Why do some dogs become locked together during sexual intercourse?
Posted by Dog Supplies Advice in Dog Supplies Tips, tags: dog Q&A, dog supplies advice, Dog Supplies Q&A, Dog Supplies Tips, dogs, dogs become lockedWhy do some dogs become locked together during sexual intercourse?
First of all we should be clear that in dogs this locking together during mating is not an exceptional feature; it occurs in almost all instances, and it is those individuals in which it does not take place (especially those of certain breeds, such as the Chow Chow) that should be regarded as unusual.
After mounting the bitch (during which he clasps her in front of the hips with his front legs) the male dog introduce~ his penis into her vagina and commences a series of pelvic thrusts. During this behavior the end of the penis, the bulb, becomes considerably enlarged, and the contraction of the constrictor muscles of the vagina around the penis holds the male firmly in position, preventing withdrawal, in the so-called ‘tie’ or ‘lock’.
The ejaculation of sperm takes place early on, when pelvic thrusting stops. Soon afterwards the male, still locked to the female, will drop down on to his forefeet at the side of the bitch, and raise one hind leg over her back which brings their rear ends together and their heads facing in opposite directions. This position both affords the male some rest and also makes the united pair less vulnerable to attack.
They usually remain in the tie for between twenty and twenty-five minutes, though it can range from as little as five minutes to as long as one hour fifteen minutes; in general it does not last more than forty-five minutes. During the time that they remain locked together fluid from the prostate gland of the male is slowly ejaculated, and therefore it may be that the purpose of this behavior is to flush the sperms through the female reproductive tract and thereby increase the chance of a fertile mating. However, it would appear that the tie is not absolutely essential, since animals in which it does not occur breed quite successfully.
Occasionally the bitch will attempt to pull against the tie, with sufficient force at times to upset the balance of the male, though the tie will still be maintained. This is all perfectly normal and an attempt should not be made to separate the animals (i.e. by pulling them apart or pouring cold water over them) because such attempts can result in serious and permanent injury. Even if the mating is unwanted it should be allowed to be completed naturally. As the tie relaxes, the male and female can part and both will normally lick their genitals for a while afterwards.
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