uninterested male

Question
QUESTION: I have a male Lhas Apso (2 1/2 yrs old) and a female (2 yrs old).The female is in week 2 of her heat and is being very interested in him but he shows no interest at all.Is there something we can do to help strike his interest or just a course of nature?
         Thank you

ANSWER: You want to count the days from when you first notice her bleeding.  If she's early, and he's experienced male, he won't be interested until she is ovulating.

You may want to separate them for a few days. Then bring them back together.  You can also bring a male around who will encourage the male to step up to the plate.

Good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We are all inexperienced here...lol...how many days do i count to know she is ovulating and how long does the ovulation last?
         Thank You

ANSWER: No problem

It starts with the female starting to swell in the back. She will then start to bleed (if she is a very clean dog, you may notice her licking herself more than usual).

Then the blood with start to taper off to a pink color.  You want to start counting days from the first day she started bleeding.  Some breeders use day 13 and 15 other 10 and 12 as breeding days.    

Ovulation can occur different days depending on your female.  Some ovulate early in their cycle others later.  Between day 11 and 15 days is a safe bet.  The eggs are released and will live four or five days and the lucky few make to the target. That's the reason for breeding over a couple of days.

The alternative is to do a progesterone test which can tell you exactly when she is ovulating and/or if she has already done so.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We have acheived the goal ! When she yelps and cries does this mean he is hurting her or have they locked too much? Is it possible that they lock too much and how many times in the 5 day span of ovulation is it suggested that we let them interlock?
         Thank You

Answer
When she yelps, it does indicate stress and pain.  

Ovulation happens only once.  That is when the eggs are released.  Over a course of a few days typically breeders will breed them once, wait a day, and breed them again.
It's not necessary to achieve a tie more than once a day.