Does it hurt dogs to get stuck together when mating?

If you've never seen two dogs mating before, you may be unfamiliar with how dogs can become "tied" during the process. You may feel it's necessary to separate the dogs but this can cause more harm than good.

Índice Show

• Why do dogs get stuck during mating?
• How long do dogs get stuck during mating?
• Is copulatory tie in dogs painful? (Do dogs feel pain when stuck together?)
• Do dogs always get pregnant when they get stuck?
• Do female dogs feel pain when mating?
• Final thoughts on copulatory tie in dogs
• Why Do Dogs Get Tied Together After Mating?
• Stages of Dog Mating
• Slip Mating
• Final Thoughts

When a male dog is mating with a female, the penis will become congested with blood and swell. The bulbourethral gland, which is located at the base of the penis, will become swollen up to three times its normal size. As it becomes larger, the female's vulva will contract around and squeeze the male's genitalia tightly, thereby keeping the dogs "locked" in place. The dogs will end up being tied end to end as the male will usually move one of his legs over and swing his body around during the process. The dogs will stay tied until the male's penis has discharged his semen and the swelling dissipates. You can expect this entire process to take anywhere from five minutes to 40 minutes.

Related Articles

You should never attempt to break up two dogs that are tied during mating. Doing so could actually lead to physical damage to the female's vulva and the male's genitalia. It's understandable that you may want to break them up because you want to prevent a pregnancy or because you're concerned the female is in pain. It's normal to hear the female "crying" during this process but attempting to disrupt the copulatory tie can hurt her far worse.

If your dogs become tied, the best thing you can do is remain calm and wait until they are done. The dogs will not be able to release from each other until the male is finished ejaculating and the swelling of his genitalia goes back to normal. Getting upset, throwing cold water on them, or yelling or making loud noises can only make one or both dogs more stressed and anxious and this can prolong, rather than shorten, the mating process. If either dog appears stressed, sit with them and hold them gently to keep them from separating until they're ready. Usually the female is the dog in greater discomfort, especially if she's new to mating, so keeping her comfortable and coaxing her to keep still and relaxed is the safest thing to do until the dogs are done.

If you decide to keep a whole male and female dog in your home, you will need to have a plan in place for when the female goes into heat. Some dog owners may feel that having the female wear diapers will prevent the male from mating, but an aroused, determined male isn't likely to be deterred from mating in this way. The best ways to prevent mating are:

• Keep the dogs entirely separate if you're able to do this in your home, using kennels, baby gates, crates and other barriers. This will not keep your male calm though as he'll be able to sense your female's scent throughout the home.
• Board the male or female during estrus so they are completely separated and the male does not have to be agitated by the female's pheromones. Boarding the male is the obvious choice as you don't want to put your female, who's already uncomfortable, into a boarding facility where she'll become more stressed and disruptive to the other animals there.
• Spay or neuter the male or female, or both dogs, which will permanently prevent mating. This will also help reduce the agitation the male feels around any female in heat in the future.

If you would prefer that your dogs do become tied and you want a mating to occur, there's not much you will need to do once the female has reached the point in her heat cycle where she's receptive to the advances of the male. If dog breeding is something you truly want to become involved in, it's best to become a responsible breeder and contact your local kennel club to get advice and education on the optimal age to begin breeding and how to care for the dogs properly before, during and after the mating process, as well as during the delivery of the newborn puppies.

Experienced dog breeders know that the tie is part of the normal process and will do their best to keep the female calm and comfortable until the dogs separate on their own. Make sure you don't do anything to stress the dogs further or force a separation as this can lead to serious damage to the dogs and very possibly prevent breeding in the future. If you're new to dog breeding, seek out experienced breeders who can provide mentorship and guidance so you can provide the best care for all the dogs involved.

© 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved.

During the mating process in dogs, the male and female dogs will get stuck together for a period of time and turn their rare ends to each other. This process is called the tie or copulatory tie and lasts for about 15-20 minutes. While it may seem weird and uncomfortable, it’s a normal thing when dogs mate. So, how do dogs get stuck during mating, and are they in any pain?

Why do dogs get stuck during mating?

The process of a male and female dog getting stuck during the mating process is called a copulatory tie. The tie happens when the male’s bulbous gland expands keeping the dogs locked together for some time. The lock is important to keep the semen secured inside the female dog hence higher chances for pregnancy.

Copulatory tie in dogs last for around 15 to 20 minutes and only break once the male dog has ejaculated and the bulbous gland return to its normal size. It’s important to keep in mind that dogs getting stuck together during mating is normal. You shouldn’t try to separate them as it can cause injuries such as tearing of the vaginal area and internal injuries causing blood loss and pain.

How long do dogs get stuck during mating?

The copulatory tie or dogs getting stuck during mating lasts for between 15 to 20 minutes and happens when the bulbous glands expand inside the vagina keeping the pair stuck together. The tie helps secure semen inside the female dog increasing her chances to get pregnant. Sometimes, though rare, the copulatory tie can last for 30 mins.

