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Dog Breeding: What To Do When “Natural” Breeding Does Not Work
“Natural” breedings do not always occur and so manually orchestrating a breeding takes time, effort and a considerable amount of planning. Timing is critical to breeding a litter. More breeding failures occur through poor timing than from any other factor. Slides made by your veterinarian from vaginal smears normally indicate the optimum time for breeding, but even when you think everything has been satisfactorily coordinated, your female may not stand for the male, and he may not be interested in your female.
If normal, your female's vulva will enlarge and soften as she nears ovulation. She will playfully "flag" the male, signaling her readiness to conceive during this peak estrogen level. The dogs will usually at this time engage in a period of foreplay. He will attempt mounting within minutes, and if she is ready, she will stand. If she has a tail, she will whip it aside, presenting her rear quarters to the male. This is an overt invitation for him to mount. Some females, particularly those never before bred, allow a male to initiate a mounting, but will then slip out from under him.
Under certain conditions it is necessary to provide extra assistance in order to consummate a breeding. The "if" scenarios include but are not limited to: if the male is considerably larger and heavier than the female; if she is reluctant to stand, although slides or a serum progesterone test say she is ovulating; if the male lacks interest, or if you have a type of dog that routinely has problems in obtaining a natural breeding. Manually assisting a breeding is a common and sound practice. Assisting insures that neither dog becomes injured.
Small dogs are best bred on a large table covered with a nonslip surface. Rubber-backed area rugs or bath mats are perfect. Use of a table saves the handlers' backs. The dogs may prove reluctant to "perform" on a table if they are not used to routine handling and grooming at an elevated level. Some males are reluctant to mount the female if she is overly handled, making him feel crowded and "threatened" by too many people.
Larger dogs and giant breeds are bred on the ground, on a nonslip surface where they can obtain good purchase. A stair riser is excellent for the male to stand on when mounting a larger female. A female much smaller than the male can be positioned toward the rear portion of a grooming or card table that has folded legs. Nor are all females able to physically withstand a male's advances. She may require assistance to stand under the force of his thrusts and weight. Handling a mating is often real physical exertion for the breeders as well.
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