I have been helping a friend this weekend who has had a bitch to stay for mating with her dog.
this is a smallish breed and the bitch is a little taller than the dog. We have managed a couple of slip matings so far. He gets in there but she does't seem to grip him. You can see him swell at the base (sorry if this is too much information) but he is outside the girl so they are not actually tying. I tried to hold him in position but he still slipped out.
We plan to try again today. Just wondering if anyone has any tips which might help achieve the tie. I am thinking of putting a book or something down for him to stand on just in case it is the height which is causing the problem.

I have heard of folk standing the male on telephone directories to overcome the height difference.

You hear of so many OOPs matings between hugely different sized breeds it makes you wonder how they do it.

In your other thread you say he stays put till he stops thrusting so there should be a pregnancy as you don't need a tie.

I would try each day as she may just not be ready yet. 

I am thinking of putting a book or something down for him to stand on just in case it is the height which is causing the problem.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips which might help achieve the tie.  Have you/they a sloping area of garden or patio with a small step - might just help....

I have just had my friend on the phone. She tried again this morning with a book under the mat for the dog to stand on but still the same result. Thrusting right inside but when he started to swell she said  the bits which swell were outside the bitch and this sort of made the rest come out even with her husband trying to keep him on top of the bitch.
(I have been asked to return later today as hubby has apparently put his foot down and said that if she wants to breed dogs then she will have to do it without his help! He was a bit squeamish about seeing a dog out in all his glory!) 
He has been used a couple of times before this and has easily achieved a tie. the bitch is a maiden. (the dog, not the husband)

It could be that the bitch isn't quite ready hence not holding on to him??

We have a little platform for the boys to use if they are having difficulty reaching the bitches, occasionally that extra inch is all they need.

Haha my hubby used to hide upstairs when I had a stud dog in case he might be asked to help. Your friend is lucky her hubby helped at all! Good luck with your next attempt.

We stand either male or female on folded up vet bedding, depending on who is taller, works everytime. good luck