How many times to tie often depends on the breeders preferences and the bitch in question. Some breeders don't do three every other day just in case the bitch takes on the first and the last ties, which means that a puppy from the second tie may have four or five days less development.
Often a breeder can tell from the bitch's behaviour that she's ready, and if they've bred her before a more likely to do one or two ties. Or they may have had tests done, so they can tell when she's ready and breed her accordingly.
It sounds as if your girl was ready, so there's certainly a chance she took on the first tie, but if you want to be sure you could do another tie in two days, and then see how her behaviour is in the days after that. I certainly wouldn't breed her too long after the first one.
Boys often pant during a tie, depending on how much effort they have to put into mounting the bitch and achieving a tie. I wouldn't worry too much if both of them are okay afterwards. If the boy in question is an inexperienced stud he's more likely to lose interest. One of my mother's bitches went out to a stud who had never been used, and he had absolutely no interest in her. She was sent back and my boy thought she was ready.
I wouldn't worry right now. If you want to do another tie try again, if the boy isn't interested then you can just hope for the best from the first tie. My boy Tom has been used twice by a breeder with only one tie. The first litter had four pups, and the second bitch is confirmed to be pregnant.
I'm sure other experienced breeders on the forum can give you more help than I, most of my experience is from my mother's litters, and from the sire's side of the equation. |