Cheetahs are apparently kind of finicky when it comes to breeding. Not breeding as in pedigree, but as in the actual act of mating. They're very skittish, and especially when they've been raised in captivity, they don't socialize very well with other cheetahs.They do, on the other hand, get along pretty well with dogs. So much so that some zoos are giving the cheetahs pet dogs (or possibly the other way around). The dogs reassure the cheetahs, reducing their stress levels, and help them feel more confident when introduced to potential breeding partners.
The one drawback to the process is that the dogs (despite sometimes being outweighed by a factor of 4 to 1) almost inevitably become the dominant part of the relationship. They spend a lot of time with the cats, but they also have to spend a lot of time socializing with other people and dogs. Feeding time especially-- as Janet Rose-Hinostroza, animal training supervisor at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is quoted in the source article as saying, "If they ate together there would be one really fat dog and a really skinny cheetah."
Primary source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/companion-dogs-cheetahs-friendship-zoos_n_2667033.html
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