Inexperienced breeding

Question
Hi Cindi,
I am trying to breed my two inexperienced Dobermans. My girl is 11 days in today, and is playing with him and standing for him. But the male dog isn't interested at all. He goes up to her, licks her, then walks away. She is quite dominant over him could this be why? How can we make him more interested? He doesn't seem to know what to do.
Thanks
Mel

Answer
Hi Mel
Separate your dogs for twenty four hours. She won't be ready , not really anyway likely until the thirteenth day., that's pretty normal.
Put them together for a couple of hours in the morning and separate them again. SKIP a day and put them together again for a couple of hours in the morning if they have not had a successful tie. REpeat every other day until she is no longer standing or a tie has been achieved.
Very likely she has not ovulated yet and he knows it. Some dogs know this instinctively and won't waste their time trying to breed a teaser :).
To be SURE take your girl to the vet and have a progesterone screen and cytology done. Then there will be no doubt in your mind where she is in her cycle.
If you leave them together too much he will become frustrated and give up, you didn't mention how old he is. But some dogs just mature late and that is a possibility here as well though I doubt it.
Good luck
Cindi