Hello,

I am breeding for the first time and would very much welcome any advice. I have a 4 year old bitch. She has all the health tests etc. she came into season and we did the Idexx Progesterone test on day 7 and was told to retest on day 11. The results we got on the Tuesday said she was about to ovulate within the next 24 hours and to breed her on the Thursday / Friday. We took her to the stud dog on Thursay and they were both very keen. The first time he swelled up some blood was seen to be dripping from his penis but he was not in any discomfort. This was his first time so they thought it may just be some tight skin.  My bitch is not very swollen and did not move her tail to the side. We continued to try and he entered her a couple of times and when he did she let out a loud yelp and dropped her back downwards and he came back out. We tried again on Friday with the same results and again this morning and the same thing happened. She was examined and there were no restrictions. I  going to pick her up today at 4 and have the option to try again but I  inking Italy be worth it. I don't want to get her more stressed etc. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong or any advice. If the progesterone tests are correct we are now running out of time. Any information or help would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

You really need to go to an experienced stud dog and handler. This sounds like its your problem.

completely agree with louise im afraid...if you've not done this before you need to be guided by someone in the know...wouldn't be using an unproven stud on my maiden bitch,for reasons just like this....wait tilnext season and find yourself a good mentor in the meantime...

Trouble is that you are leaving things rather late.  A bitch really ought to have had a first litter by the time she is five, so you want a male who knows his job as you haven't that much time left to try for a litter.

I posted here in December. Not my first litter but my bitch and the dog I wanted to use would be first.
I don't do tests but went day 15 and it wasn't going to happen. I had to source another dog and on days 17 and 18 we got a mating straight away.
Puppies are due in next week or so. I know someone has to use a dog 1st time but I would not do that again although in my breed, good quality dogs with right attributes and pedigrees for the bitch are fewer and fewer. .

althouh it is said that  one of the pair needs to be experienced that is definitely not always the case. both my first and second litters were bred using maiden dogs and bitches and I know a couple of people who have had accidental matings with dogs where both were maiden including one 9 month old bitch pup who was mated by a 4yo nerutered male. luckily the accidental matings were seen and injections given.

No, of course two maidens can certainly work, but you have a better chance of success if one at least is proven.

Also generally there is a lot to be said for using a young dog on an older bitch and older dog on young bitch regarding the resulting pups.

Obviously we can't wait too long before breeding from our bitches, (and also leaving males too late can mean a clueless stud),but many negative issues of health don't manifest until maturity/middle age.

So by having one of the pair older and proven healthy and hopefully already produced healthy typical offspring we are loading the dice in favour of a good outcome.

With two young maidens your still much more in the dark.

There's a young unproven male I'd love to use on my Inka, but I would not like to use him on her as she is awful in the tie, on two occasions she has done a 360' roll despite being held.  Very keen to be mated but hates the tie.

It can be a gamble using unproven dog especially if your bitch only cycles once a year but an experienced handler can make things easier or perhaps not clueless! I proved my own dog on my own bitch but first thought it was never guna happen. Was just too early and he was too eager. And my only other male is now proven and I have his daughter but from his behaviour I could tell he'd know what to do. Humping my giant breed lady when he was 17 weeks! But the bitch my god wrestling to keep her still during the slip as they didnt tie. 3 person job but was enough.