The breed of the dogs may influence how long they remain stuck together. Dogs that haven’t bred before and dogs that are nervous after mating may also take longer to unlock.

If you’re trying to prevent pregnancy, unfortunately, it’s probably already too late. Pulling the dogs apart won’t help, and it may hurt them.

Pet the female dog to keep her calm while you wait it out. If the dogs are becoming overactive, anxious, or playful, leash them to keep them under control until they’re unstuck.

Look for signs of pregnancy in the female, including increased appetite and weight gain. Around 28 days after mating, your vet can do an exam to confirm if she is pregnant and give you tips on how to care for her. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source

The copulatory tie can prevent another male from mating with the female before fertilization has occurred. It may also prevent sperm from leaking out, which increases the chances of pregnancy. Dogs may wait back-to-back as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from other animals, as mating is a vulnerable act in the wild.

The female dog may bark, howl, or make other noises while she’s tied to the male. This could just be her way of communicating with him, and may not indicate that she’s in pain. [11] X Research source