Hi guys, with ovulation testing would you still do 2 matings? Stud dog owner is saying 1 and vet is saying 2 matings? Thanks for your advice.

One mating should be ok if the timing is correct

Agree with Tanya, my last two litters have only done one mating and both produced puppies. If the timing is right, the sperm lives for approx. 4 days anyway, so not much point doing another mating.

Have done 2 mating and single matings , when traveling long distances generally do one mating on optimum day. One mating should be more than enough

I usually do just the one mating 48 hours after ovulation

Wouldn't it depend on where you were up to with progesterone testing (just one test or multiple tests to identify the time of actual ovulation), whether you were travelling a long way, and how stressed the bitch is?

Last year when I drove my bitch to Poland, which turned out to be a bit short of 3000 miles, she had bloods done on the Friday, indicating we needed to be there for Monday, the vet reckoned Tuesday-Thursday as the window for mating (Tuesday and Thursday if doing 2, Wednesday if doing 1); got there Monday night and just going off my own stud dog's behaviour with her before we'd set off had her mated Monday night (day 8), then did a second progesterone test on the Tuesday night which indicated ovulation (day 9), mated again and the third and last time on the Thursday morning just before setting off home (day 11). No doubt we didn't need 3 matings, but I'd asked for 2 and the stud dog owner offered a third just in case :-)

We had a bitch over from the continent for my dog a couple of months earlier who was allegedly ready, but the stress of travel really set her back, and she was eventually mated on days 19 and 21 (her "normal" cycle would have been days 14 and 16). So in answer to your question I would always prefer 2 matings, because there seem to be so many variables involved for both stud dog and bitch.

Agree with Jay.  I have always gone for 2 covers when I've had the choice.  And have always allowed 3 when I've had visiting bitches for my boys.