Artificial insemination opens up breeding options natural mating can’t — using a stud dog in another country, or even one that’s no longer living. This guide covers the three main types of semen used and how they differ in practice.
The most important first
- Fresh, chilled and frozen semen are handled and timed differently, with frozen the most demanding.
- A “teaser” bitch in heat can meaningfully improve semen collection quality.
- Chilled semen is commonly inseminated on days 3 and 5 after the progesterone rise; frozen semen requires more precise timing still.
- Success depends heavily on professional semen evaluation, accurate ovulation timing, and correct handling.
- Vaginal insemination works for fresh/chilled semen; frozen semen is usually placed in the uterus by transcervical insemination (TCI).
- Whatever the semen type, the donor should have a current negative Brucella canis test, because semen can carry the infection. For chilled or frozen semen, ask for the donor’s Brucella canis result dated close to the collection date, and keep a copy with the shipment paperwork.
Fresh semen
Fresh semen, used immediately or within a short time of collection, generally gives the most forgiving timing of the three methods, since sperm hasn’t been through any extension or freezing process and can survive for several days in the bitch’s reproductive tract. Collection is typically done with an artificial vagina, and using a teaser bitch — ideally one actually in heat — during collection can meaningfully increase the volume and quality of sperm collected. The ejaculate is collected in fractions, with the sperm-rich fraction being the part that matters most for insemination.
Chilled semen
Chilled (extended, shipped) semen allows a stud in a different location to be used without travel. Collected semen is mixed with an extender solution and cooled to around 4–5 °C (39–41 °F) for transport, Plan to inseminate within a day or two of collection: how long chilled sperm stays viable varies between dogs, and is typically up to about three to four days even when handled correctly. Because chilled sperm survives for some time in the reproductive tract, insemination is commonly timed around days 3 and 5 after the progesterone rise that marks the LH surge — giving two attempts to cover the fertile window rather than relying on a single precisely-timed insemination.
In practice
A breeder wants to use a stud several hundred miles away. Chilled semen is collected, extended and shipped overnight in a temperature-controlled container, arriving the following day. Because timing was already tracked with progesterone testing before shipping was arranged, the semen arrives within the fertile window rather than the breeder scrambling to time shipping around an unclear cycle.
(Illustrative, composite scenario.)
(Illustrative, composite scenario.)
Progesterone results are best read as a trend over several tests rather than as one number, and values from different labs or test methods are not directly comparable. Using the same laboratory for the whole cycle makes timing more reliable.
Frozen semen
Frozen semen survives indefinitely in storage but loses some viability in the freeze-thaw process, and once thawed, has a much shorter usable window than fresh or chilled semen — about 12–24 hours in the bitch. This makes timing more exacting — frozen semen breedings are typically planned for about day 5 or 6 after the LH surge (day 0, marked by the initial progesterone rise), roughly three days after ovulation once the eggs have matured, rather than the wider window used for fresh or chilled semen. Because of the shorter post-thaw survival time and the more precise timing required, frozen semen is usually placed directly into the uterus by transcervical insemination (TCI), which a veterinarian performs without surgery.
Surgical insemination is no longer recommended by many reproductive services, as it gives no clear advantage in conception rates or litter size. It is banned in some countries, including the UK, where litters conceived this way cannot be registered. When TCI isn’t practical, a skilled vaginal insemination can still be an option. Ask your veterinarian which they advise.
Rules and paperwork for AI litters
Kennel clubs and veterinary regulators set their own rules for AI. In the UK, only veterinary professionals may inseminate a bitch, even vaginally. The AKC requires a licensed veterinarian for frozen-semen inseminations, and a DNA profile for sires of chilled and frozen-semen litters. Most registries also need the insemination declared on the litter application. Check your own kennel club’s current requirements before semen is shipped, because missing paperwork can delay or block registration.
What the kennel clubs say
Under the FCI’s International Breeding Rules (Article 13), which apply in all FCI member countries:
- Dogs should first be able to reproduce naturally. The national kennel club can make exceptions for the health of the breed, the welfare of the bitch or to preserve the gene pool.
- A veterinarian must certify that the semen came from the agreed stud dog.
- Who owns the semen must be documented in writing.
- A DNA profile of every dog whose semen is stored is strongly advised.
- The semen may only be used for bitches registered in an FCI-recognized studbook.
Some national clubs go further: the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) allows AI only when a veterinarian certifies that the dogs have no reduced libido or inability to mate normally, and the insemination must always be done by a licensed veterinarian. (SKK basic rules, 2026)
Source: FCI, International Breeding Rules. National kennel clubs may set stricter rules.
Last updated: November 8, 2026
Rules change, so always check with your own kennel club.
When to call your vet
- The stud’s Brucella canis result is missing, out of date or positive — don’t go ahead until your vet has advised you.
- Progesterone results don’t show the expected rise, or are hard to interpret, before semen is ordered or thawed.
- The bitch has a fever above 103 °F (39.5 °C), unusual or foul-smelling discharge, or seems unwell after insemination.
- A pregnancy ultrasound about 25–30 days after the LH surge shows no pregnancy and you want to plan the next cycle.
- A bitch aborts or loses a pregnancy — wear gloves, keep any material chilled for your vet, and ask about Brucella testing.
- If in doubt, call — your vet would rather hear from you early.
Work on it
A few minutes here will teach you more than re-reading the article.
Ask yourself
- Do I understand why frozen semen requires more precise timing than fresh or chilled semen?
- Am I clear on which insemination method (vaginal or transcervical) suits the semen type being used?
- Have I confirmed the semen source has current health and fertility testing on the stud dog?
Find out & check
- Find out what insemination method your vet or reproduction specialist recommends for the semen type you’re using.
- Check the shipping and storage requirements if using chilled or frozen semen from a distant stud.
Do one thing
- Confirm progesterone testing is scheduled early enough to arrange semen shipping or thawing in time.
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Sources & further reading
- Colorado State University Veterinary Health System — Artificial Insemination with Canine Semen. csuveterinaryhealth.org
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Breeding Management of Bitches. merckvetmanual.com
- American Kennel Club — Tips for Success with Fresh, Chilled Semen Breedings. akc.org
- Joonè, C. — Evidence-based practice in canine artificial insemination, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Breeding Soundness Examination of Male Dogs. merckvetmanual.com
- The Royal Kennel Club — Artificial insemination in dogs. royalkennelclub.com
- American Kennel Club — Artificial Insemination (registration requirements). akc.org
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons — Standards and advice June 2023: canine intravaginal AI. rcvs.org.uk
Where evidence is limited, recommendations rest on established practice and expert judgment, and may be updated as knowledge develops.
Next steps
- Read next: Reproductive infections and Brucella canis.
- Related: Natural mating · Timing the mating: finding the fertile window.
- Return to the area hub: Reproduction and fertility.