Did she only mate on that day aswell?

We mated that afternoon and 48 hours later.