Please could anyone advise.  My girl is in season and she has been mated on the 11th and 12th day on her heat (12th day today).  They did not "lock" but lots of rapid action was witnessed. Is this sufficient or would she benefit from another go ! Look forward to hearing advice. thank you in advance

It purely depends on the bitch,some bitches are ready from 7 days some arn't ready till 20 days,i know people that have done matings with no ties and produced good strong healthy litters and i also know people that have had a good tie with no puppies.If she has already been mated twice i would leave her now.good luck hope all goes well for you.
Sally

LOL I am sorry for this post, but I always assumed 'a tie' was at the time of ejaculation, if they don't tie how can puppies be made?

Don't worry I am not, and will not become a breeder! Just interested!

There are 3 stages in dogs with the final stage being where the male dog will actually turn himself around with their backs facing each other. This is known as 'tying'

The sperm are released in the second stage & before the tie

Why do they go back to back?

LOL sorry I must buy that book everyone keep going on about!

This is only an educated guess, but I imagine one it is to be more comfortable, as staying mounted would be hard on both dog and bitch, and secondly if they were found by predators they could defend themselves with teeth at both ends.

So are they still together, if you know my meaning? :D I have seen some dog's with... umm big family jewels, but I didn't think they would reach around the back!!! ;) Sorry, I will go and order the book on Monday :D

OOps that should read "just before & during the tie"which is why some bitches can get pregnant from  a slip mating

The fertile fraction of the ejavulate is normally ejaculated within about a minute or so of penetration. 

During the tie mostly prostatic fluid is ejavulated, which helps to feed the sperm, and the vaccuum caused bu the tie helps propel the semen along the relatively long reproductive canal.

With a tie you know that ejaculation has occured, with a slip mating you only know it may have.

Oh I see, thanks for explaining it :D

I aim for days 12 & 14 but it is dependant on the bitch.:) they are all different

The optimum time is two days after ovulation, the problem is knowing when this is.  The best thing is to mate the bitch on alternated days for as long as she will stand in order to coincide with this.  Does the dog normally tie with his bitches.  Often dogs slip if the bitch isn't quite ready, but in some breeds slip matings are very common.,

I knew a Cavalier boy who never managed a tie at all, but never failed to produce pups.  And one of our pug boys ofter fails to tie on at least one of the matings, but has been 100% successful so far.  However, I always feel more positive about the end result if you do get a tie - not logical, just sort of what you expect to happen, I suppose.  Good Luck

bye
Gwen