Why Do Female Dogs Cry When Mating?

Each dog is a unique individual and reacts to mating in different ways. For some female dogs, mating results in crying. But why?

If you’re a new pet parent or are mating your dog for the first time, you may be wondering why she’s crying during mating. It’s OK—this is a time of anxiety for everyone! We’ve put together some information about what may cause a female dog to cry when mating. Let’s get started!

Going Into Heat

Female dogs go into cycles where they can mate and become pregnant. These are called “heat cycles” or “estrus.” During this time, your dog’s body is going through many hormonal changes in preparation for mating and possibly becoming pregnant. She may also begin showing some other behaviors you’ve not noticed before. These are usually normal reactions to her heat cycle.

The heat cycle is specifically geared to letting male dogs know that a female dog is ready to mate. During this time, male dogs are drawn to the female and will do anything and everything to get to her for mating. You may also notice your female dog laying her head on the back of a male and pawing at him. Or she may even try to mount him to get his attention.

Mating & Being Tied

The male eventually mounts the female during the mating session, which is called “the tie.” When the male dog’s penis enters the female’s vagina, the front part of the male’s penis enlarges quite a bit. During this time, the dogs are “tied” together to ensure copulation.

While the dogs are “tied,” it’s possible for a female dog to feel pain and discomfort. If so, she may try to pull away from the male dog, resulting in major injury to the male. The female dog may also bark, howl, or even cry.

Other Causes

There are other reasons a female dog may cry during mating. This may be due to infections in the vagina or other parts of the reproductive system. Tumors can also occur in your dog’s reproduction system and cause pain during mating.

What to Do If Your Dog Cries During Mating

If your female dog cries during mating, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with the vet. Your fur baby may have an underlying medical condition that’s making mating painful and uncomfortable for her.

The good news is that most medical issues can be treated and cured. Then your fur baby can try to mate again in the future!