Hi All
Looking for some advice I had a girl come to stud last year, she was very difficult and very clingy to her owner as is typical for our breed. We did manage a mating and a very small stud fee was paid; the mating did not result in pups for that girl. I said at the time to bring her back for the free return. He has decided he would like me to keep her for several days 4/5 were mentioned so that she was a little bit more detached from him and could try and form a bond with my boy. I said I am happy to do this but I would charge a very small fee for keeping her 4-5 days. He said well I’ll bring her food so she won’t cost you anything, I thought you would just “have” her over to stay: But it’s my time as I know it will take hours upon hours which I know can be the norm and I’m prepared for that. But to then keep her 4-5 days on top of that for the very very small stud fee which isn’t even a 5th of the cost of a puppy. My boy is also extensively health tested and has a wonderful temperament and I am very careful about the girls he goes to. This chap just doesn’t seem to understand that having her 4-5 days is extra work for me.

That would be the norm in my breed, but our stud fee is the price of a puppy. 

Usually I have had the girls stay up to a week.  Obviously the stud owners are as keen for theri dog to produce a good litter that they can be proud of, as the bitch owner and do all they can to make that happen.

Have also had the boy stay with me for up to a week, which I prefer, but the fee is still the price of a pup.

A stud we tried that was too far to drive there and back in the same day the owner ended up keeping my girl for a week after I stayed there the weekend with no luck. They didn't ask anything extra for this, although I brought wine with me when I picked her up.
A friend who has had a girl stay up didn't ask extra for it either, but as the stud owner it's your terms so up to you. Was her staying over ever discussed last time?

I'm with you on this, I wouldnt expect the stud owner to look after my bitch for nothing...even if I supplied her food.
How much would it cost for this bitch to be in a kennels, for those amount of days & yes you can give them your dogs food but I bet it wouldnt be much of a reduction!
It is a big responsibility having someone elses dog stay with you. I think the owner of the bitch is expecting too much if your stud fee is very low,  to not pay towards her staying with you.

If I ever left mine (bitch) with the owner of the stud dog (which I only did once) I'd only expect to pay the stud fee - which at that time, was the price of one puppy.  That's not the case with my breed, apparently, these days.   Ditto with bitches coming to my studs.   The 'boarding' cost was included in the stud fee.   In other words I only asked for the stud fee - which again was the price of one puppy, so not 'small'.

I offered one free repeat if no puppies or, as was the case with my first breeding (me to the stud dog), if no more than 2 live puppies was the result.   I copied their Stud Agreement.

Why is the stud fee so very small?? 

I think, if you were charging a decent stud fee, you would feel recompensed for your efforts and duty bound to do whatever is necessary to secure a mating. 

However, it is more likely that the timing was wrong so you could request that she has progesterone tests before coming to you next time...

All you need is to get one mating at the right time.  You can do that by boarding the bitch and trying frequently or you can time it with progesterone to be sure you get the time right.  Or, you just wing it with the most popular days for your breed.  As you tried the last one, last time, and it didn't work, you need to try one of the first two suggestions, next time.

I don't think I understand your problem.  Your stud your time your price....  he should (politely) take it or leave it.  I certainly wouldn't barter if I had a good stud.

I've only ever charged £200 stud fee, and bitches have stayed with me and my boy for a week and over.  I've never charged for looking after the bitch, as I thought it was the stud dog owners responsibility.  (Also I'm very experienced with maiden bitches and handle them better than the owners.)

I admit that, with my breed, you do spend literally hours messing around with them, as they play and mess about a lot before "getting down to it."