Why do dogs stick together after mating?

Why do dogs stick together when mating?

The question of why dogs stick together when mating is asked by every person who has seen this process for the first time.
In most living creatures, the male immediately disconnects from the female as soon as he completes the process required of him by nature, and sometimes everything takes no more than a few seconds. In dogs, in this regard, everything is more complicated, and mating in general can take about half an hour, or even more, and all because the couple remains for a long time in the so-called castle - in a bound form. The animals stand tightly with their backs to each other, waiting for the moment of disengagement, and are in a helpless state. Why does this happen and why is it necessary?

Reproductive system of dogs

Why they stick together can be understood by carefully studying the dog’s reproductive system. In a male dog, it consists of the testes hidden in the scrotum, spermatic cords, accessory glands, penis and prepuce.

Sperm mature in the testes. This process only occurs at low temperatures, so it must be lowered into the scrotum. The secretion of the accessory glands maintains their vitality and activity.

Through ducts passing inside the cords, the sperm enters the ureter, and from there, during mating, into the vagina and uterus of the bitch. The male penis has a special structure.

This is what largely determines whether dogs stick together and how well they do when mating. There is a thin bone inside the penis that helps maintain an erection. It is hidden in the prepuce and comes out during arousal.

It increases in size due to the filling of the cavernous bodies with blood. At the base there is a special structure - a bulb. Already in the bitch’s vagina it enlarges, becoming wider than the penis.

This feature largely determines why dogs can stick together during mating. The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, uterus with tubes, vagina or loop.

Cells mature approximately twice a year. During heat. It comes out in the middle, somewhere on days 11-14. This period is the most optimal for fertilization.

A bitch matures several at once. Theoretically, they can be impregnated by different males, but this happens extremely rarely. Precisely because during intercourse, adhesion occurs.

Pairing

What does sexual intercourse look like in dogs? Males show interest in all females who are in heat. Sexually active all year round. Bitches are indifferent to male dogs and do not allow them to approach them when they are not in heat.

The dogs look closely and sniff each other. The bitch is ready for mating, she takes the appropriate position (raises her hindquarters, lowers herself onto her front paws, moves her tail).

First, the male makes test cages during mating. This period is important for dogs to find a comfortable position. Lasts 5-10 minutes. The male then penetrates the female's vagina.

After some time, the dogs can be seen stuck together. Why does this happen? The penis inside the female increases, its bulb becomes wide and thick.

Her muscles tense and spasm, holding the penis inside. The dog performs friction until the dogs become stuck together. At this time, discharge from the organ occurs.

The mating process of dogs in detail

It is worth noting some facts about canine mating that will help shed light on the question of why dogs stick their butts together and stand tightly after mating, without separating.

This trait is characteristic not only of dogs, but also of their closest relatives, wolves,
This is caused by the anatomical features of animals, and not by their whims,
You cannot unhook tied dogs; this must happen naturally.

During the mating process, flirting initially occurs, then the dog mounts, that is, jumps on the back of the bitch. Further, as soon as their genitals are connected, the bitch’s peri-vaginal muscles contract in spasm, and at the same time blood flows into the lump-like formation on the male’s penis, and it increases in size. Thus, animals find themselves connected virtually against their will; only physiology plays here.

The dog does not remain in the cradling position; usually he throws his paws over, and the animals stand with their backs to each other, waiting for the moment of disengagement. At this moment, ejaculation is still occurring, sperm continues to enter the bitch’s genital tract, ensuring the conception of offspring soon. Dogs can stay in the castle from several minutes to half an hour, all this time is considered the norm.

Physiology of dog mating

The dog has accompanied man since the beginning of civilization. Friend, protector, watchman, guide - she has many roles. People pay with gratitude - they feed, treat, care for. Little funny puppies are taken into the house. But 9-12 months pass, and the dog becomes sexually mature, ready to mate and give birth. In girls and small breed dogs, this period comes earlier.

Why is this necessary?

