Mating rituals
If you're an experienced breeder, you'll likely have a good idea of how and when to mate your female dog. For those of you newer to breeding, here is a guide to a female dog's seasons and when during the season it's time for mating.
For most of the year, the female dog is in what's known as anestrus/anoestrus, a hormonally quiet period with little ovarian activity. Anestrus is followed by proestrus, marking the start of the season. A light, blood-tinged discharge from the vulva is then seen. Sometimes the discharge is obvious, but other times it's harder to detect. Proestrus usually lasts for about 10 days on average, but can vary from three days to three weeks. Proestrus is followed by estrus, which is when the female dog ovulates and is ready for mating. Peak estrus lasts for about nine days, then transitions into post-estrus or metoestrus. This phase occurs whether or not the female has become pregnant. Towards the end of the post-estrus period, some females who haven't become pregnant may experience phantom pregnancies. Post-estrus lasts for around two months before moving into the resting phase.
A female dog can come into season anywhere from one to four times a year. The time interval between seasons varies between individuals but is usually consistent for the same female. It's not entirely clear what triggers a season, but changes in day length, temperature, coat shedding, and other external factors may play a role.
Mating time
Ovulation occurs early in peak estrus, and it's after this that the female dog can become pregnant. It’s important to be aware of when the female is transitioning from proestrus to peak estrus to be prepared for the right mating time. Just before ovulation, oestrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels increase. This stops the blood flow during peak estrus, and the discharge becomes clearer and more transparent, with the vulva softening.
Is the female dog ready?
You can test if the female dog is ready to mate by gently stroking her hindquarters and tail. If she's ready, she will raise her hindquarters and move her tail to the side. She'll also move her tail to the side if a male dog sniffs her hindquarters. It's also possible to have a blood test at a clinic to measure progesterone levels, which can indicate when the time is right.
Good mating times for natural mating are typically on days 1 and 2 after ovulation. A good indicator can be mating on days 2 and 4 from when the female first shows the "tail reflex" or when she presents herself to the male. This approach uses the female's behaviour rather than relying solely on counting the number of bleeding days, which is often used. Progesterone levels are then around 25-40 nmol/l. But remember, even if the timing is right, the chemistry between the female and the male might not be. The female and male must have a chance to get to know each other before mating, and a lot of patience may be needed.
