Hello,
I just bred my bitch for the second time.  She gave me a beautiful litter Jan 07.  Last time she took on day 12 of her cycle.  No progesterone was done.  This time was with my own stud, who has never been bred before.  She started standing for him on day 12, but he was all over the place and exhausting himself.  So I opted for AI with progesteron tests and vaginal smears.  The progesterone said she was ready on day 18, and was bred by AI on day 18&19.  I know I should wait 48 hours but Sunday was in the way of course.  On day 19 when I took her in for the second AI, the vet siad that according to her cytology smear she was already just starting to come down.  On Day 16 the tests said she wasn't ready, by Day 18 she was, and by day 19n she was already in decline.  And by day 21 my male was no longer interested in her.  Long time breeder friends are conviced I missed with her, but the vet is sure we hit it right on.  So, have you ever had a bitch go that long before being ready to breed, and then come down so quickly?  And, in your opinion, do you think I hit or missed with her?  Any help would be great, I am a champion worrier.  Thanks, Patrina

i have been told that a bitch ovalate different times on each season,

that was true with one of my bitch first litter day 15/16 with two mating with 5 puppies
second litter day 14 one mating.. with 5 puppies

two of my other bitch were diferent time as well,i do the blood each time when i am going to mate a bitch .

One of my bitches stood for her first litter on day 13 (just the one mating) and a nice litter was the result. For her second litter a couple of years later she didn't stand till day 18, and we mated her then and again two days later - and got another, slightly bigger, litter. :-)

So I guess it doesn't matter from one season to the next.  I just have never heard of one ovulating so quickly and then coming down again so quickly.  I have another 2 weeks to wait I guess.

I've got a bitch who doesn't stand until her 18th day. I'va also got one who starts standing on her 3rd day, whilst she is still bleeding heavily, and carries on standing right up to the very end of her season, (oversexed little madam), she was such a nighmare to get in whelp and cost me a fortune in blood tests the first time I mated her. The second time I used one of my own dogs. He thought it was great at first but after a few days when I would go to get him out of his kennel he would look at me as if to say ' oh no, not the nymphomaniac again'.

Well, it's two weeks today, and while I have avoided looking at her too much so I don't obsess, my husband commented today that she is defiately looking chunky behind her ribs.  I checked and he is right!  So, this means one of two things. Either we are both crazy, or we are in for a passle of pups.  She had 13 last time.  I am in for a long summer I think.