shellbyville Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I usually supervise all matings of my male & female and generally mate them every 48 hours and have had success doing this. However I would like to know does anyone let their dog & bitch run together for the time they will willingly mate? I am asking this question as I have a new stud dog, he has had natural ties with bitches before and although young seems very good at picking the right time for the bitch, however my problem is he is a chronic barker when I have a girl in season. Usually I can keep him separated if I am not planning on a mating and he is pretty good, but once he knows he is allowed to mate, he just barks pretty much constantly to be with her. Last night in desperation I put him in with the bitch at about midnight (the barking was just too much) and went to bed, as earlier when I put them together he didn't show any interest, she is day 12 in her cycle today. I got woken up by a little scream and looked out and they were tied. They are in a small pen about 4 metres square, I went down checked on them and they seemed fine and came apart as normal (it wasn't a long tie going from when she let out a little scream about 10 minutes I would say), so I left them together and went to bed. I separated them this morning though and he is barking again!!! Which is why I am asking the question does anyone just let them stay together for the time they will mate, especially knowing that they are both experienced and not silly? I can handle some barking through the day, but for the sake of the family who all have to get up and go to work, can't let it go on at night. Neighbours are not an issue as we live on property and don't have living too close! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Yes plenty do let the dog and bitch run together at all times. Always remember that dogs and bitches have run together for thousands of years sucessfully. It has only been a managed situation since man stepped in. Also remember we have some dogs that won't mate when there is human intervention and have to be left to get on with the job. Yes I have heard of the so called stories of disaster but I have spoken to many breeders over the years about this and they have never had one either. Sounds like they managed well on their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Thank you for your reply. They did manage well together and I am quite amazed at how sensible this young boy is as far as mating...the barking is another thing altogether. I try not to interfere too much, but usually separate them and then put them together for a while and let them get on with it, but have never just left them together all the time. I think he might be the type of dog who doesn't like any distractions and needs the quiet of night, he is a very exuberant, easily distracted fella! Thanks again, I am a bit of a worrier and because I have not needed to do this before, wasn't sure if it was the right thing or not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Thank you for your reply. They did manage well together and I am quite amazed at how sensible this young boy is as far as mating...the barking is another thing altogether. I try not to interfere too much, but usually separate them and then put them together for a while and let them get on with it, but have never just left them together all the time. I think he might be the type of dog who doesn't like any distractions and needs the quiet of night, he is a very exuberant, easily distracted fella! Thanks again, I am a bit of a worrier and because I have not needed to do this before, wasn't sure if it was the right thing or not! I am sure many will tell you you shouldn't do it, but hey they managed perfectally didn't they and you may be spot on about your dog. Good luck in 9 weeks time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mini girl Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I do this and it works fine - not a problem at all - my boy I have here knows exactly when the time is right - its far easier than locking them apart - and he calms down after a mating and is happy to have a snooze not too far away from the girl of the moment But the other thing I use when I am not letting my boy mate - is a belly band I have devised myself - it works so well - you put a disposable baby nappie inside so it never chafes him - of couse my dogs are not big dogs and I don't know how it would go if they were but so far when I don't want pups on goes the belly band with the trimmed nappie inside - they do have times when I do keep them apart though so he can have his nappie off - but do you know that little guy knows when he sees me with the nappie and he is as happy as a lark for me to put it on because he knows he can be with the girl. Also would not leave it to chance and go out and leave them alone with just the nappie on and hope all was well - but since I started using it has not let me down at all - the trick is the very strong wide industrial type velcrose I use with a towling band that covers the "willy" and a few inches either side and the nappie inside. But having said all that it is a bit of a trying time those days when a girl is in season - more so though when you don't want her to mate. Good luck with it. No matter what you do some say its right and some say its wrong - if its working for you go with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 I don't think I would try the belly band with a lab...but if it works for you, great! If I don't want to mate with him and have a girl in season it is fine, I can separate them enough and keep him away, so he doesn't bark too much as he hasn't had the contact with her. It is only when I do want him to mate and he has had contact with the girl, he then doesn't like to leave them alone and will bark pretty much constantly until I put him back in! At the moment they are both in together and he has shown no attempt at mating this morning after last nights mating...my other boy would not leave her alone, but this guy seems to know when is the right time and I think doesn't like having any activity around him, including other dogs around (outside their pen of course) or even me around. So I am thinking he only likes night time action when it is quiet and no distractions! I have never had a dog like this before. Normally I have to take my other boy away, just to give the girls a break, as he is big and heavy and they get sick of him mounting them! It is working with this new boy so hopefully we will have puppies in 9 weeks, and I can get some sleep as I have another litter due in a couple of days, so need to rest up before they arrive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Nope we are there when the animals are tied,to many what ifs can go wrong & not prepared to risk them both to make life easier . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Thanks Showdog, it is good to get all other opinions, although I am not doing this to "make life easier" necessarily! My next point of action was a bark collar on the boy, but would rather avoid that as he is not always a barker! Also I think going from his behaviour so far, he does not like any interference and shows very little interest in the girl when I am around, but is rather fixated on my attention, whereas when I put him in last night, he got on and did the job, pretty much as soon as I left and turned off the light! Just to add as well, the pen I have them in is very close to the house where I can hear what is going on! Will see how we go though! Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Would he be quiet if you had him in your bedroom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 I hadn't thought to have him in the bedroom, and don't know if he would be quiet or not! Worth giving a try though, thanks for the suggestion. He is and has been an outside dog before he came to live here, but does come inside for visits! I think he would have to be crated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Does he still bark if he is in an adjoining run or crate. Several of my boys have only been happy if they can make sure no other dog can get to the girl so I let them be next to them but not actually in with them. They actually prefer the girl to locked up and then they lie across the gate to protect her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 He still barks if they are in the run next to him, I have tried that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rysup Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I find I either have to crate them beside each other, or have the dog totally away from the bitch. My dogs are not as sensible as your boy sounds though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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