Interesting article over on SLATE that made me laugh aloud as it appears to be another case of "When the Legend becomes Fact, Print the Legend" or perhaps "You think you know, but you really don't." New term of the day "Dog Knot" (has nothing to do with Barney Fife either, lol).

Excerpt:

"Apparently, dogs doing it for the first time can get a little freaked out about the prolonged attachment, as do first-time dog breeders. If you should ever find yourself in this situation, The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds suggests you prevent the female dog from trying to rip free from the male, because doing so can cause serious injury to the penis. Breeding websites recommend you get down on the floor and comfort the female. Oh, and never ice the dogs’ genitals in an attempt to separate them.