female heat cycle

Question
Hi, I have a female boxer who is six years old.  She is currently in her heat cycle and I want to breed her with my male boxer.  Last time we bred her, it was later in the cycle.  This time, she allowed him to mate with her on the 7th day, where before that was too early.  We allowed them to mate a second time around the tenth day at which time the discharge was still red.  Do you think I should allow them to mate once again, now onthe 14th day, since the discharge is lighter or do they sometimes get fertile a little earlier in the cycle?  Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Katie

Without progesterone testing you won't know when she's ovulating.  However that being said, day 7 is early.  

Typically after the discharge decreases and the color turns pink is the time for breeding.  If the female stand and flags the male, you can do the breeding to ensure that she took.  Of course you'll be cursing when the time for whelping comes because of the week difference.

Good luck.