Stokeshire Guardian Homes: A Guide to the Process of Mating
Welcome to the Stokeshire Guardian Homes program! We understand the importance of responsible breeding, and we're committed to ensuring the health and well-being of our canine companions. This guide is designed to help you understand the process of mating bitches and studs under the Stokeshire program.
To make sure the female dog gets pregnant, take her to the male dog two times during her fertile time. The first visit should be on the 11th day after she shows signs of being in heat, and the second visit should be two days later. Both dogs should be on leashes during the introduction in case they get aggressive. If they don't like each other, find a different male dog. The male dog might lick the female's private area before mounting, but not always. He can mate without being aroused because of a small bone in his penis. After mating, the male dog thrusts and ejaculates the first part of his semen. In the second stage, the dogs separate but the male's penis stays inside the female's vagina (tied) for up to an hour. Don't try to separate them during this time. The female dog's contractions and the male's penis getting bigger keep them connected. They will eventually separate on their own. The second stage isn't necessary for getting pregnant, but it's recommended for more sperm and a higher chance of fertilization.
Natural Cover
Breeding by natural cover allows dogs to breed on their own, which is the easiest and cheapest option. Timing the breedings is important to predict the delivery date and schedule the breedings. Disadvantages include needing the dogs to be in the same place at the right time, potential unwillingness to breed, and risks of disease transmission or injury. Some guidance may be needed if the dogs haven't been bred before. Male dogs are more stress-sensitive during mating, so usually, the female is taken to the male dog's home. Progesterone levels determine the best time for breeding, with levels over 10 for natural breeding, and between 15 and 22 for fresh chilled and frozen semen. During mating, the male dog becomes excited, mounts the bitch, and a tie is formed when his glands behind the penis swell, and the bitch's vulva clamps around it. This tie lasts 15 to 30 minutes, delivering sperm to waiting eggs.
Best Time for Mating
There's no specific at-home way to tell the best time during heat for mating when ovulation occurs. Usually your dog will be most fertile between 9 to 10 days after she entered heat and she can remain this way for up to five days.
How long is each cycle?
Heat in female dogs typically lasts 2-4 weeks. At the beginning of the cycle, she may not be interested in male dogs, though some are throughout. The cycle can be shorter or longer. It's over when her vulva returns to normal and there's no more bleeding or discharge. There's a small fertile window around 9-10 days after the heat starts, lasting about 5 days. However, pregnancy can still occur until the cycle ends.
Approximately 60 hours after ovulation: Primary eggs mature into secondary eggs.
Approximately 60-108 hours after ovulation: Secondary eggs are fertile for about 48 hours. 108 hours is equal to exactly 4 and a 1⁄2 days. (6.5 days after ovulation is your window)
Canine sperm can remain motile and fertile for up to 11 days in the female reproductive tract. 5-6 Days is the average on insemination.
3.5 days after ovulation: There is a minimum period required in the oviduct before fertilization can take place.
As eggs mature: Progesterone levels rise significantly.
When progesterone levels are above 47.7 nmol/L: Fertilization usually happens.
2 days (approx. 44 hours) before ovulation: LH surge occurs.
Progesterone starts to rise just before ovulation, toward the last week of the heat cycle. It is well established that as soon as the progesterone levels are around 2 ng/mL, the ovulation hormone (luteinizing hormone or LH) peaks and that ovulation takes place 2 days later when the progesterone levels are around 5–8 ng/mL. Canine eggs cannot be fertilized immediately after ovulation because they need another 2 days to mature, and by that time the progesterone levels usually average 10 ng/mL or above.
Approximately the 11th day of estrus: Most dogs ovulate and become receptive to mating.
During estrus: The discharge is less bloody, often described as salmon color. The female actively seeks a male.
Within 30 seconds of ejaculation: Sperm cells reach the eggs in the oviducts of the bitch.