I have a bitch whom we mated for the first time with a proven stud 4 weeks ago. They were tied for 20 mins but she is not pregnant. She only has a heat once a year. Can anyone tell me if this could be a problem and is there anything I can give her which might help her conceive the next time?

Blood test for the time of ovulation, and or more matings over a longer period, check if the stud has produced pups since he mated your bitch.

i would say most misses are down to timing so unless she has hormone issues or is infertile (or stud) the likelihood is that the timing wasnt right.

Did you blood test, or do you have a male at home to indicate when she may be ready (in my opinion better than bloods).

Was there only the one mating, if so was there a reason for just the one?

Tried 4 meetings with the stud dog Mandy and they tied the 4th time. I don't have a male at home but she seemed ready the day she tied in fact she was the one making all the advances.

in fact she was the one making all the advances.

In my very limited knowledge if the bitch is ready then so is the stud particularly if he is experienced, most studs will not be that interested until the bitch is ready, so it is possible although your bitch was prepared to stand she was not really ready.

Sounds like ti was perhaps still too early.

Old breeders will tell you that for best chance of success a bitch should be mated until she is no longer standing (going off) that way you know that you have reached the stage when there are no longer any fertiliseable eggs.

Bitches especially  maidens will generally stand for mating between one and five days (except for experienced floozies who may stand for prolonged periods :D ).

This makes sense as some will stand from ovulation, then the eggs are realised about 48 hours later, but are immature and will be ripe to be fertilised in another 2 days and stay viable for about 2 days.

A dogs sperm should be at it's best for about 4 days, so assuming that your bitch stood when she ovulated, rather than later in the hormone cycle they may have died or been too few by the time the eggs were ripe.

I take it you have had her scanned if you say she is not pregnant, was she scanned at just 4 weeks as if she took a few days after the mating it may of been slightly to early, i dont scan but i think alot depends on how good the vet is.

If the first mating was on the 4th visit was you not offered another visit 48hrs after they tied?

If 3 previous visits resulted in no mating the first one may of been just before she was ready, so she may of needed a second one to catch her day as that mating seems like it may of been a bit too early...out of interest what day was she on?

She was on her 14th day. I was offered a chance to come back the next day after tying but the breeder thought the fact that they had tied for 20 minutes was enough. Will know better the next time. She was scanned today at 29 days.

I had a bitch scanned at 28 days and was told no puppies, at 49 days took her back, because she looked a bit heavier, inside 4 puppies !!!

Thanks Dollster, makes me feel a whole lot better.

Theirs a few people on here that have been told no puppies only to find out they were wrong so you never know.

I always tell people to come back for a second mating, most occassions we have got another but if the dogs didnt want to know then it still isnt a wasted journey to me as that tells us that we probably got it right the first time, if you dont try then you dont know for sure. If she isnt pregnant do you get a free return, if so then i would definately go back 48hrs after you achieve a tie, it covers your girl for a wider span giving you a better chance of conception.

I hope you have success next time and if in the meantime you get a suprise.....let us know :)

I'm from the 'old school' that Brainless mentions.  Some bitches get flirty before they are really ready.  I allow as many matings as a bitch will stand for.  (I don't mean 10 times a day!)  :-)

But sometimes the 2nd or 3rd tie is the one that does the business

Edited to add - when I have a visiting bitch I really don't like it if the owner refuses another visit.  I always feel that, if they have paid a stud fee, that me and my boy should be trying to get the bitch pregnant.

I suppose I am of the old school as well. My bitches go to stay with the stud dog owner and they mate every other day until one or both of them are not interested anymore. That way you know you have caught it. Also I do progesterone tests so I can catch the other end and get the correct time to take them to the stud.

> (I don't mean 10 times a day!)  :-)
>
>

We wish lol.

Your girl might not be 29 days pregnant and it also depends on the scanner.  My scanner always makes me go back a week later to double check incase they fertilised later than thought.  they don't charge this either.

Maybe give her another week and rescan.  good luck.