My stud dog has never failed to mate before and has never got the dates wrong, but for this particular bitch. She came for the first time 5 months ago, she came every day or 2 for 2 weeks but nothing happened, they flirted a bit and he mounted her playfully but lost interest quickly. She's now back again, day 12 (came yesterday day 11) but still initial excitement but no mating. I have just noticed that she is still bleeding a little, does this also indicate that she's not ready yet? Any advice please? My own bitch's and previous matings have never had a problem, and have not been bleeding for this long!

I've got no experience in breeding dogs but when my bitch came into season I was suprised that my castrated dog never showed any interest in her. She carried on bleeding until around day 14 ish and then he started mounting her day 16-17. I would guess that she isn't ready yet but someone with more experience will soon reply.
Naomi

I thought castrated dogs didn't show any interest in bitch's on heat, unless it was done when the dog was older.

Trust your dog :-)

I do because when I was wrong with the dates once, i thought he was wrong, but she fell on. However as she didn't mate last time the owners are very anxious to mate her this time, do you think it will be worth while getting a swab test done on her?

Our dog was one year old being castrated but had never mated a bitch. Didn't stop him trying though when she eventually gave him the 'come on'

If your dog has been used before at stud then he will probably know better than you when she is ready for mating. Normally for the bitch to be ready the bloody discharge will turn to a clear/straw colour so my guess is she isn't quite ready yet. My own bitch is not ready for mating until days 18 to 21 so I have never relied on the day 12 theory.

The bitch is very eager and very flirty, she's even mounting my stud dog, to try and show him what to do!Her tail is pushed to the side and she keeps sticking her bum in his face, I just can't believe that my dog hasn't taken her as he is so persistant even with the bitch's that are hard to mate. Maybe she is a very late taker and we possibly gave up too early last time. It is not always easy for me to take a virgin bitch for a long length of time as I have other work commitments and I would not like to leave a novice on her own just in case of complications. How long between trial matings would you suggest is a safe time without missing?

Westie don't panic you're dog will mate if and when she is ready he's experienced trust him he's not going to waste his energy after all it's his objective to pass on his genetics that's what natures all about.

Any of my Stud dog's can be on the floor sleeping with an in heat seemingly well ready bitch 'pestering him' and I've sweated blood over it thinking he's not interested OMG they won't be happy!

Couple of days or even hours later he'll just sniffed them as they went past no flirting nothing and ermmm 'climbed on board' so to speak. The more experienced your dog is the more laid back he is about the whole business, I've had both my GSD's, Schips and Pommie do the same, all of them have produced litters and usually larger than normal for the breed.

I must admit to having the schip bitches here from the first sign of their season as a couple have caught on day 5 - 8 rather than the more norm of 12 onwards - but I still don't worry until a bitch has lost swelling and gone past day 21 with me, yet to have any not take.

Its strange I had a bitch the same I went to a dog on 2 different seasons and she was all for sex but he didnt even entertain her!!!!!!!!
He is a prooven stud. she was then mated with a different dog but so far has failed to produce any puppies.....
Definatly trust the dog, my friend who has a 8year old castrated male will ONLY mate a bitch when she is ready and does so if given the chance!!
I have also know alot of litter conceaved on day2 to the exptream of day 22....... I hope you get a sucessful mating

one of my bitches was mated on day 3 as that is when she was ready (we had the stud dog for a few weeks) we then let him try on the 4th day late in the evening and she was not having it, we did keep the stud dog with us for the full season and he was not bothed as nor was she (the 2 of them liying by the fire) and she had a litter of 6 puppies
Bobby

I have 4 bitches here that all bleed all the way through their season. (3 of them are related).
One of my bitches bleeds all the way through her season and has been mated as early as day 9 on one mating and then on another mating I mated her on day 22. Both matings produced a litter.

Some bitches are ready to be mated very early, others very late, only the stud dog will know for sure. Perhaps next time she comes in season she could stay with you for the three weeks? I have had bitches bleed right through seasons, and the only way I knew for sure was to watch them carefully to see when they were turning their tails. A friend uses a diabetic test strip. She puts it just inside the bitches vulva, until it is damp from the bitch, after removing it she then waits to see what colour it turns. When it reaches the darkest colouration then she knows the bitch is ready for mating. I have had some bitches which are too close to the owner and have a stud dog refuse to mate it. Some bitches don't like "performing" with their owners watching. My friends bitch was like this, as soon as she went and sat in her car out of sight the bitch mated with the dog. Even John will tell you this is true, as he had to sit with my bitch, while I remained out of sight.

I have had bitches bleed right through a season,as well as only a dy or two and still get in whelp. Most of my bitches have not been ready until at least day 14 or 15, and the latest fertile first mating I have had was day 16. I have in fact more often had misses when the bitch wqas mated early!

There are distinct breed as well as individual differences, and some bithes have gotten pregnant as late as a single mating on day 27, and some have been over by day 10!

If the dog is experienced and isn't interested I wopuld trust him that she isn't ready.

Is a bitch likely to still bleed if she has finished ovulating?

My bitches season always lasted 4 weeks, with bleeding all the way through, and no change in colour or volume at all. Sad reason but looking forward to her being spayed so we don't have to cover the floor constantly for a month!

Cleopatra
Did you succesfully mate your bitch?, if so what day? and did she still bleed after mating?

Well, yes she was successfully mated on dat 13 and 15, we just watched for signs - she is not a flirty dog, so when her tail moved, we knew something was up! We took her to the vet to have her swobbed and he said next day should be optimum. She was a maiden bitch, so had some bleeding from that anyway, but she continued to bleed "normally" (for her) for the next 7-10 days.
Unfortunately 9 weeks later she had mal-formed puppies, though nothing to do with the mating - either recessive genes or an environmental problem. Hence i have decided to have her spayed, though many tell me to outcross her completely and it'll be fine, i just can't go through it again.
Good luck with your girl

Thanks for the advice, it would have been really useful except she started to get very aggressive yesterday, picked a fight and I got bit by her, 4 stitches in the wrist! needless to say I have sent her home, not having much luck at the moment.

my bitch also bleeds all the way to the end of her season(and has already had one litter of puppies about 18months ago), she is in season now and she was mated on Sunday and today which were her 10th and 12th day, on the first mating we had what i would say was a sugsesfull mating but no tie and then today we had both, so fingers crossed that should be ok but the bleading did not bother her last time she was mated and she had 6 pups.

Bobby

will start looking for signs in about 4 weeks

My Stud dog is exactly the same if the bitch isnt right the dog wont mate I have had several bitched do this to me bt I put the bitch back a couple of days and hey presto we usually have a tie.
good luck.

Thanks for your advice, thankfully all my bitch's and previous matings with my stud have gone to plan, e.g. the normal 12 to 15 day rule, so I have learn't something new. However I will not be letting this bitch back as if she has a temperament like that, I really don't think she is suitable for breeding anyway. I have just had my stitches out, still sore though.

I would say that the problem is def with the bitch, and not your dog. She would need checking out by a vet, because i would think there is something wrong there. I always trust my dog--he is the experienced one, and if hes not interested then there really is something no right!!!!

I agree with you, I told him last season to get her checked out and this one before bringing her and he hasn't! His loss (well and mine 2 weeks looking after her this time and 4 stiches, still no money) hey hum..
Still i'm learning from my mistakes, I will be more careful in future and ask a lot more questions on their temperament, I think I am just too soft but all that is changing!!!!!