Hello all
First post here. I have an 11 month old dog and have recently been asked if i would use him as a stud. I know this is a serious decision so i dont want to say yes just because why not. I supose my main consern is i have no idea what needs to be done and also i wouldn't want my dog to change personality wise. I also think hes a little young right now and am not sure what age would he need to be.
I also think i should try and make sure the owner of the bitch knows what shes doing but not sure what questions to ask. So basically if anyone could help that would be great
Thank you

Is he KC registered? Are you competing in any activities with him?

He's a [small breed], hes kc reg and no i don't do any competing with him. His farther and grandmother did competitions

Before anyone thinks about allowing their dog to mate someone else's bitch there are many things to consider.
1. Is their dog a quality example of it's breed ie the dog has the correct temperament & character for the breed & resembles the breed
2. Have ALL available health tests been done & are ALL the results good/normal for the breed ?
3. If a working dog(as opposed to a show/KC activities dog) is it a proven worker(eg able to work stock, retrieve to the gun dependant on breed)?
4. If it is a show dog has it done exceptionally well at shows
5. If it is a KC activities dog has it competed at the highest level successfully ?
6. Is the dog fully mature eg not a puppy
7. Are you able to accommodate any of his puppies that are no longer wanted by their owner at any time during their lifetime? Morally stud dog owner's are equally responsible for their dogs off spring with the breeder.
8.Are you able to handle a stud dog successfully & are you prepared for any changes in his temperament & behaviour that can & do occur after being used at stud.
9. Are you able to check the pedigree of any bitch & your dog to ensure that your dog complements the bitch's strengths & weaknesses.
10. Does your dog come from fully health tested bloodlines ?

Once you have gone through the above, you need to ensure that the same has been done for ALL bitch that may be brought to him.

At 11 months he is way to young to be even considered as a possible stud dig.

All the above assumes he is KC or other similar registry registered with no endorsements on his registration

Thank you this is very useful infomation. I googled at i saw 12 to 15 months is ok to stud but this still feels young to me so I'm not sure appropriate age

Had he had any health testing? A look at the KC site tells me that there are 4 different tests he should have before considering breeding.  If his breeder placed the “progeny not eligible for registration” endorsement on him then this would need removed before his pups could be KC registered. Have you ever handled a stud dog or do you have someone to help you?

Have a good read of this post: Should I offer my dog at Stud? .

As a general rule (and in MY experience with MY breed!) it's usually best to use a potential stud dog yourself with an in-houose bitch considered to be a good match, to see what he might throw bearing in mind it does take 'two to tango', and yes by around a year but not younger (given that in other breeds, there is testing to be considered which may need to be done later).   After which, even if the result is good, the owner would concentrate on a show career.

It's also necessary for the owner of the stud dog to be experienced enough to know whether the bitch in question will 'nick' with the dog, both in pedigrees and visual conformation.   It would help for the bitch to have had a promising show career too although for me, it can be that a Champion dog or bitch won't throw their quality, whereas their unshown sibling does.

It's easy to be flattered by somebody who asks to use your dog, but the owner of the stud dog is 50% responsible for what he might sire.  Fact is I turned away probably more enquiries for my boys than I accepted - human nature suggests that if things don't work out, it's ALWAYS the fault of the stud dog whether or not this is true!!    

If it all goes to plan with the potential stud dog, then he can be advertised 'at public stud to approved bitches', but I'd recommend the person who has approached you to go to the father of your dog.   Which if available, is what most people would do once they see the dog is producing good stock. 

Please know that once used, the dog may be looking for the next bitch to mate with .....

I have also been asked this with my boy on several occasions and the last point of MamaBas post is what really put me off.   Yes the health stuff and quality of the dog are most important but for a pet owner I wouldn't want a dog that was constantly looking for his next mating opportunity, I just don't think that would be fair to him.  That must be incredibly frustrating for them rather than what they have never had they never miss.

> i wouldn't want my dog to change personality wise

In that case DON'T!!  Once he's mated a bitch he will want to do it again.  And again.  You have the possibility of him making a nuisance of himself, humping everything.

And many dogs would also start marking in the house, wanting everyone to know his territory.  Not many people like dogs piddling over the furniture.

