i have the saliva tester but the sheet that come with it got wet and is now not readable, my bitch is showing ferning but she is only on day 5, she was swollen for a month before first bleed, this will be her 4th attempt at mating, other times she was mated at day 11, if the ferning is correct when do you mate, is it 48hr after ferning, i have booked her in for a premate test as well but can only get her in tomorrow, not really having much luck lol

When the ferning starts to appear that is a good time to take her for her mating, I have a Matetel saliva test and photocopy or email you the instructions if you would like PM me and let me know.
Although I have one, I do tend to use it just as a 'oh we could be getting close' then take it 100 per cent, I prefer to do the premate blood test but you would need to find a vet that would give you a result within couple of hours, my own vet can only give me a result after 24 hours which is really no use, so I travel a bit further to another vet who is able to give me the result that day x

thanks i have pm you :)

I use the matetel  tester if she is showing ferning all over the microscope  then ovulation is about to occur within 24 hrs if it is showing ferning patterns around the edges or in spots then you should have 2-3 days this is called the  transitional period.

I mated my girl two days after the transitional period (as it was xmas day) we had one mating and she is in whelp .

Also: my girl was ready on day 12  out of curosity as she was in season I tested my other girl (not planning a litter ) she was 16 17 18 days before her fertile period .

she is showing all over but thats day 5, she deffo had nothing to eat or drink prior to it, just seemed very early, mind we have misses her 3 other times, perhaps this is why. Doing a premate tomorrow and will mate her tomorrow if premate shows anything.

That is the cause of most misses wrong timing in a bitch that is atypical either very early as early as day 3 or very late 23 or later.  Someone in my breed last year had a bitch not mated until day 26 and she had a litter.

I am feeling excited but trying to work things out here,,,,,,,
My girl is on day 7 or 8 of her season, I was planning to do a premate blood test on Tuesday as I have a stud dog lined up for her.
Anyhow, my 12 month entire male woke me up early this morning barking and whining which is very unusual for him so went down and let him out (my girl is kept separate from him as they are mother and son) when he went out all he wanted to do is come back indoors to get to his mum!
I have now put my girl in another part of the house and he is still sitting here whining and licking the floor where she previously laid.
I have taken a mouth swab with my Matetel thingy but I really only use this as a back up as I feel it can be unreliable, I am waiting for my OH to wake up so he can look at the sample, (my eyes are terrible!)
I just wondering whether to phone the stud dog owner and see whether we should pop up with her and see what her male thinks?

Unless your pup is a proven stud I would take his reactions with a pinch of salt.  It is quite usual for a dog to virtually ignore a bitch for the first week, but thereafter pay court to her constantly to ensure he is the one to be there when she finally is ready. 

In the same way some males go absolutely distraught as a bitch is going over, knowing the chance for mating her is running out.

I suspect the youngster has just woken up his Mums condition.

When was she ready for mating last time, if it was fairly early then a trip to the stud may be worthwhile but if she was late then I wouldn't' worry yet, though of course come bitches can vary wildly from one season to the next, but most are ready roughly the same time.

Thanks Barbara, I have phoned the stud dog owner we are going to take a trip up there today just to be see.
My male is a maiden, so has no real experience apart from his brain erges!!

She was mated on day 10 last time,

Then I would get her up there and leave there there until she has been mated two or three days..

uPDATE!!!!!
It is day 12/13 of my girls season and she is tied with the stud dog!!!! and another premate test today confirms she is ovulating!!!!  yipeeeeeeeeee

Sounds good, see the stud dog knew.