How Do Dogs Breed
Dog wise people would know if a bitch is in heat. Aside from the changed appearance of the vulva and the bloody discharge, what will be most noticeable are the female dog's suitors milling around. The bitch's suitors would mill around the house because a distinct smell emitted by a bitch in heat would serve as an advertisement of the bitch condition. This distinct odor would attract all the male dogs in the area
Dogs are seen mating everywhere but the bitch would not be swayed easily by the attention of its suitors. Only one of the suitors will be favored and will be allowed to mount the bitch. A female dog that is ready to be mated will hold the tail to one side to allow the dog easy access to her vulva. This sign of the bitch's readiness to be mated is called flagging. Once the male dog has mounted from behind, the vulva will be penetrated by the dog's member. The mating dogs will be tied end to end as after the penetration, the dog will not be able to separate.
Dog owners that have not seen the mating act of dogs may panic given that the dogs may appear to be highly stressed or act as if they are in pain. It is natural for mating dogs to be stuck end to end and owners must never try to separate them. The part where mating dogs are unable to separate while breeding is called the "mating tie".
Unlike humans, a dog's member can penetrate the bitch's vulva even if it is not stiff because a small bone inside the member called baculum holds the member stiff. After penetration, the bulbus glandis, an erectile tissue at the base of the member will swell with blood. This erectile tissue would trap the member inside the vulva so that the dogs will not be able to separate for about 30 minutes. After the male dog has finished the erectile tissue will return to its normal size. The dogs will only be able to separate after the bulbus glandis has returned to its normal size.
The mating tie ensures impregnation as the sperm and prostatic fluid will be transmitted directly into the canal thereby preventing leakage. As mentioned the distinct odor emanating from a female dog in heat would attract male dogs in the area thus it is possible that bigger dogs would show aggression and interrupt the breeding but because the dogs would be stuck together, other dogs would not have the chance until the mating act is finished.
