Why won't my male Rottweiler get an erection for breeding? Is he sick?

This may be a problem the male has. The only thing you can do is to take both dogs to the veterinarian and have them examined. The male may have a problem with the bulbous part of the penis in that it may not be able to expand and tie, the female may have a vaginal problem. There may be a libido problem, or the female may not be ready. This can be examined and ruled out by your veterinarian. Please see your vet for an exam, preferably during this heat cycle.

It would be best to bring Ripple to your vet or theriogenologist for a complete exam. It is possible there is a functional issue or stricture causing the problem that needs to be addressed, and your vet can also perform a breeding soundness exam in addition.

It may be that your male is still very young and doesn't know what to do yet. Keeping them together during your female's heat may help get him interested in trying to figure it out. However if he still doesn't show any interest, having both him and your female examined by a vet or theriogenologist (reproductive specialist) to make sure everything is OK is best.

The most common reason why dogs refuse to mate is that it is the wrong time in the estrous cycle. If mating is attempted too early in the cycle, the bitch may not be receptive. A female raised as a house pet may be a shy breeder because of inadequate social contact with members of her own species. Mate preference, too, can be a determining factor. A bitch may refuse one male dog but may like another. I suggest you give her more time. Make sure you introduce her to the male at the right time in her cycle or, better yet, keep the two together throughout her entire cycle. If she hasn't been well socialized with other dogs then work on that. That may be why she doesn't know how to act around the male. If all else fails you can resort to artificial insemination. You can speak to your vet about how to get that done.

It sounds like she may not be ready to breed yet - the male dog generally knows. Usually, females are ready for breeding somewhere around day 12-15 of their heat cycle, but this will vary depending on the individual female. If you want to know for sure, you can talk to your veterinarian about progesterone testing so that you'll know when she ovulates, and can time your breeding dates appropriately from there.

I think the safest thing to do here is artificial insemination. You have a dog with a geneitc issue that won't be resolved by assiting him with insertion. Also, it isn't natural to interfere with the mating process in this manner either, so it is best to go forward with standard artificial insemination practices that are straightforward and safer for both pets involved. Best of luck with your furry friend and I hope that you can successfully breed these two soon! Take care.

If two pets aren't interested in mating, you can try pheromones such as the Adaptil diffuser. However, in most situations you will have to resort to artificial insemination through your specialized veterinarian if you want to get the female pregnant. Ask your vet if this is something they specialize in, or if they have a referral vet for you to seek help from. Best of luck with those two! Take care.