Hello

I have have been approached regarding using my dog for stud. I have heard that this can change their temperament. He has a great temperament just now and would hate for him to change. What are your experiances?
Thank you.

id say alot do weve used our doy ,hes not changed much at home but when hes around other males hes more matcho ,and does go mad when our bitches come into season now has before he was used it didnt bother him much but now once he gets that smell he dont eat much ,hope that helps! hes still very loving with us all tho
;0

Hi foxdog, I've recently used my boy at stud for the first time and this was my major concern.  I spoke to many people, including the temperament assessor for Guide Dogs, who deals with all their stud dogs.  He told me that if you have a sound and well balanced dog to start with it shouldn't alter him too much.  My boy is the most submissive, laid-back dog I've ever had.  Before being used he had 2 grumbles at boisterous adolescent males of the same breed, since being used he has had a grumble at the same 2 dogs, so I'm putting it down to him just not liking these 2 individuals (I am talking little grumbles, he's never bared his teeth or shown any intention of taking it further).  He still plays off lead with other entire males, and I have no problem with him eye balling dogs at shows.  I know many people who say it has definitely affected their dog in a negative way but I often wonder whether this is because they are usually used at adolescence when they're likely to start showing these traits anyway.  Will read further replies with interest.

I think it very much depends on the individual dog, our boy was used and then attacked in the same week and he was never the same again, obviously I don't know which situation did it. He is a 11 yr old softie with people but hates males.
I think there is much that might affect things, I wonder if being a show dog helps as they are more used to being in close contact with other males.
I think that it needs careful consideration.
Good Luck with your decision.

My boy never changed from being used at stud, he too was fine playing with other dogs male and female of large and small breeds. He never started marking indoors either (I also have an entire bitch) he is generally good and seems to understand that his sister is off limits and accepts that. I may just be lucky? but I certainly have had a positive experience from that aspect.

I have never known it make any change at all to my males with regards to their temperament. It does make them a bit more frantic when they get a whiff of a bitch in heat, now they know what all the fuss is REALLY about LOL, but no, they have stayed exactly the same.

It depends very much on the individual dog. Some don't change at all - some become quite seriously dog-aggressive to other males. Some become a nightmare when there's a nearby bitch in season whilst others aren't bothered unless she's presented to them on a plate. Unfortunately you won't know until after the event.

Jeangenie, do you know of any stud dogs that have been used for the first time at a more mature age, and if so has their temperament changed?  I'd be really interested to know whether it is actually using them at stud that causes them to change or whether they'd change at adolescence regardless of being used or not. 

Jeangenie, do you know of any stud dogs that have been used for the first time at a more mature age, and if so has their temperament changed?

Hope you don't mind me replying instead. :) The sire of one of my bitches was used for the first time when he was 7 years old. He mated my bitch and then also her litter sister a few weeks later, owned by another breeder. This dog had until then done brilliantly at shows -but it was before we as a breed had tickets available. After these two matings it took his owner well over a year to be able to show him properly again as he started to be totally unmanageable in the ring, believing every dog he saw was a bitch for him to mate. He even cocked his leg up a judge's leg once! He did get back to normal and was made up to Champion but it was only after a LOT of very hard work.

My 6 year old became a 'first time Dad' last week and he was no different after the mating as before. I have him and another 2 complete dogs aged 10 and 2  and they all still play around as before. Having said that he has always been a big soft lump with other dogs and humans alike. He is the greeting dog for new puppies coming to training classes as he just adores them......wait until he meets his own son when we get him home!!

That's really interesting, thanks Marianne.  Was there dog-dog aggression too?

Our boy became very male dog aggressive and was never used again yet he was a complete softy until then, he can never be let off the lead now as he actively searches and marks. Its a real shame as he has now been retired from the ring due to the unpredictability.

Was there dog-dog aggression too?

No -in fact this boy lives together with his entire son. Son is now 4 and dad 11.

I have found the difference to be more pronounced in toy breeds, not so much in aggression but in behaviour, they get so macho that after the first bitch they territory mark everywhere!  Had to stop showing Algernon after he cocked his leg on his handler (my young nephew), ring steward, and just missed the judges leg. He is only allowed in the living room under very close supervision too, as he marks any soft item which has been in contact with a bitch, including curtains, sofa, chairs, cushions etc!  This is not an isolated incidence, as I know lots of other toy males who have exhibited similar behaviour traits after the first bitch.  Conversely I know 1 older pug boy who did not mate his first bitch until he was 4, and he has exhibited no loss of house manners, but he does live as an only dog.

