You can decide to mate your female dog by contacting a reputable breeder, or by yourself. In order to do this, you will need to determine exactly the optimal time of your estrus cycle. You can do this by checking for behavioral signs of heat, running tests, and monitoring her estrus cycle. Once you find the optimal time, you can have her mate with the male.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Check Behavioral Heat Signs
Step 1. Examine your dog's genital area
When your bitch is in heat, her vulva swells. You will notice that this area will be enlarged and protrude outward. The tip of the vulva should move upward to allow the male dog to penetrate it more easily. These are all signs of heat.
You can place your dog on his stomach to better examine the genital area. You should be able to see the swollen vulva from behind as well
Step 2. Check for blood or discharge
You should notice that your dog is leaving stains around the house, for example on the furniture, in his bed or on any carpet. These losses can be dark red, light pink or whitish. She will be fertile about 12 days after she starts bleeding, when the discharge becomes clearer and less abundant.
- You may also notice that the blood or discharge has a peculiar smell. This is to attract the attention of males.
- Some bitches may bleed very little during the heat, others may not even have any losses.
Step 3. Check if your dog is urinating more often
You should also pay attention to this detail and observe his behavior. If your dog pees little, but more often, she's probably in heat. His urine contains pheromones and hormones, which make the male understand that he is in heat and can mate.
You may notice that he wants to go out more often than usual to pee. It could be a sign that it is in the most fertile period of the heat
Step 4. Make sure it is in the correct period for mating
You should be sure that the dog is of the right age. Most females do not mate with the male until he has passed at least two or three heats. He should be at least one or two years old.
If you are unsure if your dog is of the right age to mate, ask your vet. It should be able to tell you if it's ready
Part 2 of 3: Using Dog Oester Cycle Tests and Monitoring
Step 1. Keep track of your estrus cycle
Dogs go into heat about twice a year, so follow her cycle to determine when she is ovulating (which means she is fertile). The female dog cycle has four stages: proestrus, estrus, metaestrus and anestrus. You may need to monitor several oestrus cycles to be sure of each stage.
- The stage of proestrus begins when the bitch's vulva begins to swell and discharge begins. It lasts about nine days, but it could also last from four to 20. During this time, the bitch may attract male dogs, but she won't want to mate.
- The stage of estrus begins soon after and is the period in which the female can mate. It lasts about nine days and the first five are the most fertile period. She will become more sociable with males and will want to mate. Once the fertile stage is over, her vagina will return to normal size and will no longer accept the male.
- The stage of metaestrus lasts about 50 days, but it can also reach 80-90; the final stage, called anestro, can last from two to three months. During these periods the female is at the end of the oestrus cycle and will not accept mating.
Step 2. Have a vaginal smear taken by your vet
With this test you can confirm that your dog is in heat. It is done by examining the vaginal cells under a microscope. It is a non-invasive procedure and does not harm the dog in any way. The vet may need to take several samples to confirm the heat.
The vet will look for certain changes in the sample cells that show that the bitch is ovulating. The vaginal smear is also useful in determining the optimal period for mating
Step 3. Get a serum progesterone test
You can determine if the dog is ovulating with a blood test to measure progesterone levels. For this test, you will need to have your dog taken a blood sample. Again, more samples may be needed to have a more accurate prediction of the ovulation period.
This test is considered to be very accurate in determining the best time for mating. It is the ideal option if the bitch has had previous mating failures or to be sure she is ready before introducing her to the male
Part 3 of 3: Pairing
Step 1. Find a suitable male dog
To make her mate, you'll need to find a suitable mate for her. Look for a dog of his own breed that is healthy and has no genetic defects or problems. You should meet with the owner of the male beforehand, or the breeder, to discuss his health and medical history.
- You should also be sure of the male's age. Most breeds should mate when both dogs are between one and seven years old.
- Before breeding your dog, talk to your vet. This way it can solve any health problems before you get pregnant.
Step 2. Get your female to meet the male at the right time
Males are often more successful when they are in their territory. You can agree with the other owner and bring your female into her most fertile period. Set the date based on its estrus cycle.
- Don't mate the female on her first heat. Wait until he has had at least a couple. This way you will be sure that he will arrive healthy at that time.
- You can also arrange two pairings, twenty-four or forty-eight hours apart. You will increase the chances of your dog getting pregnant.
Step 3. Create a stress-free environment for mating
Once you have chosen a date, take both dogs to a quiet environment. The male owner should set up a clean, open space. If the female is in the right period of her oestrus cycle, she should quickly accept the male dog. It will send him attractive signals and it should all happen naturally.
