Have come for the usual reassurance - but does anyone know of a book or article on why bitches vary so much from the statement in Book of the Bitch - mate 10-12 days - blood goes straw colour etc
I would just like to understand more about why some bitches are mated, successfully, while still bleeding and continue to bleed, and others may only take when all this has finished.
Mine mated last, last Thursday, day 19, and to my consternation, still bleeding now, even though I know I have had successful litters in this position and of course so have others. But there must be some scientific research on this. Would love to read up on it but so far have only found what is on here and basic pet sites.

I wondered about this too, I have come to the conclusion that it's just a variation in bitches that occurs naturally and maybe there has never been any reason to research it, after all puppies keep on being born, they aren't like giant pandas.  It's interesting that books on breeding all seem to say the same thing, blood then clear discharge, I have whelped 4 different breeds over the years and never had that be true, all my bitches bleed to some extent throughout their seasons and, some of them, well into the pregnancy, it's never affected their breeding capacity as far as I know.  I have only had one bitch miss and she had successful litters before and after to the same dog so why she missed was just "one of those things".

You have made me think I will have a look at the world of canine reproduction on the internet.

Still bleeding now. She missed last season but had litter before.
This time I have used a different dog and blood tested twice. With different bitches, without blood testing, I have not missed for some years and then that was with a bitch that missed over 3 seasons  with 2 different dogs before I realised it was just not to be.

I have always had my bitches bleed as normal msted or not, all mine bleed for 3-4 weeks, and actually most heavily after first week until they finish, some up to 30 days, but most of mine don't mate until after day 15 and as late as day 22.

We had 3 matings but first slip, 2nd together but not tied but around 5-10 minutes, last tied about 20 minutes.
that was 15,17 and 19 days.

In my breed it's very  rare for slips to result in pups an it's generally tjoght that the bitch isn't quite ready, and I'd tend  to count from last mating. Be interested  to see if she whelps 63 days fro 2 days before  the tie.

As mentioned before all of mine, bar one, went to a light straw colour by around day 10 and then, mated or not, would just have less and less discharge through the final week, usually not noticeably blood coloured as I remember.   The one I had mated on days 11 and 13, and after coming home, was quite alarmed when she started producing a much more coloured discharge than I'd seen before.   She was otherwise fine, and quite normal but at the time, I thought it was more likely than not, that she'd not taken.   Turned out I was wrong to worry as she duly went out of season by around day 21, had an uneventful pregnancy and then, despite needing a C Section (secondary inertia) produced 9 of what was probably my best litter - the one we kept 3 from!!

Again books of mating, pregnancy, whelping etc. are just text books and bitches don't read text books.   So each pregnancy, even from the same bitch, really should be taken in it's own right.   And if you are worried, see a vet.   I don't know the 'whys' - sorry other than we are dealing with living beings and no two are likely to be the same.

Is whether slip ties are successful or not, down to breed?   I can only say, again, one of my lads never achieved a full tie, but in the small number of bitches he had, only missed to one.

I agree with mixedpack.  If you listen to women talking about human breeding we totally accept that no two are alike. 

In over 40 years I have never, ever, EVER seen straw coloured.  My bitches bleed before, during, and after mating.  I've had bitches accept a dog on day 10 - with successful litters.  One of these bitches accepted a dog on day 28, and my vet said that she couldn't possibly be pregnant.  9 weeks later she had her beautiful litter.  So proving that pregnancies are not standard even in the same bitch.

Please stop worrying about the bitch still bleeding Hazenaide.  Honestly - you need not be concerned.  I'm sure that if it was foul smelling you would be at the vet by now.

As someone has already mentioned - bitches don't read the book.  Pleased be reassured that your girl is "normal."  (Whatever that means!)

I'm going to the vet for herpes jab tomorrow. I'm just desperate that she does not miss as will not try again as she is just turned 5 and missed last time.
We all feel the same way I guess at this stage of the game!