Hi, I have a maiden bitch on day 6 of her season and want to mate her to my male, also a first timer, because of the bank holiday I am struggling to find a vet who can do a progesterone or cytology test and get the results back to me on day's 10-12.... I dont want to miss her ovulation! She was mated last time but missed, so want to get it right this time. I live near Reading UK..

Have you tried Hector Heathcote, CloneUK-  he lives near Gatwick, and will do same day progesterone testing if he's  not at a show !     I can do cytology, but Progesterone testing is honestly more accurate.

Jo

Hi Jo, thanks for your reply, have contacted UK Clone, but they are away at a show so no luck there.
Are you near to me, to be able to do a cytology test????

There is a lady near me who does same day cytology and progesterone. She's in Sussex and works weekends and bank holidays. If she's at a show she will run the sample that evening when home.
You just need the kits sent to you and then drop the sample off be it bloods drawn at your vets or cytology swab sample

Hi can you give me the details of the lady in Sussex that does same day testing please?

http://www.petmateservices.com

This may seem a bit simple but as you have both dog and bitch why don't you allow them to mate from the time the bitch will accept him every other day until she says no, as your dog is a maiden then he will have a good chance to practice and if she isn't pregnant then possibly one of them is not fertile.

Not simple..... I did allow them to mate naturally last time she was in season, and as she is quite dominant, and he is very submissive, and I live alone, it was very difficult! I didnt do any ovulation testing, just thought I would let them do what comes naturally..... no puppies.... I have had my boy sperm tested, no problems! I have been involved in this breed for many years, and always taken my bitches to an outside stud, I really want to be sure that I have the right time, and have now found a lovely lady who is going to do a cytology test tomorrow, and I have a progesterone test booked for Tuesday, also I have a great friend who is going to come and help with the mating..... so fingers and paws crossed for success, thank you all for your comments.

Occasionally it doesn't work out well when the stud and bitch live together.  Their bond as part of the same household and the dynamics between them can interfere with the mating process - I've seen this happen before.  Even once you've determined the right time, it might not be an easy matter...

Hi there

Yes I can - it gives an approximate result -not a accurate as a progesterone,but happy to do it for you.

Jo

Hi  Jo, thank you for your reply, may I ask whereabouts you are?

Cheryl

Cytology will only tell you when estrus has started, not when ovulation is...

> This may seem a bit simple but as you have both dog and bitch why don't you allow them to mate from the time the bitch will accept him every other day until she says no, as your dog is a maiden then he will have a good chance to practice and if she isn't pregnant then possibly one of them is not fertile.

For me, simple is often best in terms of getting a mating done.  Unlike we humans, provided both are 'viable', mating dogs is way more reliable, for two reasons - the bitch won't normally allow penetration unless she's ready to conceive, and he won't be interested in attempting until she's giving him the right indication that it's worth trying.    However, putting a maiden male to a maiden female may be difficult, and more so if they have been living together - with her telling him off, until now!!  Confused.com!!     You might have been better advised to take her to the dog's father.  At least, having the male you do have, should tell you what kind of offspring the sire might throw to your bitch.   And he'd be experienced which should make the whole experience better all round.

I would warn against letting them go at it until she tells him no.   Apart from upsetting him - and he may well not bother in any case (my males seemed to 'know' that they'd done the job and not be very interested after a couple of good matings) - doing it over a number of days could make working out her due date, more difficult than it needs to be.

FWIW.

Just to clarify, I should have said allow them to mate under supervision from knowledgable humans, apologies if it read as if to let them get on with it on their own which I would not recommend. My own bitch was dominant like yours and my dog was quite wary of her until she was following him and backing up to him, after their honeymoon just a look was enough for him to lose all interest. Glad to hear you have someone to help and good luck this time.