Ok, this is the first of im sure, lots of questions!

This is my first litter, my parents bred another breed when i was younger, but i have never bred a litter myself. I do have a mentor (who is my boys breeder). My litter will be with my bitch using my boy aswell hopefully, he is experienced but with his previous two covering, he went back to his breeder and it was done there (i was not present).

How long do you allow them together to find out if she is ready? Do you give it a set amount of time before then deciding/realising she isnt quite ready?
So  how do people go about the mating, assuming i get the right time with her, do you have them both off lead, on lead? one on and one off? Then when they tie do you just hold the bitch or have an arm continuously underneath her to make sure she doesnt sit down?

I'm sure all these will become clear when my mentor comes over for the matings, but i like to be prepared!

edit: oh, and how often would you ideally mate them, i have heard 48hrs after the first mating and others who say every 24hrs for a maximum of 3 days?

If you have the luxury of having the pair at the same venue then do as nature intended and under supervision allow them to mate as often as they like (assuming the male is Young and fit), it is unlikely to be over longer period than five days (from ovulation to going over).

I have had males here under a domestic situation and simply had the dog with my girls including the one in season and only parted them if I went out (to avoid an unsupervised mating).

Males treated this way do not feel desperate to amte a bitch just because they are presented with oen, which menad they learn to be more reliable as to knowing the correct time.

Things seem to vary from breed to breed, some need a more hands on approach than others.

I was lucky to see 2 different breeders handling matings and they both did the same and achieved ties so that is the same thing I do. They each have door mat for the male to stand on for grip used at these times that the lads seem to recognise and get excited before they have seen the bitch.

Being very low to the ground it can be tricky and back breaking holding them for 45-50 mins in a tie, I now stand on the stairs with the dogs on the landing, easier to see everything is in the right place. Make sure you have had a wee first as you don't know how long it will take, I had to take over the holding when the stud owner was desperate to go following the coffee we had drank earlier.

I do not agree with putting 2 dogs together at the beginning of the season and leaving them to get on with it.  A stud had to have his penis amputated as the hair got caught up as the penis retracted cutting off the blood supply, only when he was screaming in pain did his owner realise there was something wrong but it was too late.

Having someone there to help who knows the procedure in your breed will be half the battle.

Dittto Brainless, let nature take it's course.

I've had stud dogs I use stay with me along with the owner it is so much easier doing it this way as everything does happen naturally and the dogs don't get the timing wrong.

The way I do it is that the dogs are off lead living together normally when we are around, they spend the day in the garden, the house lounging around and flirting, but often just relaxing, the are not continually trying to mate, though the stud usually doesn't take his eyes off my bitch. :-D They are separated on a night and if no-one is around able to be vigilant, but otherwise they have the freedom to suss one another out, flirt and wait for the right time, they don't need us to tell them, they tell us. :-)

When my girl is ready she will begin to stand properly and welcome the stud, who doesn't need a second invitation, once they have mated they will then be supported and positioned properly if need be, but you have the luxury of letting them decide when to mate, you need to just keep vigilant and read the signs of imminent mating. You don't need to lead or position as you would when visiting a stud.

My girl is generally viable for approx 3 peak days (but bitches do vary) after that she doesn't want to know and the stud happily understands it's over and is shipped off home again. Over those 3 peak days there is generally only one mating per day, that is without interference, maybe others would occur if we did not separate on a night-time too, but IMO once a day is enough anyway.

My bitch has always whelped on the time counted from the first mating, always spot on to the day, so I guess you could say that first mating could be the last too. :-)

This is how I do things, it always works great for me.

Yep I have had the same as you, Carriongton, only time I get longer mating period is with a bitch that has already had litters, who is desperate to be mated and the male is young and inexperienced enough to take up her offer. 

Experienced older boys have often told the bitches to stop being silly as it's not time yet, no matter how much of a floosie they are being ;)

I much prefer such arrangements where the dog and bitch stay at the same location than the kind of less natural ones where you visit and a mating is needed within an hour or so.  Especially with maidens it is nice for them to get to know each other and feel comfortable.