Hi all,
Am new to this forum stuff but I have read a few posts here and it seems to be a really helpful and informative site so here goes!
I'm new to breeding but have wanted to get into it for a long time but never been in a suitable position to..now I am and have the perfect location and time etc as semi retired so i was after some advice about the process of ensuring a pregnancy.
I have a long dog and wanted to cross her back to a working collie ..and tried mating her about 5-6 weeks ago. She was totally up for it (in fact is always up for it even when not in heat, LOL and so was the dog..in fact it was like they were made for each other..all very sweet. He's had collie pups before but is now about 9 years old.
He seemed quite experiecce and we did it all in hand.. I had to stand her down a slope as she is a little taller than him. We tried over the course of a week (her 11th - 18th day of heat) but they only ever managed a slip mating..her first time and she's just over 2.
I don't know why they wouldn't "tie" and it was not through want of trying! I was so disappointed because I really thought this was quite important (having been present at other matings).
Could the collie be too old? As he just did lots of thrusting- sometimes it looked like he might have reached the happy dance phase) but he kept jumping off after a few minutes and although I'm sure he was "properly in" most of the time, sometimes it was quite hard to see..again, not for want of trying and I did try to get as involved as I could in my limited experience.
I've been waiting for weeks being a bit naively hopeful, and have read alot about bitches not showing, especially maiden bitches. But she is a greyhound type shape and I would have thought it would have to be pretty obvious by now.
Can anyone tell me if there is any chance at all that she maybe pregnant without showing at this stage (5-6 weeks) - I'm looking for other signs, but she's always very affectionate, so hard to tell if she is being clingy or not...no real change in her teats..I keep thinking her tummy looks bigger in the evening when she lies on her back, but out on walks she looks as lean as ever!
Also, should you exercise pregnant bitches less..shes done lots of running all the way through.. hard to stop a lurcher "opening up". But I've heard mixed opinions on this.
I was also lucky to find a lovely collie as he belongs to a farmer friend..but I'm wondering if he could have been "firing blanks" at his age, and what would be the best way to find a genuine collie stud breeder?
Sorry lots of questions but I was so excited to breed her as I know she'll be an amazing mum (she was so good with our other lurcher when she was a pup) - I suppose I just wondered how high a % of slip matings are successful.... and how high a % of maiden bitches don't show at 6 weeks..
Thanks in advance!!

You do not need a tie, to get a successful litter.

Of course she could be pregnant, I've heard of pups from a slip mating, but most often no tie = no pups.

There can be lots of reasons for not achieving a tie, most often though it's just not the right day. 9 isn't old for a collie, I used an 11 year old collie boy successfully. Personally with an inexperienced dog, once he's in the right spot, so they're doing the ladder climbing I hold them in there until they tie. I just wrap my arms round him and the girls back legs, after checking that he is actually inside. Once they're tied you can let go and help him turn.

That's brilliant advice and I didnt think of that..so thanks alot! Yes I felt like I wanted to hold him in place for longer and wasn't sure how but I can totally see how that would work...its like he was doing an impatient collie thing! And I was confused because they both seemed totally up for it and I thought maybe he was too old to "come" or something..but good to know 9 isn't necessarily too old. We did try every day for a week but I guess I wasn't experienced enough and didn't 'help' enough probably! Thanks again, much appreciated.

Thanks.. that is what I heard, though as there are no other signs I'm guessing it most probably wasn't successful..good to know though so thanks!

And wow I'd never heard of a silken wind hound and I've and just looked up because of your post..what amazing looking dogs..a bit like an Afghan but nicer!

And wow I'd never heard of a silken wind hound and I've and just looked up because of your post..what amazing looking dogs..a bit like an Afghan but nicer!

I would get her scanned and then you know for sure if she is pregnant or not.

Yes I wasn't sure whether to do that..have no idea on cost and have not really looked into it..I assume it is totally safe and doesn't put my bitch through any undue stress? Except the fact that it's the vets and they generally don't like going there! Thanks for that advice..it is probably best to know one way or the other as it stops all the guessing and hoping..mind you I've also seen posts about the inaccuracy of scans although I'm assuming that is rare...?

You can get mobile ultrasounds, I have a lady coming out to me on Wednesday to scan my bitch in her van. Saves the trip to the vets and is cheaper too. I've been charged £45. They can't guarantee how many pups as some could be hiding behind each other but they can give you an idea and are pretty conclusive in determining pregnancy. Your bitch needs to be about 30 days after mating.

> And wow I'd never heard of a silken wind hound and I've and just looked up because of your post..what amazing looking dogs...a bit like an Afghan but nicer!

Haha, thanks, they're very sweet dogs, much easier than crazy afghans

ys, you could get her scanned, google for a sheep scanner in your area, they're usually really cheap and very accurate. If you can't find on e then the vets will do it, sometiems scans aren't accurate about numbers, but it will be able to tell you if she is in whelp or not, good luck.

Thanks for all the help!

I use a mobile one too and she is £45, she is very good