There are many variations of AI to consider. There is dog-to-dog artificial insemination, fresh-extended (chilled) semen insemination, and frozen semen insemination. Techniques of AI include vaginal deposition, surgical implant, and trans-cervical insemination. Studies have been published with convincing evidence that every semen preparation fresh, fresh-extended or frozen will produce larger litters if semen is deposited directly into the uterus, especially with trans-cervical technique. That being said, fresh and fresh-extended semen give decent results with vaginal deposition.

Trans-cervical inseminations are done by endoscope or the "Norwegian catheter". The rigid endoscope is more widely used than the Norwegian catheter, and has the considerable advantage of providing the operator and the bitch's owner with a view of the actual deposition of semen in the uterus by way of a TV monitor. Those skilled in the use of the Norwegian catheter can get excellent results as well. Trans-cervical semen depositions do not require any sedation at all in nearly all cases.

The important difference between a trans-cervical insemination and a surgical implant is, obviously, that the trans-cervical does not entail the risks of general anaesthesia and surgery. Unless there is a pathological condition of the uterus, there is no benefit to doing a surgical. If the tissues of the uterus or the ovary are abnormal, an exploratory surgical procedure can be done on the bitch well before she is in heat, if hormonal studies, ultrasound or breeding history indicate a pathology that cannot otherwise be identified. Many abnormalities will make themselves known through hormonal studies, and may be treated medically rather than surgically.

Of the different types of semen preparation, it is again obvious that fresh dog-to-dog collection and insemination will give the best semen preparation. Fresh-extended or "chilled" semen has performed very well for many years, but not as well, statistically, as fresh semen collected at the time and on the same premises as the breeding. The worst statistics are for frozen semen, no matter what process is used for the freezing. The reason for this is that once frozen semen is thawed, it lives for a period of two to twelve hours. With fresh or fresh extended semen we're looking at days, not hours, of longevity. Because of this difference, frozen semen should only be used with direct intra-uterine deposition, and trans-cervical is to be preferred to the surgical implant. It should be clear that the timing of the frozen semen deposition is extremely critical, while there is more latitude in the deposition of fresh or fresh-extended sperm. If at all possible, if the stud dog is still alive, fresh or fresh-extended semen should be used.

There are several circumstances in which artificial insemination may be the best way of delivering semen to the bitch. Where all relevant factors are known and normal, in small and medium sized breeds of dogs, a conventional artificial insemination is, in my opinion, likely to be 100% successful. However, the caveat here - that all other conditions are known and normal - is a substantial one. This presupposes that both the dog and the bitch are clean of any infection, that they are under 6 years of age, that their hormonal function and fertility are normal, and the dogs are sound. If any of these factors is other than stated, the likelihood of success of any breeding activity, whether artificial or not, is reduced. The Bulldog breed mostly requires this AI because of size and anatomy. It is possible to free breed a Bulldog and some do it,but the stress and heat level will rise and could prove fatal.

The fact is that a bitch is in season from start to finish for about 3 weeks, with only a few days being perfect for breeding. Many times a bitches is best breed between 9-12 days of her season, however that is no rule, some bitches will be ready at 6 days, others maybe 17 days of the bitch's season. Often the basis for the breeder deciding that this is the correct day for the breeding.

There are many ways of estimating the proper day to deposit semen. An experienced and reliable stud dog's nose is frequently the finest instrument for this. A 'smear', which is more properly termed a vaginal cytology, can be read with good success by an experienced reproductive veterinarian, and is best done every day, or every other day, from day 5 on. The next step up from this, and a tool that can be used by a relatively inexperienced veterinarian with good success, is the progesterone RIA test; this is the test that must be done by a commercial laboratory. Generally, it is possible to get the results the day after the blood is taken. In-the-office ELISA progesterone tests are only about 50% reliable, according to published studies. An example of this type of test is the frequently used 'Target' test. Likewise, the LH ELISA test is not very useful due to the tiny window of opportunity for catching the LH peak. The RIA progesterone test will give a precise number. With this number it becomes possible to extrapolate with good accuracy, once the level has reached a particular threshold value. Using an RIA test it is possible to time FES and frozen breedings with good success. It is absolutely critical that this kind of progesterone test be used for these kinds of breedings.

One technique I find very reliable, is the vaginoscopic examination of the vaginal mucosa. I find this gives the very best real-time information on a bitch that hasn't been available for repeated exams all through her cycle, or where the correct date isn't known for the beginning of her season. Even this technique, however, works better when repeated exams are done. This gives a sense of the progression of hormonal events in a particular bitch. Progression through the estrous cycle generally follows a pattern that is similar in most bitches, once that threshold point is reached. The most common reason for failure of artificial insemination is breeding at an inappropriate (usually early) time, and failure to follow up with inseminations later at the correct time. Semen can (fresh) live in the bitch for up to 3 days with a high viability level and at a lower level for another 2 days or so.

The bitch that never appears to stand for breeding, or to swell and loosen up enough to admit the male comfortably, is often simply not cycling properly. Before doing repeated artificial breedings with such a bitch, with poor likelihood of success, it is often more useful to check on the bitch's hormone levels through one complete cycle, trying to identify a correctable problem. Often such problems respond to thyroid supplementation, and frequently, with younger bitches, once one cycle has been corrected in this way, and a pregnancy achieved, it is not necessary to continue the thyroid supplementation in later cycles. Sometimes, the bitch just needs a jump start. A frequent cause of failure to conceive by artificial insemination is the lack of a fully developed season in the bitch, and the failure to ovulate. Later in the pregnancy, there is the possibility of insufficient progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. This too can be successfully treated. Finally, your veterinarian may wish to give an injection to assure the release of all mature eggs at the appropriate time. Bitches that have extremely narrow vaginas may have hormone imbalances that need to be addressed, or may be too immature to cycle normally.

A stud dog that hasn't been bred for a period of months or years is an unknown quantity as far as fertility is concerned. Even one that is actively bred may have developed an infection, especially if he is bred naturally. Ideally, an ejaculate would be evaluated before the actual day of breeding. If this hasn't been done previously, an artificial insemination offers the opportunity to do a semen examination before being committed to a breeding with a sub-fertile male. Every year a fair number of bitch owners are saved by the discovery that the intended stud dog is sterile or sub-fertile. Just so, many stud dog owners are shocked to discover that their dog is in fact ejaculating either nothing, or occasionally, pure pus, instead of good quality semen. They then have the chance to respond and treat the stud before his infertility is irreversible. This is another example of the advantage of dog-to-dog AI's, where semen is always examined before deposition. We now have therapeutic techniques that may return to fertility a dog that is ejaculating no sperm or no fluid at all. Such a dog should always be evaluated for retrograde ejaculation or testicular tumors. Breeders that do AI's exclusively find that the continual evaluation of their stud's semen is invaluable in picking up problems before they become serious.

When managing the virgin or young male, care must be exercised not to force the dog beyond his comfort zone. Dogs of the same breed and age, may differ significantly in the size and apparent physical maturity of the reproductive apparatus. Underdeveloped physical development is often accompanied by an immature libido as well. An experienced reproductive veterinarian can collect semen from such a dog, and help to stimulate him and condition him for future breedings. However, if he just isn't ready, it is better not to give him a bad experience which could later on result in an impotent adult. These individuals are easily identified by their lack of physical development and response to manipulation. It is very important to know when to stop with this dog, whether trying to induce him to breed artificially.