Hi guys,

My bitch failed to conceive the first time we tried. Now, we tried again and the third and final ending was yesterday.

I just have a few questions that I want cleared:

1. I know the events that happen during the 63 days of gestation. However, my question is how long does it take for the stud's sperm to swim through to the oviducts, meeting the oocytes?

2. Is there a way for me to increase the chances of the sperm to reach the oocytes? Like should she not run about so the swimming sperm remain undisturbed? Should she be positioned in a certain way etc?

3. Does this rate of swimming through her vary with dog sizes? I assume dog sperm size is similar across all breed sizes but I guess the size of the uterus will vary. So big breeds will have the sperm swim through a longer route? Any insight on this.

That's it for now.

Thanks all :)

Heathy spern can live for 3-5 days in a bitch and be ready and waiting for the egg to ripen. Ovulation is just the release of eggs and its when a bitch will allow a mating but they are not ready for fertilistion for a couple of days. In a really fertile dog, sperm can live for a week.

If you are worried about the quality of the sperm you can have it tested for quality, quantity and motility before mating. :)

Sperm is the same no matter the breed and yes the uterus will differ but then so does his member ;-)

When the bitch stands, she is ready for ovulation, she ovulates approx in the next 48hrs then the eggs have to mature to be fertilized in approx 2/3 days, a fit healthy proven dogs sperm will live approx 5-7 days he will fertilize all the eggs she produces. They attach to the horn approx 1-2 weeks after fertilzation. Like us bitches vary. But! the dog only fertilizes the eggs the bitch produces.

As I only have a small breed I lie the girls in my arms on their back with their bums elevated and place a cold wet tissue over the vulva to soothe it, this technique seems popular with several in my breed and the girls are happy to lie and get a fuss for 30 mins, it also means they can't go for a wee, the urethra is in the vagina so don't want any sperm washed away.

Although the urethra is in the vulva, the sperm are deposited against the cervix which is located anterior (higher up) to the outlet to the urethra.  Additionally within a few seconds of ejaculation, the sperm are en-route through the cervix via the uterus to the fallopian tubes. By the time the copulatory lock ceases the sperm are safely within the uterine cavity.  There is no danger of useful sperm being washed away by a bitch urinating shortly after mating.

Tipping a bitch up or holding her bottom end up is not needed after a normal mating, only required to aid AI where there is no tie, no prostatic wash of fluid and possibly no contractions from the bitch to aid the transit of the ejaculate.