The ones used at a mature age, I mand over 5 or 6 years (often the case in my breed where dogs often have few opportunities of being used) that I know have changed not one iota, and with some it has been of benefit as they then only react to bitches at the height of the season and are not bothered by the ones just coming in or out they may encounter at shows.

Males used during adolescence, it seems to prolong this annoying I'm gods gift stage, and they may be more of a pain with other males.

Triona,

How old was your boy when he was used? Was he used on any of your bitches or another breeders?
Sorry to hear about the changes in your boy..

I'm interested in this, I know some people's school of thought is to use them as young as possible, but from this thread so far it appears not to have the greatest of results in personality.. hmmm.

I've just used my 6 yr old for the first time and he's had no change of temperament at all. Mind you, he has never shown any dog agression ever, playing happily with anything or anyone, so maybe he figures he just got lucky and isn't dominant enough to assume that it's his place now to fight boys for all the girls. I think that where dogs are more dominant anyway, then the act of mating will increase that and make them feel that they are now top dog.  However, I am surviving on pitiful amounts of sleep so I may be talking rubbish. I would have thought that the younger you use a dog, the more likely it is that he will develop more dominant behaviours in the future, but I can think of at least two Champs in our breed who were used quite young and still have great temperaments - funnily enough, they're both quite submissive boys anyway...

My GSD had already had 1 litter before I had him at the age of 16 months, and he is the softist GSD I have ever known both with humans and dogs especially he adores all dogs.

The reason to use young is all that testosterone overdrive means they usually will mate. 

It is not unusual for a dog that is older to not be too fussed and never get the hang of things. 

A number of super males in my breed never sired a litter despite numerous attempts.  so if you really want to ensure the bloodlines are used a breeder may be anxious for a dog to have one litter early on, deal with training etc and not have him used again until a settled adult.

The sire of my last two litters was used as a Young adult and then not again until 6 years old.

> The reason to use young is all that testosterone overdrive means they usually will mate.

That's nice to have that explained. Thanks Brainless.
The only thing now though is he is in love with every bitch he meets, he's funny though, the owner's don't mind either, nor do I. ;)

My boy was a little bolshy with other males his sort of size, particularly Cairns for some odd reason. But he never ever marked in the house, not even with Ellie red hot in season. His only lapse was after a dog I had in for grooming weed up my sofa, and Henry did do one inside mark on that occasion, but that was it.

im very lucky too our boy has never marked in the house from the day we got him home and even tho his had 3 mateing.

We just bread our dog a few months ago and there has been absolutely no change in his disposition whatsoever.

I was very interested to read your comments about toy dogs temperaments changing after being used for stud. My toy dog behaves like a lunatic in the show ring (only in the ring not out) and I have long suspected his high level of excitement is because he's trying to jump aboard the bitch in front! He's only two and a half so do you think he will settle again in time or is this behaviour set now he knows what life's about! ps he is still used as a stud dog and behaves better in the ring immediately after a dalliance!

Both of my boys have been used several times, the first was 6 and made no difference, his son was used at 2 and again no difference.
But i do know of males in my breed that have had a change.. Think it's down to the dog in the end.

Would have to agree it all depends on the dog itself, very much how the dog will respond to other things in its life, some things may be accelerated like if you dog is dominant this may be highlighted as slightly worse if he has been used. We have 2 half brother aged 4 & 5 who live together, one has been used at stud the other not yet still entire. We expected for the friendship to become strained once the one had been used but has made no difference at all. The biggest problem I would forsee with stud dogs is the ability to scent a female at a huge distance if in season, can be problematic if the dog is shown and bitches are taken in season, or the need to pee up anything and everything with no concern for your sofa, chair, bin, or fellow dogs!!!!! Some dogs however are always more prone to scenting girls in season anyhow, we have a young boy who is 14months who can smell a girl in season in Japan it seems but never been used obviously due to his age, with him being quite 'butterfly brained' seeing and having what he knows is around anyway may actually help him and calm him down to this type of thing or equally could make it worse - prepare for all options - be prepared it may cause an issue then if it doesnt then thats a bonus :) nothing worse than going in blind & expected all to be grand.