just enquiring about having my dog as a stud dog and what the process is needed to ensure I find the right person to deal with. My gundog  is  working stock 6 years of age (male) and from a long list of FT champions(25). Personally would see it as a shame that his blood line isn't continued and also other people can enjoy the fun we have had with my dog since the day we picked him (he picked us really). Would also be lovely to potentially have one of his pups (even though been told not a good practise). Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

You have not mentioned health tests, he would need to have hips and elbows scored and eye testing which needs to be done on an annual basis. If you have not already had the hips and elbows scored then at 6 years old he may have wear and tear which would affect the results (these tests can be done from 12 months old).  I would expect the tests to cost you a total of around £400. Has anyone approached you about using him?  Usually the bitch owner would approach a stud dog owner rather than the opposite way about, if this has not already happened it may not happen at all.  You may be best going back to his breeder to get your next puppy from the same line.

Click here: Should I offer my dog at Stud?

Thanks!

Well that's good advice,know one would approach Me as most the people I know are fellow walkers,I do have a couple of people i can enquire with.but as to health check was No point until the subject arose really.as I mentioned my dog is working stock but bought as family pet.all advice is very helpful and even though my dog is trained to a very high standard,i don't have a clue about breeding as you may have guessed by my post

Can I share my last breeding experience with you, and see if you still want your dog to be used at stud after this?

I have a successful show and racing dog, excelling in both spheres and dna clear for every health test. He's been used before and produced a successful litter, pups also excelling in show and racing so all good. He's a Dutch import and his girlfriend is from America.

His girlfriend arrived Thursday 4th (day 10 of her season), she wasn't quite ready but this still took time each day to establish, time for the dogs to flirt and play and of course entertaining my visitors. Same deal every day, my boy wasn't really interested in mounting her. So Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday all spent in a rush of coffee making, watching flirting dogs and of course walking the rest of the dogs.

Tuesday she was finally turning her tail, we had a slip mating late at night after a day of trying to persuade my boy to do the deed, same Wednesday, Thursday my boy was much keener. Turns out he's cleverer than we think and wasn't really going to bother til it was the right time. 20 minute tie Thursday.

Friday 12th my boy had cried all night, desperate to get to his girl and they tied instantly. We were of course holding them, the tie lasted 2 and a half hours. We were getting very worried, I had asked on here for advice, phoned my vets, googled, there was nothing we could do but wait.  Thankfully they did part themselves eventually and no real harm done though my boys sheath was very red and sore for a couple of days.

So all in all 8 days of visitors and all day spent with the dogs, 8 nights of little sleep as my other boy cried every night, joined by his pal for the last few nights.

Was it worth it? Absolutely in my case as I have a rare breed, only 72 in the UK at the moment and the bitch is gorgeous and fast too so we're very excited about the outcome. Also it helps that her owners are thoroughly lovely people and a pleasure to have around. If I had a more popular breed though there is no way I would put myself through all that just to produce another pet litter.

Apart from needing the health tests for the breed you may find that at his age he will not even mate a bitch, dogs quite often haven't got a clue and although enthusiastic they need experienced help from the breeder, my first attempt to breed my bitch 30 years ago was almost a disaster. Lovely male chosen and after 3 hours messing about although the bitch was really helpful the dog just could not get his ducks in a row, pardon the pun, I was lucky enough to find another male who did the job in 60 seconds from meeting. You could find that having spent the money for testing that you get no luck attracting bitches for him or he could just as easily be put off or even injured by a bitch who is not happy to be mated.  It can also be the case that once he has mated you may find an increase in him urine marking at home and on walks and he could also be more likely to see other males as rivals, it could be that everything goes wonderfully but it's worth thinking about all the ramifications.

Duly noted,he pretty much urinates all the time now,God knows what he'd be like afterwards then.these are the bits know one knows about so I thank you for sharing your experiences good or bad to myself and others, it is food for thought and not as clear cut as playing Barry white and leaving them alone in a candle lit room.so thank you for the input and will keep an open mind and if someone gets in touch my best mate may indeed get his day

I'm glad you have taken on board the advice from everyone who has commented so far.  Please do not let him "get his day" without first having all health tests done with good results, please ensure that anyone who does wish to use him has had their bitch health tested too. You would get eye testing results at the time of the test but hip and elbow results can take around 6 weeks.  If you do not show or work your dog then you may not be familiar with his pedigree or the pedigree of a proposed mate so without knowledgable help you would have no way of knowing the construction, type, working ability and most importantly temperament of the ancestors.  If you go ahead you will be 50% responsible for the puppies produced, that is a huge responsibility and you would want to ensure that you have done everything possible to contribute to healthy, well bred , good natured puppies to live with future families.

