My bitch is in season at the moment, her first test on day 4 showed 2.7nmols so just getting started. She is due to be blood tested again tomorrow (day 7) with results the next day. I am getting a bit panicky as I am taking her abroad (2 day journey).
I do have the option of driving the bloods directly to the lab (2 hours away) is that worth doing so I get results the same day? Or shall I be patient and wait until Saturday for the results?
At what point shall I travel? I was advised not until ovulation has occurred, but I think that is cutting it a bit fine as there may be delays travelling etc?
I saw someone else say that they began travelling at the LH surge (so 7-12 nmols?) I just really don’t know what to do!

I'm sure Barbara( aka Brainless)will be able to advise you as she's gone abroad to mate her butches in the past as have other experienced breeders on here

I have also traveled about 24hrs and also book travel at least 48hrs in advance, when I go.

I would recommend going at or near the LH peak.  That gives you much more time than waiting until ovulation.  The risk of waiting until you have actual ovulation, is that by the time you've got the test result back and booked travel and got there, she may well have gone over - or at the very least be less happy about standing because she's coming to the end of the fertile time.

So I'd suggest going when you get to at or around the LH peak, and then just trying when you get there.  Sperm lives for at least 5 days.  If you are allowed more than 2 matings, keep breeding every couple of days till she won't stand.  You can also run a progesterone when you get there, at the stud dog's vet - although there can be some variation between different labs, so you won't always get reliable results in the context of other levels but it should give you some idea.

Thank you. Is the LH surge between 7-12nmol? I’ve seen lots of conflicting things when searching!

This is how idexx interprets the results

<3.0 nmol/l – re-sample in 3 to 4 days
3.0 to 8.0 nmol/l – re-sample in 2 days
9.0 to 15 nmol/l - mate in 2 to 3 days
15.0 to 30.0 nmol/l -  mate in 24 to 48 hrs      
>30.0 nmol/l  - mate asap      
>60.0 nmol/l  -may be too late

If you test Friday and get results Saturday and the level's still low then you'll have to wait until Monday to re-test. Depending on how they levels have risen, it might be worthwhile taking Monday's sample to Idexx, but Larry will advise you when he gives you the results on Saturday, if you explain the situation (Assuming you're using Idexx)

Thanks, I have the chart, just not sure which is classed as the LH surge. Not using idexx, but using the same test. I would test Sunday rather than Monday I guess, just feel really uneasy about waiting to travel

Having done a 12 hour drive to use an American dog, from Toronto to Philidelphia, what's wrong with getting where you intend to go when you feel your bitch is anywhere near ready, and see what the stud dog says!!  That's what we did although actually in the end, the first time we went to him, he wasn't really interested so, given my bitch WAS right on, their vet did an AI.  We tried again that evening but it was the same with him so we came home.  As she only produced 2 puppies (one DOA) we went back a year later and the result was much better - 5 puppies.   We made a short holiday of both trips, checking into a dog-friendly motel.

Yes I agree with MamaBas - get there early and get trying right through the time concerned.

KLB on this forum has experience of taking a bitch abroad and leaving on the LH surge - you could message and ask.

This is taken from the Croft website:

""'Prior to coming in season, progesterone levels in the bitch are low, less than 2nmol/l. The first significant change in progesterone occurs at the time of a brief but large increase in lutenising hormone (LH) when progesterone levels rise quickly to above 6nmol/l. Roughly two days after this event, ovulation occurs. Ovulation can be as early as day 7 and as late as day 27 of the oestrous cycle, showing the importance of blood testing. Once the bitch’s progesterone level reaches 15-20nmol/l ovulation has occurred, subsequent serum progesterone levels can vary greatly. For example, at three days post ovulation, progesterone levels may range from as low as 30mmol/l to as greater than 100mmol/l, depending on the bitch. In order to accurately identify the day of ovulation it is important to identify the rise in progesterone level that occurs at the time of the LH peak. For most bitches blood sampling for progesterone measurement should begin around 5 days after the onset of vulvular swelling and bleeding. Bitches are then retested every 2-3 days until ovulation occurs. After ovulation, progesterone levels will remain high for approximately two months, regardless of whether or not the bitch has been mated or is pregnant, at which point they return to near 0 nmol/l. It is important to note that vaginal bleeding, swelling, "tail-turning" and receptivity to males is predominantly a response to estrogens in the bitch's bloodstream, and not a reliable indicator of progesterone levels and consequently ovulation. Once ovulation has occurred a bitch's eggs take approximately 48 hours to become fertile. They will then remain fertile for approximately 48 hours.’""

So in terms of when the LH surge is:  "a brief but large increase in lutenising hormone (LH) when progesterone levels rise quickly to above 6nmol/l. Roughly two days after this event, ovulation occurs. "

PS I don't want to worry you, but if we had travelled and mated according to Larry and Idexx, we would have got to the stud too late last time.  We travelled one day after the LH surge.

Thanks for all the advice. She had the second bloods taken today and results tomorrow morning. I have decided to go tomorrow (Saturday) and depending on blood results, either drive the whole way and get there Sunday eve or stop at a friends who lives 4 hours away.
Unless the bloods show her levels have hardly changed, then I can’t take the risk of delaying any longer. I am living with a permanent stress induced headache from worrying about timings etc, I’d rather get there and enjoy some time in the beautiful mountains if she’s not ready.
Oh and just to add more complications, the stud is a maiden! But do have his father as back up if it’s not happening!

I flew on both occasions, and the airlines require 10 - 14 days notice, so I booked as soon as bitch came in season and opted to travel on day 10 and stay a week on first occasion and 10 days the second (after having a bitch who was a late ovulater).

Having opted to blood test a difficult bitch, and after three draws how unpleasant it was for her and after that she hated going to the vets I would always prefer to rely on the dogs, and have them together for about a week around the likely fertile times.

I think Barbara/Brainless has it right if you have a breed or stud owner where this is possible, for the dogs to spend a lot of time together and choose when to mate. 

Unfortunately in my breed, with a popular stud, there was no way the stud owner would agree to that so we had to try to time things for our 2 allocated matings. 

I think your plan sounds fine, keep us posted on what happens!  I know how stressful it is, I think I got a whole load of grey hair as a result of the last trip we took!!!!

Thank you. Results only 3.5, hardly any rise! Retest on Monday, just hoping she doesn’t suddenly shoot up and I miss her!

13.8. Phew! Travel tonight

This is what makes it all so difficult when travel is involved, those sudden rises.

"13 - 18 Nmol or 4 - 5.6ng ovulation impending or just occurred. Estimated breeding window 2-4days "

Fingers crossed nothing holds you up and you get there without delay!  Good luck.

Any luck yet?  Any breedings happened??

Yes, 3 matings, over 3 days. Would normally only do 2, 48 hours apart but as I had travelled so far, and they were both willing we mated on all 3 days.
Fingers crossed and what feels like a long wait to find out!

Oh excellent!  How did all the Pet Passporting go?  I don't like doing the Droncit tablet on the way back... I know it's supposed to be fine...:)

It was fine, my vet administered the tablet an hour before we left. No checks going out and was checked coming back in to the UK- I was nervous even though I knew her passport was in order! Then I must have looked too nervous as pulled over by customs at Dover for them to recheck everything!

Pleased to say my bitch was scanned yesterday with a good sized litter

Excellent

Whoop