Mating lock in dogs: why pets stick together

Many owners of purebred puppies or adult dogs are thinking about breeding in the future. How does knitting occur and why does a lock appear?

Professional breeders recommend spaying animals if they are not going to be bred. If breeding of offspring is still in the plans, you need to know about some of the features and nuances of mating in dogs.

Knitting permit

Mating is the mating of dogs for the purpose of breeding them. If purebred animals that are of value in terms of obtaining high-quality offspring are being bred, owners must register the dog and obtain permission to mate. This requires the following:

• Pedigree. The RKF document is exchanged for a puppy metric. The metric is valid for only 15 months.
• Participation in exhibitions. The dog must take part in at least one certified show. 
• physical maturity. Animals that have reached the age of 15-18 months and have not reached 7-8 years are allowed to mate. It all depends on the breed of dog.
• Medical Commission. To get admission, the dog needs to undergo a full medical examination, microchipping and vaccination. 

Preparation for knitting

To prepare, you need to focus on the cycle of the dog. It used to be considered right to pay attention to signs of estrus, but now experts recommend monitoring the ovulatory cycle of the animal. To do this, you need to wait for the first discharge and take the dog to the clinic for the necessary tests: at least two smears for various pathologies and a test for progesterone levels. If everything is in order, you can set the mating date. 

Mating Features

It is recommended to knit dogs on the territory of the male: the success of the event depends on his calmness. It is best to schedule mating in the morning. The help of the owners of their wards, most likely, will not be required. As soon as both dogs are released, they will almost immediately begin “mating games”. The courtship process can be quite lengthy, so it is better not to interfere with them, but also not to allow them to be greatly distracted.

Inexperienced dogs may not immediately understand what they need to do, and very young bitches can behave extremely aggressively. If the pet tries to bite or injure the male, you should intervene and put a muzzle on her. If the dog is obviously not ready for courtship, it is recommended to either help the animals by holding the female, or reschedule mating for another time. 

Why do dogs stick together when mating?

The lock in dogs during mating is an evolutionary process that guarantees conception. From the outside, it looks like this: the dogs, as it were, turn their backs to each other, while not separating. In a similar position, animals can be from five to fifteen minutes. Sometimes the gluing process takes about an hour. In no case should you try to separate the dogs: this will lead to guaranteed injuries, since the lock is caused by spasms of the female’s vagina.

If bonding does not occur during mating, it is likely that the bitch will not become pregnant. The owner needs to pay attention to all changes in the behavior of the pet and, at the first sign of pregnancy, take her to a veterinary specialist.

If mating is not planned, it is better to sterilize the dog. The optimal age for the operation is 5-6 months for small breeds and 8 months for large breeds, that is, before the onset of the first estrus. Sterilization at this age will minimize the risk of various diseases that develop with age.

A veterinarian should be consulted before making a decision about mating or spaying. He will conduct the necessary examinations, tell you about all the pros and cons of the procedure, give recommendations on nutrition and physical activity. Timely examinations by a specialist are the key to the health of your pet in the future.

See also: 

• Top Benefits of Spaying a Dog
• How to deal with a puppy if there is a dog in heat nearby
• Do males go into heat? What the experts say
• Why does a dog eat everything while walking?