Dog breeding can be a wonderful hobby or career. Some owners simply want to have a child from their favorite canine. Others breed as a hobby or as their main source of income.
Deciding to breed your dog is only the first step. You’ll also need to know about the female’s reproductive cycle, and how often you should let dogs tie.
How many times should a dog tie?
Tying isn’t required for pregnancy, but it does increase the chances of your dog getting pregnant. For successful breeding, it’s important to know how many times a dog should tie.
The Estrus Cycle
There are 4 stages of the estrus cycle, with two of them being prominent when it comes to breeding.
The cycle starts with proestrus. This is when your dog will begin bleeding. You will also notice her vulva is swelled. This period lasts about 7-10 days. Males will be attracted to the female during this time, but she will not be receptive to them.
The next stage is estrus. It is also known as heat or standing heat. This is the stage when the female is ovulating and can get pregnant. During this time, she will be receptive to males. This stage is typically around 9 days, but it can range from 4 to 24 days.
After estrus, diestrus occurs. If she is pregnant, her diestrus will be the gestation period. If she’s not, hormone levels will slowly return to normal.
The last stage is anestrus. This is the dormant period when she is not in her heat cycle.
What Causes the Tie?
A male dog’s penis is equipped with the bulbus glandis. When he is fully inside the female, this gland swells. At the same time, the female’s vagina contracts. This combination locks the pair together.
The bulbus glandis swells because more blood is sent to it. This is also the mechanism that causes penile erection. Once it is swelled, it’s too big to pull out of the vagina. They are then tied together until the swelling goes down.
Ejaculation actually happens before the tie occurs. So what is the purpose of the tie?
Purpose of Tying
The purpose of tying is believed to be to keep the sperm inside the female. With the penis locked into place, the sperm cannot spill out. The male will also ejaculate prostatic fluid after tying.
This helps propel the sperm forward towards the egg, and provides food for the sperm making their journey towards the egg.
What if They Don’t Tie?
Your dog doesn’t have to tie to get pregnant. If the male ejaculated before withdrawing, there’s a good chance the female will conceive. If a tie didn’t occur, it’s a good idea to try to determine why.
Physically, when a tie doesn’t occur, it’s because one of the dogs pulled away before the bulbus glandis swelled and created the tie. This can be because one dog got startled or moved away for another reason.
When breeding them again, do your best to keep them calm. Try to eliminate any distractions like loud noises or activity that can startle them.
How Many Ties Should Dogs Have?
Experts recommend dogs tying 3 times for successful breeding. It’s possible for the female to become pregnant on the first tie. However, each tie increases the odds of pregnancy.
3 ties allow for more opportunity for the conception, without diminishing sperm quality.
When Should Dogs Tie?
It’s generally recommended that you breed the female beginning on day 9 of estrus. Most breeders say that day 9, 11, and 13 are the best for breeding.
You’ll need to watch for signs of the heat cycle to determine which days to breed your female. The first sign most owners notice is a bloody discharge. They will also have swollen genitals because of increased blood flow to the area.
Once you notice these signs of heat, the countdown begins. Proestrus is the beginning stage of heat. This is when bleeding will begin to occur. Once estrus begins, you’ll need to wait between 7-9 days. She should then be in estrus and ready to mate.
Once she is in estrus, she will hold her tail up when near a male. If he attempts to mount her, she will allow it.
How long do dogs need to tie for?
The length of a tie can vary greatly. At the shortest end of the spectrum is 2 minutes. On the other end of the extreme is a 1 hour tie. Most ties last between 15-30 minutes.
It’s not known if the length of the tie has any impact on the chances of pregnancy. Many owners believe that a longer tie will produce a bigger litter, but this has been proven untrue.
Managing Tied Dogs
This is one area where it’s best to let nature take its course. However, you’ll need to supervise and support them. Never attempt to break a tie. If you need the dogs to uncouple, work on getting the male to relax. He will not be able to untie unless he is relaxed.
Injury can occur if the dogs become scared or upset when tied. Some dogs get scared, because they don’t understand why they are stuck together. They simply know that they are trapped. This can be scary for your dog, just as it would be for you.
