Whether you’re a dog breeder or simply a dog owner, you might want to know how often your male dog can mate in a day.
This knowledge will guide you in potential breeding preparations and will save you a lot of resources in the long run.
This will also ensure that your male dog’s breeding capacities are maximized without being abused.
So how many times can a male dog mate in a day?
How many times can a male dog mate in a day?
Male dogs can mate multiple times in a day, but the recommended maximum frequency is twice a day. Constant mating between short intervals will quickly deplete a male dog’s sperm count, leading to lower pregnancy rates. Hence, most breeders suggest mating male dogs every other day or once every three days.
Is it harmful to male dogs to mate more than twice a day?
In most cases, yes. There’s a reason why breeding male dogs more than twice a day is discouraged among breeders and dog owners alike.
Doing so can gravely affect the male dog’s sperm quality, and thus, their success rate in impregnating female dogs.
The chances of bitches getting pregnant is significantly lower when a male dog has mated more than twice a day. This is because male dogs’ sperm concentrations deplete after every mating session.
Thus, male dogs that mate more than twice a day will have lower sperm counts. This lowers the chances of pregnancy in female dogs that they mate with.
However, although chances are low, female dogs can still get pregnant from a male dog even if he has already mated twice before.
This happens if the male dog is healthy enough and his sperm concentrations are high enough to impregnate.
When can a male dog start mating?
The average male dog can begin to mate upon reaching 6 to 12 months of age. However, not all dogs reach sexual maturity at the same age, so determining when a male dog can start mating varies.
The breed of the male dog, genetics, and his growing environment each play a role in his sexual maturity.
Some dogs reach sexual maturity at as young as 5 months, while other larger dog breeds usually won’t be ready to mate until they are 2 years old.
The important thing to remember here is attentiveness. Be attentive to your puppy and pay close attention to his quirks and behavior.
As he grows older, you will start to notice some signs and changes in his behavior that will indicate your pup is starting to sexually mature.
One palpable sign to look out for is when your growing pup starts to hump on things around your house or even your leg. Or when he starts urinating on your property.
These are completely normal, but firm and repeated instruction will be essential in dissuading your dog from humping and peeing on you and your things.
When is the best time of day for male dogs to mate?
If you decide that it’s best to mate your male dog twice in a day without causing harm, then it’s highly recommended that you space out your two mating times.
Once early in the morning, and then once again in the evening is probably the safest way to go.
This will give your male dog ample time to rest and recover before mating again. This will also avoid abusing your dog’s mating capacities which can do more harm than good.
How to prevent overbreeding your male dog
Overbreeding can pose risks to your male dog’s health and mating capacities which directly affects fertility rates. Thus, it’s important to know when to stop mating your dog.
Here are some tips on how to prevent overbreeding your male dog:
Space out and lessen your male dog’s breeding times
It’s recommended to breed your male dog every other day during the breeding season to give him enough time to replenish his sperm factories.
Although the recommended maximum mating frequency being twice in a day, breeding your dog daily or twice a day is fine as long as your male dog is healthy, fit, with good sperm counts, and given reasonable recovery periods.
Check your male dog’s fertility
To determine whether you are breeding your dog too much, you have his fertility levels checked in a veterinary clinic, or in a canine laboratory.
This is usually done through physical and seminal analyses. Your vet will examine your male dog’s prostate and his reproductive anatomy and get a sample of his semen for examination.
Factors that are considered when a dog’s semen is being examined are its color, volume, sperm movement and numbers, and percentage of normal sperm.
Keep your male and female dogs separate
Keeping your bitch in heat away from your male dog when not scheduled to mate will keep your dogs relaxed and prevent them from wasting their energy before the actual mating.
When it’s time to mate, your male dog will be fit, keen, and ready. This also increases the chances of successfully impregnating the bitch.
Manage and supervise the breeding process
Sometimes when a male dog is left alone with a bitch in heat, his excitement will drive him to constantly try to mate. During which, he is most likely going to hurt himself in the process.
To prevent this, it’s best to manage the breeding process and give your dogs some help whenever necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Male Dog Mating
Why do male dogs get stuck when mating?
After the male dog ejaculates, his penis swells and gets what most refer to as a “knot.” This keeps the male and female dogs “tied” or “locked” together. This phase is called “locking” or “being tied.”
How often should a male dog mate in a month and year?
Unlike female dogs, male dogs don’t have a heat cycle, so they can mate any time of the month or year. They can even successfully mate every day, so it’s possible for them to mate 30 times a month, all year round. However, doing so will reduce their sperm quality and count rather quickly.
Read about why a dog rubs his face after eating next.