Artificial insemination can provide many benefits to both owner and the dogs this is why there has been a huge rise in using artificial insemination rather than opting for a natural mating. In some cases the dogs can show an inability or unwillingness to mate naturally which can cause unnecessary stress on the dogs and lead to unsuccessful pregnancy. A natural mating can cause the spread of infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Artificial insemination will help to prevent this and make it a calm stress free environment.

Artificial insemination is an imitation of the natural act of mating but without the stress and risk of infection. Insemination should take place immediately after semen is collected and a small amount has been analysed unless it is been chilled for shipping.

I always recommend to have Cytology testing done first to detect when Ovulation has happened and insemination must be coordinated with this for a successful outcome.

The process is stress free for both dogs and owners. It involves collecting the semen from a male dog then analysing a small amount under the microscope to check for good mobility and to rule out any abnormalities in the semen. After this has been checked it can then be directly deposited into the front of the bitches cervix or as close to the cervix as possible using a sterile catheter and syringe. The length of the Catheter depends on the size of the bitch. Once the semen has been fully inseminated the catheter will be removed and a gloved finger will be inserted into the vagina to plug for around 5-10 minutes whilst gently stroking the vaginal walls to help stimulate vaginal contractions to assist in moving the sperm toward the cervix.

Artificial insemination also allows the use of semen to be taken from the stud dog, chilled and shipped around the world without the requirement to transport the dogs.

When analysing the dog’s semen we would expect the sample to have at least 70% forward mobility. Analysing your dog’s semen is crucial to be successful in the breeding process and to rule out any abnormalities in the semen. If the sperm is found to be of good quality but lacking in suitable mobility an extender can be used to boost the sperm and achieve the desired result. 

Most dogs are sexually mature by 12 months of age so can be tested from around 9 months as some will mature earlier than others. Semen count and quality can start to decrease from the age of 5 years, all though a lot of proven stud dogs have excellent fertility through to their later years and continue to produce healthy litters of puppies.