If you want to breed your male dog, you should make sure he is fertile before breeding him. This requires the evaluation of a veterinarian, who will undergo a series of tests ranging from a general visit to specific fertility tests. However, if you have already tried to breed your dog and the mating was unsuccessful, you will need to carefully research the reasons for infertility. Either way, there are a number of steps you can take to determine if your dog can produce offspring.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Making sure the Dog is Fertile
Step 1. Make sure she is the right age for mating
A dog that is still too young cannot reproduce. Male dogs generally reach sexual maturity when they are over one year of age, but they begin puberty as early as six to eight months; from this moment on they are able to fertilize a female.
If you want your dog to mate when he reaches the point of maximum fertility, wait until he is at least one and a half years old
Step 2. Make sure your dog's overall health is good
The first step in making sure she is fertile is to know she is in good health. If you have any serious medical conditions it could interfere with your fertility.
- Have it routinely checked once a year and treat any problems that may be encountered;
- Some of the conditions that can interfere with reproduction include problems with motility, which could prevent the dog from completing sexual intercourse or cause damage to the reproductive organs.
Step 3. Get your dog tested for infectious and genetic diseases
There are some genetic conditions or malformations that could cause infertility. If you are serious about getting him to mate, then you should have him tested for both any diseases and any genetic problems that cause infertility or congenital problems in the offspring.
Genetic defects can include, for example, chromosome abnormalities or the likelihood of transmitting polygenic disorders to puppies
Part 2 of 2: Identifying Infertility Related Problems
Step 1. Identify the risk factors for infertility
If you are trying to get your dog to mate and are having difficulties, you should first think about what the problem could be. If you can figure out where it comes from, then it will be easier to identify it. Here are some potential risk factors for a male dog's infertility:
- Age, too old or too young
- Injury to the reproductive organs
- Physical damage or physical inability that prevents him from mounting the female
- Drugs that reduce fertility or sexual drive
Step 2. Pay attention to lack of interest in mating
A lack of interest in mating could be a sign that the dog has hormonal problems. Take him to the vet if you are trying to breed him and he doesn't want to.
When trying to breed your dog, you need to keep him close to a female who is in the correct period of her estrous cycle. During this time she will emit the pheromones which will attract the male, thus starting the reproduction process
Step 3. Get your dog tested for fertility
If you are convinced that the problem with a dog's infertility is due to his semen, and not the inability to consume intercourse, you need to have his semen tested. This test will provide information on the quality of the dog's sperm, whether they are being produced correctly and whether they have the ability to move and penetrate the female egg.
- Semen testing is performed in many veterinary clinics and also in those specializing in reproduction and fertility;
- One of the problems that can be identified is teratozoospermia, i.e. the inability to properly produce spermatozoa or a condition in which some of them have an abnormal shape.
