Well, Chloe had her blood tests. The first one last week - nowhere near ready - come back on Monday. Went back Monday morning - she's ready - go tomorrow and Thursday. So today I went to the stud dog - nothing happened :( . She's not ready (didn't think she was). Have to believe the vet though. They know best - yeah right.

So I've decided to go with my instincts and wait 'til I think she's ready. :)

What the blood tests will show is when she is ovulating.  Now some bitches will stand just before, during and up to 4 days after ovulation, whereas others will not stand until the eggs are ripe (two days aftyer ovulation) or until they are nearly over. 

My last litter themating was at the ned of day 16 when she had ovulated on day 12, hence a smallish litter of four.

Vets will normally advise mating the day after ovulation (which is a day before eggs are fertilizable) and two days later (right in the middle of when most eggs should be in a fertile state).  As a bitch may ovulate her eggs over the space ofg 24-48 hours mating eeven when one would think they were gone over may result in the odd egg being fertilised, but as canine sperm should last at least 4 days in the bitches tract the window stays quite wide.)

Thanks Brainless. Now why didn't the vet explain that? I've bred a few litters but never used the blood test before. The daft thing is I had planned to take her to the stud dog tomorrow anyway but wanted confirmation that she was ovulating. The vet knew this.
Oh well, just have to try tomorrow.;)