However, why do dogs stick together after mating, why does nature put them in such a vulnerable position? It's actually quite simple. Despite the fact that animals at such a moment are indeed exposed to significant risk, they remain vulnerable and defenseless, this way the chances of successful conception increase. The sperm has time not only to enter the vagina, but also to pass through the genital tract without the risk of loss.

In addition, the position in the castle increases the male’s chances of producing offspring, taking into account the very characteristics of the dog’s “wedding”. Since one bitch in heat is usually courted by several males, and a whole flock often gathers around her, it is not surprising that the dog that has captured her attention needs to play it safe and stay with the chosen one as long as possible in order to keep other contenders away from her.

How to behave as owners

Having answered the question of why dogs stick together during mating, it is also necessary to consider how to behave correctly as a dog breeder whose animal happens to another. Even if an unplanned mating occurs, but the dogs are already locked, there is no point in dispersing them, because this is physically impossible, and attempts to separate them will only lead to injuries. In this case, all that remains is to wait for the end of the process and decide what to do with the puppies.

When planning a mating, it is necessary to control the behavior of the animals, especially if the mating is carried out for the first time for some of them. Since sexual behavior in dogs can be associated with aggression, precautions should be taken. Sometimes mating is carried out even with a muzzle on, without removing it from the bitch - if she actively snaps. But, as a rule, experienced animals behave calmly, independently and quite confidently if they are in a hunting state. In any case, mating should not be accompanied by unnecessary noise and irritants; the owners should behave calmly so that the animals do not get nervous and do not risk injuring each other at this difficult moment.

Dog cages - why do they do it?

One sunny warm day I watched a group of dogs frolicking in the park. Suddenly a woman's scream was heard, and then the tramp of human feet. It didn’t take long to look for the cause of the commotion; it was obvious: the dog had landed. People tend to interpret this kind of behavior unambiguously, but is it really so?

Dogs make landings on pillows and soft toys, the legs of people, dogs, cats and other animals - on many living and non-living objects in various situations. Each owner has a story about when his dog or his dog was mounted, and he always describes the context when it happened (guests arrived, played in the park, were at a competition). Most of these stories end with questions: “Why are they doing this? It's a game? Is this dominance? Is my dog hypersexual?

Animal behavior researchers have a lot to say on this topic. When studying any behavior, we can turn to ethologist and Nobel Prize winner Niko Tinbergen for help. Tinbergen's Four Questions provide a reliable framework within which to understand why animals behave the way they do. Behavior does not fall from the sky onto the dog: bang, and voila! Ethologists have studied the behavior of dogs for a long time and noticed that cages, contrary to popular belief, relate not only to sexual behavior.

In the early 1970s, ethologist Marc Bekoff of the University of Colorado began studying the development of social behavior in dogs. Bekoff observed the interactions of young canids: 3-7 week old wolves, coyotes and dogs. In particular, in dog puppies, jumping, grasping, and pelvic movements first appeared in play, long before puberty. Dr. Sunil Kumar Pal of Katwu Bharati Bhaban in West Bengal, India, obtained similar results while studying the social behavior of young stray dogs. By 6 weeks, puppies of both sexes made cages during the romp. There are even breed differences: Bekoff observed cages in beagles at 27 days of age, while Dorit Feddersen-Petersen noted that bull terriers demonstrate this behavior as early as 18 days, and poodles only by 39 days.

Caging in puppy play is completely normal and natural. This does not mean at all that they are trying to have sex with other puppies, or that they are dominant. And if your puppy only mounts other males, this does not mean that he is gay.

“Yes, dogs do this. This is completely normal behavior,” says Carolyn Walsh, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Newfoundland who studies the nuances of dog behavior in dog parks. “Both males and females breed, regardless of whether they are intact or neutered.” After all, behavior is determined by more than just hormones.

Cages are a good example of how any behavior can have different motivations and should always be assessed in context. And that different concepts can lead to completely different interpretations of a dog's behavior.

