If you’re a new dog parent and are seeing your dog mating for the first time, you may be surprised or concerned to see that dogs sometimes get stuck after they’ve done the deed. Meaning, they remain stuck together and have a hard time pulling apart. This behavior is known as a copulatory tie. It is completely normal in canines. Here’s why it occurs and whether you should try to separate dogs that are stuck.
Dogs get stuck to each other at the end of the mating. This is called a copulatory tie and is observed in other animals like foxes and wolves as well. It happens because the male dog’s genitalia, specifically erectile tissue called bulbus glandis, becomes swollen when the male dog is aroused during intercourse. The swelling makes it difficult for the male dog to pull out. As a result, the male and female dogs remain stuck together after copulation until the swelling goes down.
Because female dogs are only in heat twice a year, experts say the copulatory tie is an evolutionary adaptation to improve the chances of semen reaching the eggs.
Dogs can stay stuck after mating for anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes. Although the male dog will dismount, he will remain stuck to the rear-end of the female. If it is the first time your dog has mated, the getting stuck can cause some anxiety. However, it is a natural phenomenon and should not be interfered with. The two will separate after the male dog’s swelling has subsided.
There is no guarantee that dogs getting stuck after copulation will lead to pregnancy. However, the longer the dogs remain stuck after mating, the higher the chances of pregnancy. This is because the male dog being stuck to the female acts as a plug and improves the chances of the semen reaching the eggs.
Only a vet can tell you for sure if a female dog is pregnant. This is done with the help of a physical exam and ultrasound. Pregnancy in dogs can be detected 25 days or so after mating. Take your dog to the vet if you notice signs and symptoms of pregnancy such as a swollen belly, weight gain, changes in appetite, vomiting, and larger, darker nipples.
While unlikely, it is still possible for a male dog who has been spayed or neutered to get stuck post mating. This is more likely to occur in a recently neutered dog who still has relatively high levels of testosterone, a hormone that affects how much the bulbus glandis swells. With that said, some dogs with low levels of testosterone may have significant swelling and the mating process may result in a copulatory tie.
You should leave your dog alone if he or she is stuck. If your dog is anxious about getting stuck, try to keep him or her calm. Do not attempt to pull the dogs apart if they are in a copulatory tie. This can result in serious injuries and will not guarantee prevention of a pregnancy.
The best way to prevent a pregnancy is to spay or neuter your dog and to keep males away from females in heat. Remember that female dogs can remain fertile for 4 weeks after their heat cycle. In fact, she is most fertile when the bleeding dissipates.
Watching your dog get stuck can be an uncomfortable and worrisome experience, but it is normal behavior and you don’t need to do anything about it. If you are keen to breed your dog, a copulatory tie is a good sign. It might be time to start thinking about puppy proofing your home. But if you want to avoid a pregnancy, trying to separate dogs stuck in a copulatory tie is not advisable. You’ll just have to hope for the best that a pregnancy does not occur.
06 December, 2022