Looking for some advise- Almost two years ago, we bred our bitch with my mother in laws stud. On or about day 13 of her cycle, they tied for about 15 minutes. Two months later we had 13 gorgeous pups! I had a wonderful time of caring for them until each and every one found a forever home. Since then, I have had several of our previous buyers contact me, so thrilled with their pup that they wanted to know when we would breed again. In the meantime, the stud came to live with us.

Fast forward to six months ago, my bitch was in heat again (we skipped one cycle as advised) and we thought we'd attempt to breed again (one more time). Well, she was not having it! She never allowed the stud to mount her, and there were no pups. We are now on the next heat cycle, she is at day 13, and will not allow him to mount her again! Could this be because they now live together? Should we separate them for a day or two? I hate the thought of sending her away for a day :( Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance,

Massachusetts, USA

I have to say yes it is because they are living together try removing him for a couple days if possible or confine him elsewhere in the house from her.
Then bring her to him and see what happens then.

Also just because she was ready on day 13 before does not mean the same timing this time, how often did you try throughout the season.

Personally repeat matings do not ad anything new to the gene pool and I would use a different stud, for a second litter.

It goes without saying that both should have been hip scored, and scored for heart murmurs and be 0 or at most one of them 1.  Also Kidney disease is an emerging issue that needs to be checked for in both parents and relatives.

As soon as I read this I thought that you have totally the wrong day.   I've had bitches ovulate on day 4, and on day 28.  And very often a bitch doesn't mate to suit you!

I also think you have the wrong day, you should use your dog as a guide, or have her progesterone tested if you're very keen to breed.

I wouldn't send the bitch away while she is on heat if you don't need to...I'd prefer that the stud would leave for a day or 2 if needs must.

Speaking for myself, and this may not go down well, but she has given you 13 pups from that stud so you've had plenty to choose from. I'm not sure that breeding from this pair again is necessary or wise. 2 litters within a year and a half (I presume) is a lot for your girl to deal with, particularly if you're talking litters of 13. You have some interested parties from previous owners but you'd be surprised how quickly they'll back off from making a full commitment once taking on another pup turns from a nice idea into reality.

Thank you all for the input. We have had these two together since Grace was a pup. I don't want to breed either with another dog. Breeding again would be nice if it happens, but I'm not willing to match either with another. May sound silly I suppose, but they are mates for life. We'll see about separating the male for a few days. And I may be wrong about the day, although I was pretty sure. I'll have to dig out the calendar from the last time. This is her third heat cycle since her first and only litter. I didn't think that was too close to the last one. We did not keep any pups from the last litter. They all have wonderful homes, a couple even going to friends and family so we have 'grandpuppy' visits often, it really was such an awesome experience. A LOT of work with 13 pups though! Haha! Thanks again!

I would suggest that it's more typical for a male who lives with a female to be reluctant to mate with her - because up to that point, she'd been putting him in his place.    Could be that she's not accepting him because he's now under her roof of course.   Have you thought about trying her with another male, to see whether she's the same (without letting him mate with her)?    It would be unusual for her to have had a good big litter from a day 13 mating, when she's not interested at that time now.   But maybe she just isn't up for this any more - don't tell me dogs don't have feelings!

I don't see you need to send her away - him maybe but it should be enough to separate them under the same roof ?

Also, if you are in the USA, why not take them to your vet, have her tested for where she is in her season, and if anywhere near the time she'd conceive, if he's keen, collect some sperm from him and do an A1!!!!!   We did this when wanting an American Champion for our bitch out in Canada and having travelled 12 hours to get to him.  She was more than interested, he wasn't.   Frustrating or what but the next morning we took them both to their vet and had an A1 done, putting something there - we tried, in vein, for a natural mating and came home.  She had 5 puppies.

Um.....This is exactly what I was talking about when I wrote what turned out to be a kind of missed-the-point answer to the question of AI the other day.  Obviously, if the two dogs are together and willing, there is no point in doing an AI!  (duh...)  But when it is just not working for whatever reason, then I would say go for it.  This was now my first thought after reading these posts:  do an AI.  You can do it yourself!  (Hope I'm not shocking anyone.)  It is so simple.  A breeder in Holland who has been my "guru" since I began 20 years ago (and to whom I cry HELP! when I'm at the end of my rope, a familiar situation to us all!), told me that he does an AI or two every time, as he then knows that the stuff is in the right place! He lets them mate on their own all the same.  I almost never do this, but I certainly have nothing against it and think it is a very good option if the going just isn't going!

I have not had any problems concerning my dogs who live together wanting to mate.  And I question - maybe some of you can tell me what you think - whether the female realises the consequences of making hanky-panky with the guys she lives with.  Doesn't seem so to me.  My Lulu, who is very definitely pregnant and expecting around mid-November, was inviting both of my males do their job from day 7 to 17!  And one of them was fully ready to comply!  (So I had to be REALLY careful and alert!)  This can be, I must say, most confusing to the breeder.  When you read in all the best books that, although one can test for progesterone levels, the BEST, nevertheless, is if you have your own male, as he will know better than any tests!  So they advise you to watch his behavior and go from that.  Well, my two were willing, as I said, from days 7 through 18, so what am I supposed to understand?

Not that AI doesn't frequently happen in the UK (very frequently does amongst some breeds) but the KC do not allow AI if both dogs are alive and living in the UK (with very few exceptions). So, although it does happen, people don't talk about it as they risk the KC finding out. So, although your post doesn't shock anyone on here, you won't get anyone openly agreeing with your point of view about fresh AI from the UK (I see that you aren't a resident here from your flag)

> Not that AI doesn't frequently happen in the UK (very frequently does amongst some breeds) but the KC do not allow AI if both dogs are alive and living in the UK (with very few exceptions). So, although it does happen, people don't talk about it as they risk the KC finding out. So, although your post doesn't shock anyone on here, you won't get anyone openly agreeing with your point of view about fresh AI from the UK (I see that you aren't a resident here from your flag)

Exactly!   I have a feeling AI does happen in the UK, but just not 'officially'

Stateside, probably as much to do with the travel distances that can be involved, it is done ...... and I know of many popular stud dogs who almost never mated the bitches naturally - their breeders preferred not to risk infection!!   When, as said, we went down to Pennsylvania from Toronto and weren't getting anywhere with mating my bitch to their dog (their dog was the problem!) we both decided to take them to her vet the following morning to at least get something in there () and try again later on before we left for home.

OK.  Good to know!  End of subject!