It is important to note that pregnancy can occur without a “tie”. Once “tied” the male dog will often step over the female or be turned by handlers into a position so that the animals are back to back.
This is a slightly unusual article for two reasons. It is not Doodle-specific because all dogs, including wild dogs, mate in the same way, and it is also not one I had planned to write. The inspiration for this article came from a photo I sent to a friend of my young Poodle stud dog and my seasoned Goldendoodle girl “tied.”
You might think it’s strange to send a picture of something, but to a dog breeder, this is not only incredibly exciting, but also a crucial point in the development of any stud dog. We decided to cover it here at Know Your Doodles after my friend said, “But he’s the wrong way round,” which prompted an explanation and the realization that many people, despite being dog owners and lovers, are unaware of how dogs mate and have never heard of the term “tied” in reference to dogs.
Simply put, yes, dogs must tie in order to mate. The technical term used during canine mating is called a “tie.” The dogs will be tied with a head at each end, back-to-back. The duration of the tie can range from five minutes to more than thirty minutes.
The terms “on heat” and “in season” refer to female dogs, and for many people, they are related to the decision of whether to have a male or female puppy. A female dog can go through puberty at any age between six months and about eighteen months, with an average of about one year.
Typically, smaller dogs reach sexual maturity earlier than large or giant breeds. Although you shouldn’t consider having a baby with your girl until she is close to two years old, you must be ready for her to begin her seasons (fertile periods) at any time between six months and two years.
In our article when do Bernedoodles go into heat, where we also cover the best time to spay or neuter your dog, you can read more in-depth information about when dogs go into heat.
A season is avoided by having girls spayed before six months, but some veterinarians advise delaying this procedure until three months after the first season. Bleeding from the vulva is the most blatant and difficult-to-miss indication that a female dog is in season. However, there are other indications that you might see first. In fact, there are four stages to the season:
The bitch is getting ready to mate at the beginning of the heat period or season. Before anything obvious occurs, you might notice your girl making small behavioral changes. If she is around other female dogs, she might become more possessive or sulky, or even urinate inside like a puppy. Some girls might even start acting slightly aggressively.
This is the time of year when disputes are most likely to occur in multi-chick households. Examining your bitch might reveal that her vulva is beginning to swell, and she might lick herself more frequently than usual.
Blood spots or a discharge, which can range in size from very small to quite large, are the next symptom. This stage lasts between three and seventeen days. She may bite male dogs if they approach her because, to start with, she is not attractive to them.
This is the stage where it all happens. A novice owner might believe that the season is over if the bleeding lessens or changes color. Contrary to popular belief, the bitch is irresistibly attractive to male dogs during this time, and will make an effort to approach them.
She will stand with her tail held high and to one side when confronted by a male dog, turning her backside in his direction. We breeders call this ‘flagging’. If no male is available, she will also become very playful and flirtatious with other dogs, including females.
It’s crucial to keep your girl away from other dogs during this time (apart from her intended mate, if you plan to breed). Keep her on a lead and exercise her in public places with extra caution.
This stage can last anywhere from three to fourteen days. During this phase, your female Doodle may also urinate more frequently and in more locations outside. Any males nearby are being informed of her availability.
The female dog is either pregnant and getting ready for the birth of her puppies during this phase right after oestrus, or her body is just beginning to normalize.
When the discharge stops, her vulva will resize to normal. She is no longer fertile or receptive to male dogs.
At this point, your girl is returning to her normal state. If you don’t intend to have children, now is the time to have her spayed because there are no signs of hormonal or sexual behavior.
Now we come to the mating process itself. It’s crucial to introduce your bitch to the male dog at the appropriate time if you’ve decided to mat her. It’s crucial to have her tested for ovulation if you’re going to stud because this varies from girl to girl. A vagin*l smear or a blood test can be used to determine this.
When it’s time to mate with your girl, the veterinarian will check the progesterone level and let you know when it is. Importantly, the timing of the mating varies from bitch to bitch; some ovulate as early as the third or fourth day of oestrus, while others ovulate as late as the eighteenth day.
