Have you been hoping for a litter of puppies for a long time now, only to realize that your male dog can’t get it in the female? If you are a prospective breeder, this issue could be worrying and annoying at the same time.
Does this mean your male dog doesn’t know how to mate? Or, does he have specific preferences?
In this article, you will learn:
- 5 potential reasons why your male dog can’t get it in the female
- How you can help him mount, and
- 5 ways you can help him to mate successfully
- And more…
5 Reasons Why My Male Dog Can’t Get It In The Female
The most common reason why your stud can’t get it in could be because of the difference in their sizes. If your male dog is not physically compatible with the breed and size of the female dog you picked for him to mate with, it could be difficult for him to mate properly.
The breeding process of dogs is not always as simple as how we see it in movies. It is far more complicated in real life!
Before anything, you need to understand if the problem is with your dog’s inability to mount, or if your dog is mounting but not getting anywhere or cannot penetrate.
Let’s discuss both these scenarios.
If you are wondering, “why won’t my male dog mount the female dog?!”, it could be because of one of the following reasons:
1. Different Dog Sizes
One of the main reasons why stud dogs may not be able to mount is the size difference between the male and female dogs. If your male dog is physically incompatible with the breed and size of the female dog you chose for him to mate with, he might find it difficult to mount and get it in.
Let’s say your male dog is a smaller breed than the female, and much smaller in size than her; he will naturally find it difficult to properly mount her, and this can cause a lot of stress for the dogs.
On the other hand, if the male dog is much bigger than the female, he is likely to mount her but may not be getting anywhere, as it might be difficult for him to locate her vulva.
In some cases, even if both the male and female dogs are of the same breed but incompatible in size, mating can still be difficult.
The best solution to prevent this issue is to make sure that both the stud and the female dog are compatible in size.
2. Female Dog is Stressed or Nervous
For your dog to be willing to mount and mate, both he and his “partner” should be relaxed and comfortable.
When a female dog is in heat, which typically happens twice a year, her body undergoes massive hormonal changes, leading to anxiety and stress. This can make her nervous and stressed when it is time to mate, which in turn can overwhelm the stud.
Interestingly, male dogs are known to get more stressed and nervous than females during mating, and this could be because of different reasons:
- aggressive behavior of the female dog
- female moving around too much
- bad past experiences
- new surrounding
- too much noise
The solution, in this case, is to first identify the cause of stress and eliminate it, and keep both dogs calm throughout the process.
3. Young / Inexperienced Male Dog
Let’s face it, your male dog is not born a stud! Male dogs become studs with age and practice.
Therefore, if your male dog is mating for the first time, it is natural for him to not know what to do, be it mounting or getting it in.
If your stud dog keeps missing, and he is young and inexperienced, know that he might need your help during his first few matings. Of course, he will soon learn to mate independently.
However, if you are not quite sure about the dog’s mating process, it might be wise to get help from a professional. Also know that the probabilities of slip mating is not always zero but it is not high either.
4. Mating Preferences
Yes, dogs do have mating preferences, especially females. According to Animal Behavior Associates, female dogs exhibit individual preferences for some studs over others. They are even known to attack and drive off those males that they don’t prefer.
According to Veterian Key, a Veterinary Medicine Insight Publication, submissive male dogs can refuse to mate with dominant female dogs; also, a male or female dog might refuse to mate with a dog that they live with.
So, if you notice that your stud is refusing to mate with a particular female dog or vice versa, you could try partnering him with a different female.
5. New or Noisy Mating Environment
When you choose the mating area or environment, it is important to make sure that the place will keep both the male and the female relaxed and comfortable. This is especially crucial if it is your stud’s first time breeding.
In most cases, breeding is done at the male dog’s place, to keep him comfortable and make him feel secure in his usual environment, and because female dogs are less inhibited by new environments.
To make the female dog comfortable, arranging a meeting for the two dogs a day before the mating day could help.
And if you have been worrying about your dog mounting but not getting anywhere, like withdrawing before ejaculation, one possible reason could be a major distraction caused by a noisy environment.
Giving the dogs an isolated enclosed area, with no distractions to startle them could be just what they need to make the breeding a success.
How To Help A Male Dog Mount A Female?
“Why won’t my male dog mount?” A common question asked by first-time breeders, and we have discussed the reasons in the previous section.
Now, can you help a male dog mount a female? Yes, you can!
If you have already arranged an introductory meeting of the two dogs and they are familiar with each other, you can directly move on to these steps, suggested by Jane Harvey, an internationally recognized breeder and author.
- To keep the female dog calm and prevent her from being aggressive towards the stud, it would be a good idea to put her on a leash, so you can control her if the situation seems to get out of hand.
- When you notice the stud showing interest to mount, you can help him by steadying the female. Place one hand in her collar and the other around her ribs.
This will not only make it easier for the male dog to mount the female but also reassures the female dog if she feels uncomfortable.
- Use your hands to gently guide the stud towards the female’s vulva when he tries to mount.
Give them some privacy, be patient, do not interrupt them, and DO NOT break them up.
5 Ways To Help Your Male Dog Mate Successfully
Of course, both the male and female dogs should like each other and be in the mood for mating. But, involves a lot more than that, and there are many things that can/should be done to increase a stud’s libido (sexual desire).
1. Balanced Diet
Your male dog should always be on a balanced diet, as it can help them be in their best health for mating. Based on your dog’s breed, his dietary requirements will vary.
You can talk to your vet to come up with a healthy and balanced diet plan for your stud.
2. Regular Exercise
To promote your male dog’s overall reproductive health, he has to be at his optimum weight at all times, for which you need to exercise him regularly.
Whether you take him for long walks or engage in active play in your backyard, the key is to keep him active.
Again, talking to your vet can help you get an idea of how much your stud should be exercised.
3. Grooming
Keeping your male dog clean and well-groomed is not only good for his overall health but also for his mating rituals.
Make sure that his genitals are clean to prevent yeast infections and other potential complications.
4. Let Them Get Acquainted Day Before Mating Day
Give the stud something with the female dog’s scent on it, to get him accustomed to the female’s smell. This simple technique will get him ready for mating the next day.
Put the stud and the female dog together and let them get acquainted by sniffing each other. Do keep an eye on the dogs to prevent any aggressiveness or other problems.
Separate the two but make sure that the stud can still smell the female scent in some way until the next day. This is just to keep his senses excited to meet her again on the breeding day.
5. Make Sure They Are Calm On Breeding Day
Make sure that your male dog remains calm yet energetic on mating day. Choose a private, noise-free room or area, with proper footing, and leave the dogs alone to do the deed naturally.
However, if the stud is new to breeding, you can help him mount and mate following the steps discussed earlier.
