Puppies are absolutely adorable whether theyre purebred or complete mutts. However, just like all baby mammals, puppies only come about as a result of their parents engaging in sexual intercourse. Canines (including wolves, foxes, jackals, and dogs) are unique in how they mate since before the act is over, the two dogs get stuck together in whats known as a copulatory tie that lasts for five to 40 minutes after the male dog ejaculates.
There are actually multiple things happening when dogs get stuck together while mating, but to understand the full process, you first need to know more about the erectile tissue of the penis. All mammals have âtwo types of erectile tissue:â one stiffens the penis, and the other fills the penis glans and makes the organ swell.
In most mammals, these tissues are both activated at the same time, but in dogs, the penis is stiffened before intercourse begins, and the penis doesnt begin to really swell until the two dogs start mating. In fact, male dogs have long bones in their penis, so they have very little penis-swelling tissue, and their penises do not grow much until after sex begins.
Once the male has mounted the female and enters her, the glans tissue begins to expand, particularly around the base in an area called the âbulbus glandisâ. As the male ejaculates, the penis starts expanding dramatically. When the bulbus glandis expands, it becomes very stiff and grows three times as wide and twice as thick as when flaccid. At the same time this is happening, the females vaginal muscles start tightening and squeeze down on the penis.
The male dog will usually dismount during the tie, leaving the two dogs locked together butt to butt. They will âremain in placeâ until the males penis deflates, and the females vaginal muscles relax.
Why dogs remain tied together, and why they do it in this position is âstill a mysteryâ, but there are some theories. For example, while the male has already ejaculated sperm into the female, scientists speculate that during the tie, the male does ejaculate a small amount of prostate fluid, which may help push his sperm further into the female, increasing the likelihood of her getting pregnant.
The tie may also help prevent other dogs from mating with the female until the males sperm has a chance to enter the egg. As for why they face outward from one another, this could be a defensive tactic that allows them to survey all 360 degrees of their surroundings.
If you come outside to see your dog tied together with another, âdo not try to helpâ. While female dogs sometimes will start crying, whimpering, or even growling or barking, its important to realize that this process is totally natural.
âUnfortunately, separating them is not part of the natural process and can actually hurt both dogs and cause them unnecessary stressâ. After a while, the dog penis will return to its normal size, and the females vagina will relax, and the two dogs will be able to go their separate ways.
Even if you are upset because you did not want the dogs to breed together, you should not try to break them up, as the male has âalreadyâ ejaculated. If the female is going to get pregnant, theres nothing you can do to stop it at this point, and attempting to separate the dogs will only risk hurting them.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your petâs diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vetâs opinion.
How long does a dog stay in heat?
The simple answer to this question would be 2 weeks, but I’m sure you want to know a bit more about this matter, don’t you?
Well, the first thing you should know is that female dogs have periods, too.
As soon as your dog reaches puberty, you can expect cycles of fertility, and that’s when your pet will be in heat and ready to mate.
More so, your doggy will probably be in heat for the first time very early.
The first time for smaller dogs is around the 6th month, while for larger ones, it usually happens after 18 months old.
Your dog will be in heat once every six months unless it’s the Basenji breed, which is in heat only once a year.
Make sure, though, to avoid letting your dog mate during the first two cycles since the eggs won’t be ready.
When you decide to let your dog mate, make sure to talk to your vet and consult her/him about it.
While the bleeding during this part of the cycle may last for only two weeks, your female dog will still be fertile and in heat for at least one more week.
How many times do dogs have to mate to get pregnant?
If the “tie” happens at the right moment during the cycle, and if it lasts for the right amount of time, it’s enough to let the dogs mate just once, and the female dog will stay pregnant even if you know “how to get dogs unstuck”.
It’s important to know that female dogs know when their eggs are ready, and they reject male dogs if they try to mate too early.
As soon as the female dog knows she’s ready, she will show it to the males and allow mating.
Even though only one mating is almost always enough for the female dog to get pregnant (and the fertile period usually lasts for up to 5 days), professional breeders will keep both male and female dogs together during that period of time and allow them to mate a couple of times a day while they’re together, to ensure success.
As said before, if the timing is right, your doggy will most likely stay pregnant right away.
However, if the female dog isn’t in heat, the chances of her getting pregnant are non-existent.
While the cycle is happening twice a year, not every day of this period will be suitable for getting pregnant.
That’s most likely to occur between the 10th and 14th day of heat.
To understand all of this a bit better, we should talk about the stages of every heat cycle.
The first stage of a dog being in heat is called proestrus, and that’s when the bleeding and other symptoms (such as the swollen vulva and frequent urination that releases hormones) happen.
This first stage usually lasts for ten days, and though your dog will attract males, she won’t be ready for fertilization just yet.
The next stage, when the fertilization happens, is known as estrus and this means that the ovulation occurs.
It’s essential that mating happens in those few days because the dog’s sperm stays vital a couple of days after the mating.
That’s why it should be done while the female dog is ovulating.
Does Getting Stuck Mean the Female Dog Is Pregnant?
The longer dogs are stuck together in a copulatory tie, the greater the chance that the semen will reach the eggs. But pregnancy in dogs is never guaranteed, Greer says, “Just like in people, not every mating is successful.”
According to the American Kennel Club, a veterinarian can determine if your dog is pregnant with an exam or an ultrasound around 25 days after mating. You may also see signs of pregnancy about three weeks after mating, such as:
If youre worried your dog has accidentally become pregnant, reach out to your veterinarian as early as possible to discuss options.
FAQ
How long are dogs stuck after mating?
Why can’t dogs separate after mating?
What happens if you separate dogs while mating?