Hello
I had a dog that mated a bitch last year. Three weeks after he mated her he mated another bitch and 10 pups were produced. The first bitches owner contacted me to say her bitch did not have any puppies. She has now contacted me asking for a free return mating on the dog. But since then he has died in a tragic accident. I add I will always do return matings free. But now he has gone they now want to use my other dog. They have told me I have to honour their agreement of a return mating, even though its a different dog.
My question to you all is what happens in these cases? I have not yet said either way what I would or would not do. I want to do what is right. My only concern is that this new dog is only a youngster and is used as stud sparingly.
He is a show dog.
Nutkin

I would say it's purely at your discretion. Return stud arrangements to the same dog are by agreement anyway, not inherent in the paying of a stud fee, and there may be various reasons why your other dog is not suitable. Also, as he produced a large litter soon after mating their bitch, there should be no questions on his fertility.

However, that said, assuming he's already been used at stud and there are no specific reasons not to use him on that bitch, I'd be inclined to take the easy option myself and keep the peace - always nice to see what a young dog will produce to different bitches anyway. He will not care that he's young and you'd like to take it slowly with him, he'll be very keen to oblige I'm sure :D

Marina

Difficult one. Naturally you want to do the right thing.

Usually the free return mating is worded "if the dog and bitch are in the same ownership as at the time of the first mating". So if the bitch had since changed ownership the new owners would not be entitled to the free mating.

I feel they may be "pushing their luck" at demanding another mating (it can't be classed as a repeat mating, with a different dog!). Maybe your young dog is not suitable for their bitch?

You will have to do what you think best - how friendly are you with these people? Perhaps you could charge them a half-fee "for goodwill".

The way I see it is that when a stud dog owner offers a free return it is to that one dog only and as you have sadly lost him you are unable to comply with that,could be that their bitch has a problem and that she may not produce at all.
I would say firmly that your other dog is not available to them at stud as he is not suitable either by age or breeding.
I lost two stud fees once around about £500 at that time i didnt do anything about it as I accept its the risk people take in breeding.
Did you have this in writing by the way? even so it makes no difference if you cant honor it. IMHO

Thank you for your replies. All opionons welcomed.
It has really troubled me today as I always worry that I am doing the right thing.

The dog I had was a lovely dog and had a good pedigree but he was no show dog. He was eye tested and hip scored and was a good dog he had a lovely temperament and he used to produce some lovely dogs and bitches. If he was still with me I would of let him mate the bitch again free of charge.
This other dog I have is a different class altogether. He is a very good dog. I dont want him to mate this bitch as he wont compliment her in any way.
Its very difficult to write down everything.
Should I return part of their stud fee?
I had in writing that they could have a free return mating with the dog they mated. I did not mention my other dog as at that time he was too young and I had not had his hips scored at all. He was not really up for stud.
Nutkin

No, I wouldn't return part of their stud fee. (Gosh, that sounds terribly money-grabbing :( ) but they got what they paid for. One of my bitches missed to a very nice stud dog (three seasons in succession) and he was tested fertile. She took immediately to his full brother. Something had been incompatible between them.

The stud fee is payment for the services of the dog. That is what they got. It is not payment for a puppies. The fact that the bitch missed to him is irrelevant (and the fact that a second bitch produced pups for him shows that he was fertile).

If you wouldn't use your young dog with this bitch in ordinary circumstances, don't do it now.

Hi Nutkin
You as the (stud )dog owner have a responsibility to make sure the stock he serves are compatable with him and he is a healthy specimen. If you dont think this bitch is compatible and he hasn`t had his hips done I would say a firm NO
As a gesture of good will I would offer them half the stud fee back minus any expenses you occurred will looking after there bitch (if any)