Once the dogs tie, get onto the floor with them. Pet them and give them praise. Keep them as still as possible. They may change positions so they have their butts to each other. This is ok for them to do. Just ensure that they aren’t pulling at each other or rolling around, because this can cause injury.
When Should I Breed My Dog?
Breeders suggest allowing a female to have two heat cycles before breeding. This gives her body time to mature and prepare for pregnancy and nursing.
She should be at least 1 year old, and preferably 18 months to 2 years old before breeding.
Male dogs will reach sexual maturity around 6 months of age. However, they reach their peak sexual maturity at 12-18 months of age.
Both males and females will remain fertile throughout their lives, although fertility does go down as they age. Males begin to lose fertility after 5 years old, but remain reasonably fertile until they reach 10-12 years old.
Breeders recommend not breeding a female older than 5-6, although it is possible for older dogs to have puppies.
How many times should you let dogs tie?
Most experts say that you should let your dog tie 3 times for the greatest chance of pregnancy. In most cases, this results in pregnancy assuming both of the dogs are healthy.
It’s best to spread the ties out over a few days. If possible, breed them once every other day until 3 ties are achieved.
Can dogs tie more than once a day?
Yes, dogs can tie more than once a day. The more useful question is should they tie more than once a day.
Tieing More Than Once A Day
Physically, it’s possible for dogs to tie multiple times a day. Young healthy dogs will have the desire and the ability to do so. They are acting on their instinctual urge to procreate, which helps ensure the survival of the species.
From an evolutionary point of view, it would seem that the more often dogs tie, the greater the chance of them producing offspring. However, things get complicated when it comes to reproduction.
Sperm Count
To maintain the highest levels of sperm, most experts say it’s best to breed or ejaculate the dog once every 2-5 days, or every other day. Sperm is depleted each time ejaculation occurs. The body has to build up more sperm. When timed correctly, this can contribute to healthy sperm. However, if the male is bred too often, their sperm count and quality will suffer. Large dogs can mate once a day for up to 5 times a day, while smaller dogs can mate once a day for 3 days.
Essentially, you need to find the line between quality and quantity. When bred too often, the male’s sperm count goes down. The sperm may also be less healthy. More matings give more opportunities for pregnancy, but most breeders opt for quality over quantity.
How Many Times Can Dogs Tie?
Males, particularly younger males, may mate as many as 10 times a day if they are given the opportunity. Their sex drive is very high, particularly when around an in-tact female.
A pair will typically mate 2-3 times a day if left to their own devices. However, if there is more than one receptive female, the male may continue breeding until he collapses from exhaustion.
Does a dog get pregnant every time they tie?
No, a dog doesn’t always get pregnant every time they tie. The female can get pregnant with different fathers, however. If you intend to have the puppies registered, you should only breed her with one male, known as a stud.
Multiple ties are suggested because a tie doesn’t always result in a pregnancy. A tie means that the male ejaculates sperm and prostatic fluid. This gives the highest chance of pregnancy.
However, it’s not a guarantee that the sperm will make its way to the egg and successfully fertilize it.
How Can I Improve the Chances of Pregnancy?
There are things you can do to improve your dog’s chances of conception. When it comes to the breeding itself, it’s best to do it at the male’s home. Research has shown that males are more sensitive to stress than females, and they will be more relaxed in their own environment.
To increase male fertility, you can give them a Glycosaminoglycan supplement. This helps improve sperm quality. You can also increase their antioxidant intake. Fatty acids and L-carnatine are also beneficial.
To increase female fertility, get regular checkups. An infection can reduce her odds of fertility. Feeding a diet high in fat and protein and low in carbohydrates is helpful. If stress is lowering fertility, Sepia 30C is helpful for increasing fertility.
How many days will a female dog let a male mount her?
The female will usually allow the male to mount her and breed for a period of 7 days. Essentially, she will allow the male to mount her for the time she is able to conceive.
The exact time depends on how long she is in standing heat, or estrus. This usually lasts between 9 and 14 days. The 7 day time frame is suggested because it allows the dogs to mate every other day for good sperm quality, and falls within the timeframe she is in estrus.