I think the main sticking point you'll have is with his hip scores. These are expensive tests and at 6 may not give the best results.
Obviously if you do his DNA tests and eye tests first, you can save yourself the hip scoring if he fails the former, but if he passes his DNA and eye test and fails hips and elbows, then thats a lot of money wasted.
Gundog stud fees are generally very cheap due to the vast abundance of the main gundog breeds.
You would need to think why people would use your lovely boy (is his work proven?) rather than a relatively cheap Field Trial Champion?
We have the same dilemma with our stud dogs.
At 12 months old we have to decide if they are showing enough promise to go ahead and hip score them. They would have to be something really special for anyone to consider using them.
One of the spaniels is our best working dog and has done relatively well in a few competitions but only been used twice for stud. It's a lot of money to invest if they are not used.
Also you may need to bear in mind potential behavioural changes. 'Sex-pest' dogs are no-one's favourite ;-)

> will keep an open mind and if someone gets in touch my best mate may indeed get his day

Same advice, do not do this unless he passes the necessary health tests, and unless you see the documentation that the same necessary health tests haven been done for the bitch.

If you ignore the health tests, you risk producing puppies that have serious health problems. If this does happen the affected puppies will suffer, their future owners will suffer, those health problems that are correctable cost huge amount of money for surgeries (into thousands pounds), some owners will treat their dog, some won't and just feed it painkillers until the dog's stomach shrivels up, some may abandon their dog or dump their dog on a rescue not willing to deal with unhealthy animal. And all would be because you let your best mate to have his day.

Also bare in mind to check if you do all the health tests that the breeder lifts the endorsement on his pedigree otherwise the pups can't be registered and also checking the bitches pedigree has the breeding endorsement lifted too

Apart from his age now which may mean he hasn't the faintest idea about mating, most breeders start their youngsters early on, on one of their own bitches and then put him away, show him to hopefully a Championship.   They may then offer him at public stud (usually 'at limited stud to suitable bitches'), or not!    Frankly I turned away more enquiries then I accepted for my studs, mainly because I felt the mating wouldn't 'click'.   And never forget, if anything 'goes wrong', it's always the fault of the male, in the eyes of others!!   You need to know a lot about the breed to be able to know what should work, and what won't.

As for continuing the line - isn't that up to the person who bred your dog?   'Want one just like him'....... you may get that in one of his litters, but a litter is 50% your dog and 50% the bitch.   So you may be better to go back to his breeder for another rather than be 50% responsible for bringing a litter into the world?

Lots to think about there before you go ahead.    And always have a Stud Contract, spelling out what happens if there are no puppies.  We'd always offer a free repeat if the litter was no more than 2 live puppies.

Have you checked on the KC website whether any of his siblings have been bred from? Might be a much cheaper option to buy in a related puppy. Totally agree that you nee to do his health tests first before even thinking of using him at stud.

> Duly noted

Pleased your taking on board a lot of the replies your getting.
You may feel they have mostly been negative ones BUT we have been there & have the experiences & its these you need to be aware of.
It isn't straight forward as some may think letting your dog mate a bitch.
It takes 2 parties to create a litter & I firmly believe that the owner of the male, is just as responsible for the resulting puppies, as the owner of the female. This means they help finding homes for the puppies & other things to help.

Like another postee mentioned if you like your dog & want one 'just like him'..go back to where you bought him from...it could be possible the breeder has a close relative due for a litter.

This is a dilemma I have ahead of me too. I have a standard poodle who is too young to stud (only just one) and untested but I have wondered if I should have the tests done and allow him to be used in the future. In our case he is a pet but is coming on well as a support dog for my autistic children and this temperament would be part of my reason, as well as him being a "rare" colour - my rationale there is different: the backyard breeders are going to breed parti coloureds, if I bred my boy it would be so people had the option to have a very attractive dog from known, health tested lines. A puppy from him is a very secondary consideration now, as we have been lucky to get another from a repeat mating of his parents, who we will bring home in a few weeks. The pup's coming is also putting the whole question even more on the back burner for now.

Your dog is probably too old now for the chance of a puppy sibling or half sibling, but if you look you may find you're able to find a grand niece or nephew to add to your family.

I've read all the responses to your post, and, as an owner of an experienced stud dog I'm just giving you my experience.  You say that your boy is a pet, which is great, all my dogs are pets first and foremost.  One drawback for me is having a boy cock his leg up in the house once he's experienced a mating. 

I have found over the years that the bitch owner relies on my experience.  They say their bitch is ready, but she rarely is.  And they end up leaving their bitch with me.  Are you happy to handle a bitch during the tie?  So many girls change their mind once tied.  They will try their utmost to get away.  And if pulling doesn't work then many will turn somersaults (yes, honestly.)  Are you sure that you can stop this sort of bitch from causing damage to your boy?

And with an inexperienced stud many will need help to get the spot.  Are you  happy to help him in (and will he let you?)

Just some things for you to think about from someone with stud dogs.  And I hope looking at it from the other side will help you.