Why do dogs stick together after mating

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Why do dogs stick together after mating

Male dogs can start to have sperm at seven months old, but ten months is more common. Young dogs do not have quality sperm. Almost all dogs will have sperm by one year.

Stud dogs are at their prime between 18 months and 4 years old (or 5), after that, the quality of the sperm starts to lessen, and the ability to penetrate eggs, lessens. By 10 years old, most stud dogs do not produce sperm that will impregnate a bitch.

A tie is a natural phenomenon of dog breeding in which the bulbus glandis of the male's penis swells inside the bitch's vagina. The dogs are virtually locked together for 15-20 minutes (two to 30 minutes is also normal), during which time ejaculation has taken place. The sperm is released at the beginning of the tie, during the happy feet dance (see below). During the tie, he is releasing prostatic fluid.

Why do dogs stick together after mating

As soon as the dogs lock the male usually moves his leg over her back, turns butt to butt and they remain locked. Tied.

Why do dogs stick together after mating
Why do dogs stick together after mating

Tie close-up

Getting stuck together is normal. Do NOT ice them to get them apart. The male is supposed to swell up and get stuck inside the female for two to 30 minutes. At this time if you feel the sire and dam in this area you will feel pulsating. When you hear someone say they got a 13-minute tie, this means they were locked together for 13 minutes.

Picture of a male penis with a swelled bulbus glands

Why do dogs stick together after mating

It is advised that you give close supervision and keep them calm. You do not want a larger female getting scared and panicky to swing the male around by his penis, as it will get bruised and may make a repeat breeding failure. Do NOT attempt to separate. Instead, Get ON THE FLOOR and keep them calm. You do not want the female to panic and start squirming. If she is larger than the male she can really hurt the male. He is helpless and will usually stand perfectly still, waiting. The male usually stands calmly; make sure the female does the same. Some females cry in what looks like pain, some desperately want to get free, some just seem to calmly wait.

After a tie, it is good to not let the dam pee for 15 minutes, but MOST important is to check your male, and make sure that his penis has gone back inside of him and is not strangled in hair or stuck out.

"I just did a tie with a new breeder that wanted to watch. Her biggest shock was the young dam’s initial panic; that would have concerned her. But when she saw me get on the floor and calm her and then realized this must be normal as I was so calm, SHE WAS SOOOOOOO glad to see what it is like so she will not panic, as if she panicked, the dogs may also panic."

Why do dogs stick together after mating

Most dogs stand for a tie and it is important that you do not let the dam roll around or get too frisky and hurt the male, but this particular dam insists on lying on her back.

Unless you KNOW what your pair will do when they are locked, I highly suggest 100% supervision when mating. I only do supervised ties.... 100% supervision.... Accidents can happen.

After the tie they are separated, with their great disapproval, for at least 24 hours to allow his sperm to build back up.

With a younger male (under four years) 20 hours is enough, but with an older male, you may want to increase this time to 30-36 hours.

It is wise to check with your vet. He can draw a sample from the male and check how fertile he is or if he is sterile.

If his sperm level is low, then you must be a little more involved in breed scheduling.

Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

Can a dam that has mated with more than one stud during a single heat have pups from both fathers?

Answer: Yes, when a dam mates with more than one stud, both of the studs can impregnate the female at the same time. Pups from a single litter can have different fathers, as the sperm from both fathers will swim around, waiting for the eggs to ripen. The sperm from both fathers will live in the dam for five days.

Purebred Yorkshire Terrier and a Chorkie (Yorkshire Terrier / Chihuahua mix) born in the same litter

YES, it is the female that will determine the size of a litter.

YES, the stud dog determines the gender of the puppies.

"This litter is the result of a mistake when a Chihuahua male caught a Yorkie female at the beginning of her heat. The Yorkie male mated her as well. In the same litter we have a Chorkie female and a pure Yorkie male! Cute! In the photo they are eight weeks old."

Courtesy of Wilkinsons Dream Kennel, Spain

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Why do dogs stick together after mating

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.

Image Credit: JACLOU-DL, Pixabay

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.

Why Dogs Get Stuck Together When Mating: 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