If you plan to breed your bitch, it's helpful to learn more about dog stud service. The actual stud service itself is the act of the male dog mating with the female that is in heat. Unless you happen to own your own breeding male, you'll likely need to use an outside stud on your bitch. However, many first time breeders don't know what to expect from this experience. Here is a breakdown of the way many professional breeders handle the situation.
Selecting a Stud For Your Bitch
Selecting the right stud for your bitch is the first order of business. You'll want to choose a dog that is a great representative of his breed and also free of genetic faults and illnesses. Even more importantly, you'll want to select a stud dog that has a wonderful temperament because he'll be more likely to produce pups that also have a sound temperament. Always choose the best dog in order to produce the best progeny.
- So, how do you find the perfect stud? National breed clubs are usually your best bet for connecting with a top-notch breeder. The easiest way to find one of these clubs is by visiting the website of the American Kennel Club and checking the breed page for your chosen breed. Once you contact the club, you'll be referred to one or more stud owners whose dogs you can check out.
- Scouting for a stud is best done well in advance of your bitch's heat cycle so that you have plenty of time to look at different stud dogs as well as some of their progeny.
- Looking at the stud's pedigree will also show you how many champions are in his family. While this is not a certain guarantee of quality, it can help guide you to a superior bloodline.
- For an AKC registered litter, the stud needs to be at least seven months old, and no older than 12 years. You want the stud to at least be old enough to have recommended health testing which may require them to be as old as two years depending on when the breed reaches full sexual maturity.
Finding a Bitch for a Stud Dog
Just as the owner of the bitch wants to find the best male to complement their dog, likewise a stud dog owner should seek to find a bitch that will further the breed's development.
Considerations
The same considerations apply such as a good temperament, evidence of awards and titles, and health testing for any genetic conditions. You also want to find out how often the bitch is bred, as having litters with every heat cycle is not healthy for the bitch or her puppies. Since the owner of the female will have control of the litter, a good stud dog owner will also inquire about the practices of the bitch's breeder when it comes to finding homes for the puppies. They should have an interview process and contract in place and seek to place their puppies in excellent homes, as well as require spay/neuter for pet quality dogs. The stud and bitch owners should also share the same goal of furthering the breed and not simply breeding for money.
- You can find suitable mates for your stud through similar steps as the bitch's owner will use to find a stud. Check with national breed clubs for your chosen breed through the AKC's website. If your dog breed is not recognized by the AKC, check with registries where they are such as the United Kennel Club.
- Attend local dog shows both as a competitor and a spectator. You can meet owners and handlers of dogs in your breed that may be looking for a stud or may know of good breeders that you can contact. Participating in events as a competitor also shows off your dog and achieving titles will make him more attractive to breeders looking for a stud.
- You should also make sure your dog is registered with the AKC or other applicable registry prior to trying to work out a breeding with a bitch from the AKC or another registry.
- Since male dogs can mate at any time, you do not have the same time restrictions as the owner of a bitch will who are dependent on their dog's heat cycle.
- You'll want to discuss with the owner of the bitch the dog's pedigree and their goals for breeding to make sure they are in line with yours.
Advertising for a Bitch or Stud
There are many websites where you can advertise your dog for matings, whether your dog is a bitch or a stud. Many of these sites will not yield breeders looking for quality partners and to further the development of the breed's best qualities. The best way to find a suitable dog is through personal contact with members of the national and local breed clubs and meeting them and their dogs to discuss your goals for the breeding. Likewise, using websites such as Craig's List and Facebook can find mates for your dog but they are not likely to be ones that will result in a quality breeding with responsible practices. It's still possible, but your best chances are going through a major breed registry such as the AKC and UKC.
AKC Breeders of Merit
In addition to finding breeders through the AKC clubs, you can also search for breeders who have obtained the AKC Breeder of Merit status. Breeders are eligible to become a part of this program if they:
- Have participated in AKC events for at least five years.
- Have earned titles on at least four dogs from litters of AKC-registered dogs that they either bred or co-bred with another breeder. The titles must be from conformation, performance or companion events. Titles such as the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) or Barn Hunt or Working titles are not applicable.
