Every dog breeder experiences breeding dog mating hassles from time to time. In my long experience as a Veterinarian and breeder, I've had to deal with just about all of them! But as you’ll discover DIY canine artificial insemination can sort out most issues and is not difficult to master.

Here are some familiar dog breeding problems that canine artificial insemination helps to conquer:

1. Behavioral Dilemmas

Turning to AI because of behavioral dilemmas is a common reason for dog breeders.

While an experienced stud dog can often unerringly detect receptivity in bitches, many, especially young dogs, can’t work out what to do! This can often be due to past chastisement of mounting behavior. And some male dogs, in particular the more submissive ones that are automatically on the lowest level of the canine social pecking order, don’t try very hard.  And in many cases, an over-excited dog may develop an erection before it’s time for penetration.

Female dogs can be aggressive towards the advances of the male dog and not permit breeding.  While this is often a consequence of inappropriate scheduling of the mating – she’s not ready – it is also common for a bitch to be frigid.  Unsupervised interactions with such unwilling partners can damage a dog's libido.   Conversely some male dogs are so aggressive that natural mating is unsafe.

AI can overcome these problems and also protects the stud dog from the chance of injury that may eventuate if the bitch struggles a lot during a tie.

2. Preventing Infection in the Dog

Some stud dog owners elect canine artificial insemination because of the fear that their valuable dog will pick up an infection from the bitch if allowed to mate naturally.

3. Physical Dilemmas

AI can be used to surmount a substantial size difference between bitch and dog.

In the male, AI is also a solution to skirt problematic weakness or tenderness when mounting due to injury, arthritis or prostatic disease. A dog with a missing limb or injury to spine or a rear leg may be unable stand to tie bitches. Providing, of course, that the disability is not a reflection of inherent genetic or structural faults, canine artificial insemination can be utilized to keep him reproducing.

4. Geographic Obstacles

Being territorial animals, the confidence and thus sexual behavior of the dog is greatest when they are on their home turf.  To ensure natural mating and avoid sabotaging the male dog's sexual behavior, it is best to deliver the female dog to the male dog's place of residence. AI is a good alternative when this is not practical.

When the bitch and desired stud are some distance apart, and taking the bitch to the male is not an option, similarly, his semen can be collected and shipped to her.

5. Covering Two Bitches at the Same Time

When offered two bitches in estrus, a male dog may devote all his energy to his favorite and ignore the other.  With AI, two bitches can be inseminated with just one ejaculation, if the quality of the semen is good.

6. Prevailing Over Time Limitations

Fresh dog semen can stay viable for six days inside the bitch.  When other commitments prevent a natural mating taking place at the most physiologically favorable time, then an early AI can be successfully used to "cover" the following 3-4 days.

7. Getting Bigger Litters

To optimize litter size breeders can elect to inseminate "one last time" just after the sexual interest of the bitch or dog has passed.

8. Allowing Semen Evaluation Before Breeding

Breeders who routinely utilize canine artificial insemination profit from the potential it provides to continually examine their stud's semen.  This is advantageous in picking up fertility problems before they become serious or bring about missed litters.

9. To Enhance the Stud Dog’s Confidence

Rather than overly tiring him by unsuccessful attempts at natural mating and risking spoiling him for natural breeding, a skillfully managed collection can help the dog develop confidence and actually school him for a natural breeding career.