> i wouldn't want my dog to change personality wise.

In my experience they always do. I've had several boys that have been used and they all changed afterwards, mostly by forever searching for more girls.

I had to have my lovely import boy neutered (so ending his show career) because I was so worried I was going to lose him. He had a wonderful recall, sired 3 litters then started running off after every dog he could see in the distance to see if it was a girl in season. We met a bitch in season on a walk, he had to be leashed to be dragged away, I walked for 30 mins in the opposite direction then let him off lead again and he span round and raced after her! I only got him back because the bitches owners called the number on his tag and walked back to meet me!

Thank you for all the replys. I have read all replies and don't think i will use by boy as a stud. Leave that stuff to the people who know more about it and I'll have my boy neutured in febuary which we planned to do anyway

I have a retired stud, 7 yrs old. He's a lovely boy,very affectionate and happy, but as others have said hypervigilant when out  and looking for opportunities. He's also escaped from the garden twice in the last month and living on a very busy road that's scary.
He scent marks in the house about 3x a week, so we've decided to have him castrated in the New Year in the hope of curbing some of these behaviours. Saying that he's improved a lot in the 7 months since we rehomed him from his breeder and is great with our spayed girl.

Gosh, I haven't experienced any of these problems.  IME, once dogs have been allowed to breed, they know what they are looking for - in season (and in standing heat) females - and they actually become less interested in everything else and LESS of a sex pest. 

I do agree with many of the earlier statements:  You would first health test the dog, then try to prove him in some way and get him 'seen' by people who might want to use him.  You should also insist that any bitches coming to him are fully health tested as well (is this person who's asked to use him's bitch fully health tested?).

Lastly, just because you're not going to breed him, doesn't mean you should neuter him.  There are many health advantages to male dogs remaining intact throughout their lives.  Please research this subject fully - not breeding doesn't equal neutering...!

>I'll have my boy neutured

You might find this article of some interest: The Pros and Cons of Neutering

> Lastly, just because you're not going to breed him, doesn't mean you should neuter him.  There are many health advantages to male dogs remaining intact throughout their lives.  Please research this subject fully - not breeding doesn't equal neutering...!

I TOTALLY agree with this!   As long as he's properly contained (and not used at stud ) there should be no need for castration, other than for medical need.  Over the years, I've had to have two oldies castrated because of prostate problems.  I so regretted it.  Both went very 'lazy' (lacked their previous 'zip'), tended to put on weight which meant I had to be constantly adjusting their food intake, and grew much thicker coats.  Could be castration doesn't 'suit' my gentle quiet breed in any case but I wished I'd not had to have it done.  And however uncomplicated, it is still surgery with a g/a and recovery.

On the other hand my dog was castrated at 2 and all his unwanted behaviours went away. Cocking his leg in house or on other peoples legs. Rushing up to other dogs.
He is full of energy , has not gained weight, coat is normal and he is a pleasant and very sociable dog.

As I've said a few times before on various subjects, this is why we have science - to avoid the 'battle of the anecdotal'.  We can all sit here forever going 'my dog was neutered at XYZ age and was fine' and 'my dog was neutered at blah blah age and developed this problem' until the cows come home, no one being any the wiser.

It is only when we look at research - taking large sample sizes into account and attempting to control for other variables - that we start to get information we can use to make future decisions. 

Research shows that neutered dogs actually hump MORE often than intact dogs, for example.... yet people often want to neuter their dogs which are humping

> We can all sit here forever going 'my dog was neutered at XYZ age and was fine' and 'my dog was neutered at blah blah age and developed this problem' until the cows come home, no one being any the wiser.

Ain't that the truth, which is why I did say castration may not be 'right' for my breed (but ok for others!)

I don't think it's a breed thing, MamaBas, it's about the individual dog and the reasoning for neutering.

I only feel this way (breed thing) because the Basset is naturally soft and not usually in need of castration for the reasons sometimes people do this, thinking it will be a cure-all.   The sharp Terrier comes to mind?   But otherwise I'd agree - re the two I had to have done because of prostate problems ie done for a medical reason.   And that would also cover a retained testicle(s) which needs to come out.