- Are an active member of an AKC club.
- Provide proof that all breeding dogs had recommended health tests done prior to breeding. The types of tests will vary based on what is recommended by the parent club of the breed.
- Provide proof that all the puppies from litters they have bred were registered individually with the AKC.
Once you have obtained Breeder of Merit status, you can reach higher levels of recognition based on the number of dogs you have titled in conformation, companion and performance events and achieving championship status.
The Stud Contract
Some stud dog owners actually use a written contract that lays out the terms under which the breeding will be conducted. It is up to the bitch's owner to read through the terms and sign the contract if they are agreeable. Both parties retain a copy of the agreement, and the bitch's owner should also receive a copy of the stud's pedigree. Here are some common points usually included in most stud contracts.
Standard Terms and Fees
Items that are standard in stud contracts include:
- The contract specifies the exact stud to be used as well as his registration number, and the bitch's name and registration number are added to the document as well.
- A set fee is paid to the stud owner by the bitch's owner. The fee is paid in consideration of the stud dog's work and does not in itself guarantee that the bitch will conceive. The amount of the fee is determined by the stud dog owner and listed in the contract. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $1,000 depending on how many champions a particular stud has produced. Some breeders charge a stud fee that is equal to the asking price for one puppy.
- In return for the fee, the stud will be used on the bitch for one, two or possibly three breedings during the current heat cycle. The contract may even specify whether the breedings are to be conducted naturally or by artificial insemination.
- Some contracts also have space to record the actual breeding date(s) so the bitch's owner can calculate the possible due date(s).
Optional Terms
Additional terms that may apply include:
- Some stud owners are willing to guarantee one or two live puppies at the time of birth. If so, they offer one repeat service at no extra charge if the original breeding doesn't take.
- If the prospective stud has never been used before, some breeders will agree to waive the fee in order to get the stud "proven." This means proving he can produce a litter. Another variation is that the stud fee is paid after it has been determined that the bitch is indeed pregnant.
- In some cases, the stud owner may agree to take the pick puppy of the litter in lieu of a cash payment.
Sometimes both parties simply come to a verbal agreement on the terms, but it is usually better to draft a written agreement signed by both parties. This eliminates any confusion about the agreement and allows you to easily can refer back to the terms at a later date.
Veterinary Considerations
If the dogs are to be bred naturally, both dogs should be examined by a vet and certified free of canine brucellosis. Brucellosis is a bacterial infection spread through sexual contact, among other means, that can cause spontaneous abortion of the pups and also cause sterility in the dog and bitch. This term is usually agreed upon and verified without specifically being mentioned in the contract.
What Else to Expect
In most cases, the bitch is brought to the stud dog's location, and she may actually remain at the stud dog owner's house during the breeding period in some cases. The stud owner may or may not charge an additional boarding fee. This is another item that should be specified beforehand so both parties understand what is expected. In the opposite situation, an unproven stud dog may actually go to stay with an experienced breeder who will break him in on a proven brood bitch.
Witnessing the Breeding
Some breeders will encourage you to stay and witness the breeding, especially if your bitch has never been bred before. Your presence may help her relax more in what could seem an intimidating situation. However, some stud dogs don't perform well with strangers around, so you may need to leave and pick up your bitch later.
Tips for the First Time Stud
While some dogs will take naturally to the process, you may need to assist the dog physically to get into place if this is his first breeding. This may be particularly true depending on the breed where anatomy can make mounting the female difficult. Experienced breeders often recommend breeding a first-time stud to an experienced female, as a first-time breeding bitch may be skittish and anxious and this can deter the male. It's also best to keep the male on-leash if you need to move him away from an unreceptive or irritated female. Some dogs are even muzzled during the process to keep the other dog safe.
Basic Expectations
Those are the basics of any dog stud service. There can be a lot of variables to this scenario, but the most important thing is that both parties discuss everything beforehand to make sure they have the same understanding of the terms of the breeding. What starts out as a business arrangement can blossom into a great breeding partnership when everyone is on the same page.
