I am not so sure about the smear test telling you anything useful. My Dobe bitch comes into heat late (usually people say day 10, 12 and 14 from first show), she was mated 3 times using a smear test to tell when to mate, no pups. This time i let a male dog and her own instinct tell me when she wanted to be mated. She allowed the male to mount her on day 15, 16 and 17. I am much more hopeful this year that she will be preggy...