From tail wagging to barking, dogs' behavior is imbued with nuance. A wagging tail can mean "I'm really scared" or "This is the best day of my life!" Like tail wagging, mating is a much more complex behavior than it may seem, and there is no one simple explanation. But there are several versions. Jean Donaldson explains sexual motivation for cages; other experts talk about the manifestation of dominance, biased activity, overexcitation or stress.

But why cages? Peter Bochelt, Ph.D., Certified Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) in New York City, reminds us that “dogs have many behaviors that are species-typical. This is what is inherent in them by nature and what they know how to do.”

Agitation, anxiety and stress

In most cases, mountings are associated with a surge of emotions, such as excitement or anxiety. Cages can be a response to frustration or stress, that is, represent a displaced activity, especially if they are directed towards people or objects. Stimuli can be in everyday situations: the arrival of a new person, meeting a new dog, or being alone at home for a long time. For example, a dog may mount a person simply because it is not sure how to interact with him. In this way the dog tries to relieve internal tension. A stressed state can be seen in a dog's body language and facial expressions.

However, people often unconsciously reinforce this behavior by paying too much attention to it, or even stimulating it in an attempt to calm the dog down. The best solution here would be to distract the dog at the moment when you notice that he is just about to mount. If the dog has already mounted, it must be removed without paying attention to it.

A dog may mount due to anxiety about punishment. For example, she may feel anxious about the scolding she received when her owners returned for going into the trash can a few hours earlier. The owner's anger is not clear to the dog, because... does not directly follow the “misconduct” behavior, but it is a source of anxiety, so a displaced behavior may be needed to relieve the anxiety.

Cages can be a projection of your stress. For example, when a dog sits on the leg of a mother-in-law who has come to visit. This is an example of how the dog reacts to your stress in this situation. Don't forget that dogs are very sensitive to our feelings and emotions. To prevent this unpleasant situation, take your dog to another room and offer him a treat-stuffed Kong toy.

Stress caused by worry and anxiety can turn into a compulsive disorder.

Play cages

Games for dogs are an important part of their social life. In them, dogs use many elements of behavior characteristic of other situations. For example, games often include elements of hunting behavior: tracking, stalking and attacking. In this case, the roles of the players often change. The same can be said about play cages, which can be used by participants in the process of communication.

In a recent study of dog behavior in parks, Carolyn Walsh and her student Lydia Ottenheimer Currier found that dogs do a lot of squatting during playtime. Walsh explains this by saying that “dog parks can be highly stimulating and arousing, so the behavior may occur more often. You observe sexual behavior, but it is devoid of context.”

What is a play cage? The dog places its head, paws or torso on the back of the playing partner, clasps it with its paws and can make movements with its pelvis, and this does not depend on the gender of the dog. Play cages can be done from behind, to the side, or even in front of the dog. Males tend to do them more often than females, and play cages usually do not involve erection and ejaculation.

In the case of friends, cages may refer to attention-seeking behavior to provoke interaction. As Becky Trisko, Ph.D., behaviorist and owner of Unleashed in Evanston, Illinois, explains, “For preferred play partners, cages can be a way of inviting play. The dog may make a playful bow, bark, and place a paw on the other dog. If the other dog does not respond to this, mounting may be one of the likely next steps.”

Social role

Trisko also suggested that cages may be about testing relationships. “Dogs may engage in potentially annoying behavior, such as mounting, to test the strength of the relationship. It's like saying, "What are you going to put up with?" or “How much do you really like me?” Thus, cages appear in affiliative, non-aggressive or status-related contexts, but act as a provocation.

At the same time, cages are not always associated with friendship. Aimee Moore, a certified trainer, of Dog's Best Friend Training in Madison, Wis., says, "I don't think there's one simple explanation, but in the case of unfamiliar dogs, or even owners, it can be quite rough or even associated with status."

Dominance?

