Hi
I have a stud dog who has up to now, always had successful ties with bitches. Today I have a bitch come for stud and she is definitely standing perfectly for him, showing a lot of interest and he is getting the job done. However, we keep having slip matings and I'm pretty confident this is due to the bitch, as I can see his glands in his penis have swollen correctly before he slips out. She is just not clamping onto him. She's not moving away from him either, she stays still but not locking onto him. Now I'm wondering what the reasons for this could be so we know how to move forward..
The bitch has never had a litter, her vulva is swollen but not huge like I've noticed in other bitches and her discharge is clear. I know some slip matings result in pregnancies but I'm wondering is the bitch too early and this is why, or do some bitches just not tie? Is AI the only way to move forward?

Usually in my experience the bitch isn't quite ready and a tie will result in a day or 2.

It could be that she isn't ready, but it can also be that he needs to push deeper.

I had a similar experience breeding a dog on her first time. The stud dog keep jumping on, pumping a bit and coming out again - luckily he didn't ejaculate. On about the fourth attempt he clearly got deeper and where he needed to be, which triggered her muscles to grip him. And all was ok then. We didn't have this problem on her 2nd breeding that same time or on her 2nd litter. So I think the stud might need to be a bit more forceful or persevere more to really get into place deep enough that it triggers the reflex in her to grip him...

Thank you, I've been closely observing when he penetrates and he looks to be getting in as deep as possible, there seems to be nothing different visually from when he's had previous successful ties. He's doing his usual pumping and hopping his back legs when he finishes. We are going to try again tomorrow. I was wondering if some bitches just can't clamp on and only AI was an option but theres no point doing AI if she's not quite ready.

Just to say that with AIs, at least you can assume you have something in there even if she's not quite at the right time.    Also slip matings do work - one of my boys (different breed) never managed to tie but he only missed to one of his bitches (there weren't that many I allowed).  She came back next time to my other boy and there was a tie but she again missed.   She went to another stud dog not in my kennel on the next season, but again, no result.   Clearly the fault was with her!

Does he mind if you interfere? I would hold him in place until they are tied. Clamp on behind him with your arms round her back legs too and keep checking, as your hands are under there anyway, if he ahs slipped out, after holding him there for a minute or two you should be able to move away and they should be tied, always worked in my experience.

He allows me to interfere yes, I usually hold the bitch and help him find her vulva so he almost expects me to be involved
I will try again tomorrow thankfully both dogs are very willing to keep trying and neither have lost interest. If it’s unsuccessful I may have to do AI

Well good news, we had a successful tie today that lasted 15 minutes...It took a while to get there

> we had a successful tie today that lasted 15 minutes...It took a while to get there <img class="fsm fsm_yell" src="/images/epx.png" title="yell" alt="" />

As they say, practice makes perfect ....

emilyapplegate:  > Well good news, we had a successful tie today that lasted 15 minutes...It took a while to get there

Brilliant!  Hope all goes well moving forward

If it is the case that the stud does not have the recommended health tests for the breed, irrespective of his difficulties in this instance, he should be put on a break until those are carried out.

It would always be assumed/hoped, without saying, that a posters stud dog would have the breed appropriate health testing.

Pricivius:  > recommended health tests for the breed,

Don't see any post on this thread relating to health testing, it was about the bitch not holding although there is a similar thread relating to the stud growling at the owner during the mating
which raised questions re possible pain which did have hip scoring mentioned.