I have just got a male yorkie - proven breeder of many years in order to breed my female yorkie. She has never been bred before, this will be her first mating.
I knew she was due in season in May and checked her daily, a week last saturday (10th May) I noticed she started to swell up, then a week later on the Sunday (18th) I noticed she had started to bleed (only ever the tiniest amount). The male has been very interested in her and would go over to her about every 20 minutes and sniff her underneath then go away again - over and over again (nearly wore his little legs down). Sunday - the day she started to bleed, he was mounting her and mock mating her then getting off, yesterday morning the same, and tonight again, but not inbetween. He never seems to actually get inside her if thats not too graphic for something thats not in the 18 plus.
Now, I don't know much about dogs mating except that the time she can get caught is the period of time when the blood truns brown from red - no idea when this will be. What I'm wondering though is, why is he not actually getting inside her? Is this only possible when she has the brown blood not the red? Or is there a problem do you think?
He licks her rear end at every opportunity and she lets him.

Any help for an anxious first timer appreciated.

Not sure what the brown to red thing is about.
Quick lecture on the reproductive physiology of the bitch...... The season is divided into 2 main parts - pro-oestrous, which is the first part where the vulva swells and bleeding starts. At this stage, she is giving off lot of hormones and the dog is interested but the bitch usually won't let him mate (surprised she's letting him lick to be honest) This lasts ON AVERAGE 9 days but varies tremendously.
The second part is true oestrous and is the time when the bitch will ovulate. usually at this stage the bleeding slows down or stops completely but the vulva remains swollen. At this stage the bitch will allow mating. Again on average it lasts 9 days, and on average they ovulate at day 13, but there are as many variations on this as there are bitches!!!

If you've got the two together nature should take it's course quite happily - however expect the dog to lose weight as he will probably be quite distracted for some time!. And separate them if he harrasses her before she's ready!

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2.4.4 Bearded pygmy chams.
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Right, thanks ever so much. I have read so many websites/articles on mating and there is so much conflicting information, I started to think that I knew a lot more before I started reading up on it all lol. It all seemed quite simple, then all got very complicated very quickly.

Many websites/articles say that the breeder should intervene and help a first time mating along, is this true (I so hope not ). I was rather hoping nature would take its course, I wanted this particular male as he is an experienced stud dog and hoped he would sort of erm...... take control of the situation.

My female has only snapped at the male once - she does allow him to lick her behind and seems to place her rear end in front of him for him to do so.

(Thanks for your reply by the way).

If you've got the two together nature should take it's course quite happily - however expect the dog to lose weight as he will probably be quite distracted for some time!. And separate them if he harrasses her before she's ready![/quote]

Just noticed this bit - should I be worried - he eats like a pig???

No! It's just they tend to get a little, er, obsessed and often don't eat much and walk around more. Even if he does this the weight'll go back on nice and quick once the deed is done!

Sometimes they do need a little guidance first time, but I'm assuming that's for the male rather then the female (never done it so can't say!). It's probably worth trying to be there if possible in case she gets a bit stressed by the event.

__________________
1.0. Veiled Chameleon - Dave
2.4.4 Bearded pygmy chams.
1.1. Fire salamanders - Antony and Cleopatra
0.0.1 Moorish gecko - Hobnob!
1 tropical fish tank
1 marine fish tank
3.0 Burmese cats - Xander, Chaos and Mayhem
0.1 Moggy - Simone

The bitches discharge will usually turn from red to pink/straw colour and with GSD its about 10 days when mating occurs. you could go to the vet and get an Ovulation test done on the bitch which would let you know if shes ready. Also the bitch will stand for the male with her tail to one side, at the minute she is just teasing him. once mating occurs they will usually tie up to about 20/40 minutes and shouldnt be parted the male will turn so they are back to back. To make him more keen to mate keep him seperated from the bitch and only introduce on a lead until the bitch is ready then let them in the garden together and mating should occur.

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1 Blue Tongue OZZY
1 Uromastyx BRUCE
3 Oscillated Skinks
11 assorted dogs
15 assorted cats(Coming soon 1 Sphynx kitten)
2 African Pygmy Hedgehog(Elvis & Evie)

RIP Cassie a much loved friend

Firstly have you got homes ready for the potential pups and how old is your bitch as this will have a bearing on how things go?

A mating should indeed be controlled as the males do have a bone in their penis which can be broken with a maiden bitch panicing. A bitch is normally ready from day 10 - 14 of a season ie from the first day of bleeding not all bitches have heavy bleeding with some being so clean you have to rely on the visual swelling of her vulva.

DO NOT let them mate without you being present for both their sakes as I've said maiden bitches are an unknown her reaction once he's penetrated can be very dangerous. Most scream with fear or even pain and try to run from the dog or turn over and attempt to disembowl him with her back legs or turn and try to bite him any of these situations are potentially deadly for both animals.

When she is ready, the male is introduced and mounting her, you need to be holding your bitch firmly as a precaution and to reassure her, be prepared to maintain that hold until the male dismounts. As the male is a proven animal this would probably be in the region of 45 mins I would be concerned that as a proven male his previous owner may well have sold him due to him no longer 'doing the job' or producing puppies (firing blanks). It is most unusual for a reputable breeder to sell a proven productive stud dog regardless of age, you can check his age with the kc if you have his pedigree and registration docs.

thanks both of you for your replies.

Have now seperated them. Females discharge seems to be changing colour - can't quite say what colour it is now - an odd colour. Not the red that it was last night.

If she is ready now, then the male is still only humping her - she doesn't move away when he mounts her - he just isn't putting it 'in '

Have pm'd you some questions - hope you don't mind.