Some owners attribute this behavior to dominance and a desire for control. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior defines dominance as “a relationship between animals based on the use of force/aggression and submission to determine who has priority access to resources such as food, resting place, and sexual partners.”

Indeed, dogs sometimes mount other dogs in order to establish or remind the other dog of its status. But this is not necessarily problematic behavior; if the other dog doesn't mind and allows him to be mounted, this is a normal form of social interaction.

It is important to study the situations in which this behavior occurs, as well as other interactions of its participants, to determine whether it is a gesture of dominance. Candidate of Biological Sciences and zoopsychologist Sofya Baskina describes the mounting of a male dog demonstrating superiority: “a male claiming a dominant position rests his chin on the withers of another male, then puts his paws on his back, makes a mounting on the opponent’s shoulder and makes movements with his pelvis, reminiscent of frictions during sexual mounting . With such a display of dominance, there is no erection, which is usual for sexual mounting.”

Botchelt says it can be a problem to label a dog that does crapping as "dominant." “If you perceive a dog as dominant because it mounts, you feel that you need to take steps to prevent the dog from being dominant over you, by preventing it from sniffing, running, and socializing with other dogs, or by using punishment or intimidation to stop the dog.” behaved decently." However, this may have negative consequences for your relationship."

As Botchelt, who has worked with canine behavior problems for over 30 years, notes, “Caging can be part of a range of behaviors associated with aggression, such as resource guarding, direct gaze, tense high stance, threatening and looming. But the cages themselves are not a sign of clarification of status.”

“Cages represent one type of behavior that has no specific meaning,” Bochelt and Bekoff explain. “This is complex behavior, and we cannot say that it means this and that always and everywhere. What we are learning about animal behavior tells us that we must be very careful in how we interpret it. Dogs don't always greet each other by sniffing the anogenital area, and they don't always spin around before lying down."

When can we still talk about sexual behavior?

Of course, male dogs mount bitches during the breeding season. However, sexual behavior in dogs is not limited to cages. The grooming ritual includes licking the lips, muzzle, eyes, ears, bowing, nuzzling, and licking the bitch's genitals and urinary marks.

Scott and Fuller provide evidence that incomplete pelvic thrusting was observed in puppies as early as 3-4 weeks of age. According to available data, 50% of males at the age of 5.5 months are already breeding. While the male dog has no sexual experience, a whole range of different stimuli can lead to sexual arousal: a new unusual smell or something shaped to be grasped with the front paws. Many experts believe that the function of this behavior is training for future sexual encounters.

Puberty in males occurs at the age of 6-12 months, while the level of testosterone in the blood increases. During this period, the male learns to distinguish a bitch in heat, and learns the entire range of sexual behavior characteristic of his species. However, generalization of the stimulus occurs only after several matings, and external stimuli are also imprinted: the situation, the presence of people and their help, etc. Some male dogs may subsequently refuse to breed a female dog in an unfamiliar environment or without the owner's help.

During the hunt, bitches can also mount males or other females themselves, especially if they are also in heat. Homosexuality in male dogs is not a common occurrence; in the vast majority of cases, same-sex matings occur due to the inexperience of both partners and the absence of relatives of the opposite sex. Castrated males can also make sexual intercourse, have an erection and ejaculate (in this case, the discharge will not contain sperm, but only the secretion of the glands).

Masturbation is also a normal behavior of all social mammals. This activity appears to be enjoyable, and may also be a way for young animals to learn about their own sexual responses. For this purpose, dogs most often use pillows or soft toys. Moreover, human thought (and the pet industry) has moved further by offering “sexy” toys to dogs.

People cages

In addition to the reasons listed above, cages can be an attempt to obsessively attract attention or a way to combat boredom. Coupled with bad manners, lack of attention and physical activity, this can become a real problem for owners.