According to my observations, most bches get pregnant between days ten and fourteen. It is best to mating your buck at least twice during this period, and if you are using a stud dog because you are traveling, most owners will offer two matings separated by 48 hours.
After the stud dog and bitch are introduced, they typically engage in a brief period of flirtation during which the bitch will bounce around the dog and attempt to persuade him to mount her.
The stud dog will approach the bitch from behind and begin “humping,” but his penis won’t be upright at this point, and you might not even notice it. The bulbous gland at the base of the penis, which you will never see in its entirety before, expands inside the vulva as soon as he penetrates her (you will see him do a funny little dance at this point, and if he is a little shorter than the bitch perhaps even a little jump).
Then, the vulva constricts, enabling the bitch to imprison the dog inside of her. This is called the “tie,” and it can last anywhere between five minutes and thirty minutes, possibly even a little longer. The male then turns around to stand behind-to-back with the female after swinging his leg over her back. If you ever hear someone say their dogs got “stuck together,” that is what has happened. Bizarre eh?.
There is a very important reason for this though. The dogs ejacul*te while they are restrained, and no sperm can escape because the penis is locked inside the vagin*. This increases the likelihood that the female’s released eggs will successfully fertilize. This is why there is a very good chance that puppies will be arriving following a successful tie.
This is the part that I find most fascinating because it reminds me of our dog’s wild ancestors like wolves and coyotes. So why do they turn back-to-back like that while they are tied? Since they are confined together and unable to move for a long period of time, imagine how vulnerable these animals would be if they were in the wild as opposed to being safe in our homes.
When a female becomes estranged from her current partner, other males may even approach to try to mate with her themselves, so by turning back-to-back, they have a head at each end and are still able to bite and fend off would-be attackers even while in this most vulnerable position! Indeed, they could even spin in circles creating a snapping wheel if necessary! Mother Nature thinks of everything.
The male will pull away from the female after this process is finished, and typically both will give themselves a lick and settle down for a nap while you can grab a cup of coffee and dream of the puppies that you hope this mating will produce. The bulbous gland will then shrink back to its normal size.
Has my dog mated without locking?
There are three stages to a dog’s mating process, with the third stage being particular to dogs.
The mating is known as a slip mating if the male dog leaves before the enlargement or knot appears on his penis. This might happen because the female or male moves before the male penis knot forms. When a slip mating takes place, ejacul*te that would normally be released into the female during the third phase of mating is not released, and there may be some leakage of ejacul*te from the second phase. Due to the possibility of slip mating, this can lower fertility rates, but pregnancy is still possible.
Can dogs get pregnant without locking?
Yes, your female dog can conceive if ejacul*tion has taken place despite the male not staying locked to her. When withdrawal occurs before the locking phase, there is frequently some sem*n spillage, which lowers the fertility rate in a slip mating. However, if ejacul*tion took place before the dogs were separated, conception is still possible and even likely.
How Many Times Do Dogs Mate To Get Pregnant?
By merely repeating the process, many breeders attempt to increase this slip mating success rate.
Naturally, your chances of successfully mating increase the more times you try.
There is a limit to this, though, and 2-3 matings with a female in heat every other day should do the trick and be considered healthy.
FAQ
Can a dog get pregnant even if they don’t tie?
Yes, your female dog can conceive if ejacul*tion has taken place despite the male not staying locked to her. When withdrawal occurs before the locking phase, there is frequently some sem*n spillage, which lowers the fertility rate in a slip mating.
Do dogs get pregnant easily?
If you are not careful, you are at a significant risk of having a litter of unwanted puppies since 40% of female dogs become pregnant after just one mating session.
How many times do dogs have to lock to get pregnant?
Most professionals in the field agree that a total of three matings is sufficient for dogs to become pregnant. Mating every other day for six days straight after the female begins to accept the male will probably result in pregnancy.
How long does a dog have to be knotted to get pregnant?
Dog copulation can last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, depending on the species. Even though the insemination process itself is frequently quick, the preparatory phase and copulatory tie can take hours. The tie lasts for 10 to 30 minutes on average.
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- Are dogs sad when they whine?