It’s advisable not to interfere with the dogs during mating, including attempting to unstuck them. Trying to forcefully separate dogs stuck during mating can cause injuries including bruising and injuring the dog’s penis and tearing of the vaginal area causing blood loss and excruciating pain. Besides, the tie will break after 15 to 20 minutes.

Is copulatory tie in dogs painful? (Do dogs feel pain when stuck together?)

Dogs mating for the first time are likely to experience pain and discomfort. They are also likely to take up positions that make them uncomfortable while others will try to forcefully unstuck themselves, hence causing pain. Disturbing dogs in a copulatory tie will also make them move around increasing discomfort and the possibility of feeling pain.

Do dogs always get pregnant when they get stuck?

YES. There is a very high possibility the mating will result in a pregnancy if the male dog ejaculates and remain stuck for 15 to 20 minutes without disturbance. Dogs getting stuck together helps keep the semen inside the female dog, which increases the chances of her becoming pregnant.

Do female dogs feel pain when mating?

Female dogs rarely feel pain or discomfort if they’re mating with a male dog of a similar breed (unless it’s their first time). However, mating between large male dogs and small female dogs can cause pain, discomfort, and is often almost impractical. Can you visualize a female chihuahua mating with a German Shepherd or English Mastiff?

Here is an explainer video of why dogs get stuck after mating. Video courtesy: AnimalWised.

Final thoughts on copulatory tie in dogs

As we have seen, dogs get stuck during mating for a reason. A copulatory tie helps keep semen inside the female dog to ensure successful mating (resulting in pregnancy). You should, however, avoid trying to separate dogs stuck during mating as it can cause pain and injuries.

If you’re planning on breeding your dogs, you’ve probably done your homework on dogs mating. One of the common problems that you’re likely to have stumbled upon is dogs getting stuck during intercourse. While it may seem awkward and unnatural, this sticky situation is actually crucial in the canine kingdom. Referred to as a copulatory tie, this act can last for up to 40 minutes after the male dog has ejaculated.

In order to fully understand dogs stuck together after canine coupling, let’s take a deeper look at the subject.

Why Do Dogs Get Tied Together After Mating?

There are many different reasons why two dogs can get stuck together during the mating game. However, it’s important to understand the male dog’s erectile penis tissue. All mammals have two different types of erectile tissue. While one stiffens the penis, the other kind fills the penis glans, causing it to swell.

While most mammals have these tissues activated simultaneously, dog penises will stiffen before intercourse and won’t fully swell until the act of mating commences. Male dog genitalia have long bones, which results in small amounts of penis-swelling tissues.

Once the male dog has mounted and entered the female, the glans tissue will start to expand. This primarily happens around the base in an area referred to as the bulbus glandis. After ejaculation, the dog’s penis will drastically expand. When this happens, the bulbus glandis will grow twice as thick and three times as wide as compared to its flaccid state. At the same time, the female dog’s vaginal walls will tighten around the penis. This combination of squeezing and swelling locks the two dogs together. This also increases the chances of getting the female dog pregnant.

Eventually, the male dog will dismount, and the two pooches will find themselves stuck together butt to butt, facing in opposite directions. This outward-facing position is theorized to be a defense tactic to keep tabs on the dogs’ surroundings. While this situation is unsettling, it will eventually end when the female dog’s genital muscles relax, and the male dog’s penis becomes flaccid.

Stages of Dog Mating

There are three main stages of canine mating. These include:

• Mounting: This occurs when the male dog, or stud, mounts the female dog after he gets the signal that she is ready.
• Penetration: The following stage involves the male dog successfully locating, identifying, and penetrating the female dog’s vulva. He may need a helping hand from the breeder, especially if it’s his first time.
• Ejaculation: Once penetration occurs, the male dog will release his prostatic fluid along with his sperm into the female after he starts to hump.

You should never interfere or interrupt this mating process. Even if the dogs are whimpering in pain and you feel helpless, do not intrude. This is normal behavior, especially for novice canines. Always supervise the mating process. Your vet should be accessible if an emergency happens.

Slip Mating

Slip mating occurs when the canine coitus doesn’t happen due to the male dog withdrawing his penis before ejaculation. This can happen when his female counterpart isn’t completely prepared for the act.

To avoid slip mating, be certain that both dos are comfortable and confident. Introduce them well before the mating process takes place to prevent any discomfort.

Final Thoughts

Getting stuck together while mating is perfectly natural, and even necessary, for dogs to do. Not only does it help ensure pregnancy, but it also protects the pair while literally caught in the act.

As a breeder and pet parent, you should never interfere with the mating process. Always introduce the two dogs prior to breeding to increase their comfort levels. Having dogs stuck together is a temporary situation.

Best of all, stuck-together dogs will eventually lead to a litter of puppies that you can nurture, raise, and love.

Featured Image Credit: curraheeshutter, Shutterstock