Regarding the nature of human cages, expert opinions are divided. Yolanta Benal, a certified dog trainer from Brooklyn, believes that they have nothing to do with sexual behavior, citing stress and excitement as the main causes. Sofia Baskina suggests that “dogs are able to direct sexual behavior towards a person because they imprint the owner at an early age along with other living creatures from their environment: dogs, cats, etc.”, since “a male dog usually starts by licking his hands , captures them in his mouth, biting lightly, then his movements become more active and purposeful, and he makes a landing.”

Some people themselves allow their dogs to perch, even encourage it, for example, in the USA there is the competition “The Humpy Awards”:

Other reasons

Some diseases and disorders can affect the behavior of dogs. In the case of cages, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, priapism (persistent, often painful erection), changes in hormonal status, allergies and dermatitis should be excluded. Dogs with these pathologies may spend a lot of time licking their genitals and mating. If you notice that your dog has started to behave this way or do it more often than usual, you should consult a veterinarian.

What to do?

Among owners, you can often hear “I’m very ashamed of him for doing cages,” “I feel like I’m being judged for this and I need to stop this behavior of his.” These feelings are understandable because for many, a dog is a family member and best friend. But dogs are dogs, and they behave like dogs; our moral standards are alien to them.

People react to this in very different ways: they punish their dogs, scream, apologize and take their dog away. “I think shame is misplaced here,” Walsh notes, “given that cratering is part of a dog’s normal repertoire of behavior.” “To understand why it happens, become an observer: take a pen and paper and write down everything that happens before and after the landing,” Bekoff advises. This will help you determine when the behavior is unwanted and when it's just fun.

If the dog sits rarely (no more than 1-2 times a day) and it does not interfere with you, other people or dogs, such behavior does not need to be corrected. If it bothers you, try distracting the dog. You can get her attention before she mounts. After watching your dog for a little while, you will notice the telltale signs that it may mount: the dog is chasing, licking someone or something, panting or whining, putting its paws or head on the dog or person. In this case, distract the dog with a toy or ask him to perform a command that he knows well. It makes sense to introduce a voice marker “no” or “ugh” to prevent this behavior.

When the cause of stress is stress, it is necessary to determine its source. Consider what you can do to reduce its effects. If you can't reduce stress, you can manage the situation to help your dog. Trainers and animal psychologists can use desensitization (reducing sensitivity) and counterconditioning (replacing negative reactions with positive ones) to help cope with a problem, for example, in the case of a dog who begins to crouch after the arrival of a newborn baby.

Training and interaction with the owner can help a cage-loving dog develop friendly relationships with dogs and people. Moore offers a variety of teaching methods. “I will work on obedience so that I can get my dog's attention when he starts focusing on another dog. I will also work on calling - letting her greet and sniff another dog, and then calling him and reinforcing that behavior. This way you can catch her before she starts to jump.” Cages are also often associated with high levels of arousal, so Moore recommends using relaxation protocols or training in alternative behaviors.

It is better to remove or throw away objects on which the dog sits, otherwise over time the pet may begin to defend them, especially if he tends to guard his food or favorite toys. In addition, they maintain the habit of such behavior.

Time-outs can be useful to deal with bullying. If the dog tries to mount, say “no!” and take her to another room for 1-3 minutes. (Make sure your dog has no toys or other things to keep him occupied.) When the time-out is over, release your dog and act as if nothing happened. It may take several repetitions for the dog to understand the connection between the time-out and his behavior.

Active walks and exercise are recommended for dogs who mount due to boredom and excess pent-up energy, but may aggravate the problem if it is caused by stress or extreme excitement when meeting other dogs and people.

Some experts recommend neutering male dogs that tend to breed frequently. However, castration does not always solve the cage problem. According to Laurie Bergman, castration reduces the frequency of mating by 50% in 70% of cases, regardless of the age at which the operation is performed. In this context, life experience is important - the later a male dog exhibiting similar behavior is castrated, the more important the acquired habit is compared to the effect of hormones. Hormonal factors contribute to the accumulation of experience that accelerates the formation of skills of this kind, but, after a certain point, they become much less important than habits acquired in this way.

