Disclaimer: This blog contains clinical images and descriptions of injury that may be difficult to view. The purpose of sharing them is educational, to spread awareness and prevent similar incidents in the future. Viewer discretion is advised.
Recently, a case came to our shelter that was deeply distressing. A male dog we named Arjun was violently separated from a female while they were in the mating “lock” position. In the process, he sustained catastrophic trauma to his penis and required a surgical penectomy to survive. Arjun is a friendly dog, the people in that area more or less take care of him.
What happened to Arjun was not aggression. It was not “bad behaviour.” It was biology misunderstood.
This blog aims to explain, in simple terms, how mating works in dogs, why they get “stuck,” and what SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be done if you see it happening.
How Mating Works in Dogs
Dogs mate because reproduction is a hard-wired evolutionary drive shaped by survival and natural selection. They mate because reproduction ensures genetic continuity. Hormones drive this behaviour automatically. It is not learned, it is encoded in their biology.
Dog reproduction is very different from human reproduction. It happens in stages.
1. The Female Goes Into Heat
A female dog comes into heat (also called estrus) roughly every 6–8 months. During this period:
- She releases pheromones that attract male dogs.
- She may allow mating during her fertile days.
- Male dogs can detect this from a long distance.
This is instinct-driven behaviour. It is not something dogs “decide” to do.
2. The Male Mounts
When a receptive female allows it, the male mounts her. Initial penetration occurs. At this stage, mating looks like what most people expect. But this is not the complete process.
3. The “Tie” or Lock Position
After penetration, a unique biological mechanism occurs.
Inside the male dog’s penis is a structure called the bulbus glandis. During mating, it swells significantly. At the same time, the female’s vaginal muscles contract. This creates what is commonly called the “tie”. The dogs become physically locked together.
During this tie:
- The dogs may turn and stand back-to-back.
- They can remain locked for 5 to 30 minutes.
- This is normal and part of successful reproduction.
It may look uncomfortable or alarming, but it is physiologically natural.
Why You Should Never Separate Dogs During a Tie
Forcefully separating dogs during this locked phase can cause:
- Severe tearing of tissues
- Penile rupture
- Vaginal trauma
- Heavy bleeding
- Permanent reproductive damage
- Life-threatening shock
In Arjun’s case, the trauma was so extensive that surgical removal of the penis (penectomy) was the only way to save his life.
This injury was not caused by mating.
It was caused by human intervention during a natural biological process.
If you ever see dogs locked together:
- Do not hit them.
- Do not throw water.
- Do not try to pull them apart.
- Do not panic.
The tie will release on its own once the swelling reduces.ence.
Is This Behaviour “Bad” or “Indecent”?
No. Mating is instinctual and hormone-driven. Dogs do not experience it the way humans interpret it. There is no concept of morality, shame, or “misbehaviour.”
What often happens in communities is:
- People feel uncomfortable.
- They assume the dogs are fighting.
- They react with force.
That reaction can cause lifelong damage.erm vision.
If You Want to Prevent Puppies, What Is the Right Way?
The solution is not violence. The solution is STERILISATION.
Neutering (for males) and spaying (for females) is the safest and most humane way to:
- Prevent unwanted litters
- Reduce roaming behaviour
- Decrease hormone-driven aggression
- Lower the risk of certain cancers and infections
- Improve community animal health
Street dogs mate because they are not sterilized. They are following biology.
If communities truly want fewer puppies, the most effective and sustainable approach is:
- Conduct local sterilization drives
- Support animal birth control (ABC) programs
- Encourage responsible pet ownership
- Neuter owned pets before sexual maturity
This is how we reduce population humanely.
Arjun survived. But he will live the rest of his life altered because someone did not understand what was happening. Awareness prevents suffering.
If you see dogs mating, let them be. If you want fewer puppies, neuter and spay.
If you care about community animals, choose education over aggression. That is how we protect them.