I have a girly here whose idexx bloods came out today at 6.2 (not sure of the unit) from a day 13 blood test. She has been standing from monday (day 12) and had mated monday, tuesday and again today. The chap from Idexx had recommended that we test again this friday (day 16) as by saturday when the results come through he thinks she may be ready to ovulate.

I own the stud and he is very keen to mate and so is my girl but how often do I let them mate? They live together but I am separating them to supervise the mating. This is upsetting them somewhat as they miss each other and I wanted some opinions as to whether I should carry on separating them.

I don't want my stud dogs sperm count to go down as my bitch reaches ovulation but on the other hand I don't want to stress them out by separating them. I am also a little worried that she wont stand all the way until saturday or beyond seen as though they have been keen over the last few days.

Thanks guys x

Your dog is the one that knows, i wouldnt bother with idexx if the 'experts' are happy to get on with it, i would although let his sperm count recover and have 48 hours between matings. Yes it may stress them out but so will tie after tie after tie takes its toll on his reserves

You don't want too long a window of mating or the due date window will be equally as long waiting for labour to start.

I agree about the 48hr gap, the sperm last at least that long, the eggs don't ripen till 48hrs after ovulation and live for a few days after that, the days they have mated are the normal ones someone not using blood tests would opt for so I think the dogs know what they are doing.

Hope to hear you have pups in approx 9 weeks time.

> I own the stud and he is very keen to mate and so is my girl

I always listen to the dogs!  :-)

The worry is though that if we leave them to get on with it, can my dog remake the sperm every day? I can't seem to find much information about it on the internet. I suppose they can as they would mate many times in a wild situation.

I understand about the window being too large but hopefully injunction with the blood tests I'll know when she is ovulating.

Still can't decide what to do!

Well, men seem to be capable of remaking sperm every day (or more often!), so it seems likely dogs can too!

I agree with rabid.  And, although it was not planned, I had one of my stud dogs mate a visiting bitch years ago, mating a bitch early in the morning.  That teatime he ran into my living room and caught an in season bitch of my own.

Both bitches whelped.  He had obviously not had problems with replenishing!

I agree with the replenishing of sperm.

The plan then:
CHV injection & last blood test today. Results of blood test tomorrow plus some arrival of ovulation pads - this is day 17. Hopefully she will ovulate then.

Dogs are sepatated and no mating yesterday. Will plan to mate today, tomorrow and once daily until interest is lost.

Fingers crossed.
x

Hi Amibobs.  How is it going, are the dog and bitch still interested?

I found this article earlier, it helps explain what the normal sperm production should be and what may influence it.

http://www.labbies.com/reproduction4.htm

I was amazed at how little semen is produced in the smaller breeds, no wonder we are keen that it all goes in the right direction.

Many thanks for the link. Interesting.
Well the lab rang on saturday and said fridays test came out at 36 which meant she had ovulated. He advised mating on Saturday which we did and then again on sunday both with 25 min ties (the longest so far). Not sure if we should let them mate again today. If they are both interested still I will see.

Would you think I should count the Saturday mating as day 1? They did mate on friday also.

Thanks,
Aimi.

No.  Day one was Friday, when they first mated.  You can count from your ovulation date to get a more accurate date.

friday it is then.
I will book in for a scan then based on that info.
Thanks, Aimi

Fingers crossed for you.