Sometimes you can just let your dog relieve stress in this way. The process of making such a decision must include consideration of three questions: Is she harming herself? Is she causing conflict with the other dog? Is this situation unacceptable for people? If in all three cases the answer is “no”, then it is quite possible to allow the dog to mount. Dogs have the right to relieve stress on their own (remember, this has nothing to do with sex!). Imagine if someone told you when you've had a really hard day that you can't eat chocolate or drink wine! So why don't you give your dog this opportunity?

Sources:

H*MPING. Why do they do it? — Julie Hecht
Why Does My Dog Hump Everything?
Mounting and Masturbation
Canine Mounting: An Overview - Laurie Bergman
Why Dogs Hump? There isn't a single reason behind this normal behavior — Marc Bekoff
What to Do About Your Humping Dog – Jolanta Benal
Indecent behavior - Sofia Baskina
K. Overall Clinical methods for correcting the behavior of dogs and cats. M., Sofion - 2005.
Mechtild Kaufer Canine Play Behavior. The Science of Dogs at Play. Dogwise Publishing, 2013.

This article is on the Zooinform portal.

How do they come apart?

Having answered the question why dogs stick together, it is worth pointing out the mechanism of their separation. When the excitement subsides, the bitch's spasm stops and the muscles relax. Blood also drains from the male penis. And the dogs free themselves from each other naturally. Usually, immediately after this, they begin to actively lick themselves - this is normal behavior of dogs after mating.

A bitch in heat is capable of mating more than once and with more than one male; as a rule, this happens many times. And puppies of the same litter may well be conceived from different males, and therefore be of different breeds - this happens. It is for this reason that the bitch must be closely monitored throughout her entire estrus in order to avoid unwanted offspring, which can arise from a single mating.

Why are there dogs in the castle?

Dogs do not mate for pleasure; mating has only one purpose - fertilization. The main stage of mating, on which its success depends, is ejaculation. The total volume of semen ranges from 2–3 ml. Such a small amount of seminal fluid contains up to 2,000 sperm.

After the sperm is injected into the vagina, the dogs continue to stand in the castle. Male sperm are slow and have a long way to go. To speed up the movement of seminal fluid to the eggs, a special secretion begins to be released from the male penis; this process takes 6–10 minutes. In total, in addition to sperm, about 80 ml of prostate secretions are injected into the female’s vagina.

Fertilization can occur after the second stage of mating, without bonding.

Locking or gluing is a natural process whose purpose is:

Successful fertilization.
A guarantee that the female will not be impregnated by another male.

Few people know, but if a female mates several times in a row with different males, her offspring may have different fathers; also, puppies may be born at different stages of term if the female bred for several days in a row. While in the female's vagina, the male's sperm can remain alive and mobile for up to 7 days.

Doctors rescued lovers who got stuck together during sex

Read also: Doctors sewed on a guy’s penis, which he cut off himself

An Italian couple went to a deserted beach on a sunny day to give vent to their feelings. After a long foreplay, the couple went into the water to make love. However, the heated partners were in for an unpleasant surprise - their genitals literally “glued together” and made it impossible for them to separate.

The lovers had to spend a lot of time in the water until they were lucky enough to see another beach girl. It was she who helped the careless couple get ashore, wrapped them in a towel and called the doctors. However, specialists on the spot were unable to help the lovers, so the torment of the thrill-seekers ended only in the hospital, where they were taken by ambulance.

Why do dogs stick together when mating?

Adhesion during mating in dogs is a natural occurrence when the male's penis swells inside the female's vagina. Two dogs become practically connected for 15-20 minutes, and in some cases a little longer. During this time, ejaculation occurs.

Once the “tying” occurs, the male usually throws his leg over his back and the dogs are locked, or tied.

Dogs sticking together is a very common occurrence. You shouldn't put ice on dogs to make them loose. The male almost always gets stuck inside the female for a period of two to thirty minutes.