EN
The development of assisted reproductive techniques in dogs creates new possibilities to protect many species from extinction. The efficiency of oocytes maturation in bitches in vitro is much lower in comparison to other mammals. That is why there are many limitations in the development of methods of reproduction biotechnology in this species, i.e. embryo production (IVP), cryopreservation of semen or the transfer of nuclei. The oocytes of bitches existing in the follicle environment are influenced by the activity of progesterone, while the re-start and finish of the meiotic division in these cells takes place in the uterine tube. In contrast to bitches, in the case of the majority of mammals estrogens are dominating hormones and ovulating oocytes are in metaphase II of meiotic division. Differences in the process of oocytes maturation between several species of mammals make it impossible to create optimal and at the same time universal conditions of in vitro production. A relatively late implantation of the embryo in dogs can also be observed. In the present article questions connected with the process of in vivo and in vitro oocytes maturation were described as well as the fertilization and initial stages of embryo development in dogs.