Hello

A friend of mine is planning on mating her well bred and very good natured 3 year old Rottweiler bitch and has asked me to enquire what the average stud fee would be?

The bitch has been hip/elbow scored (no results back yet although the x-ray plates looked fine to me based on the experience of seeing my own dogs x-rays) and she has been eye tested clear.  The bitch is not in season yet and a stud dog owner has been recommended by the vet my friend and I use.  The owner of the stud sounds very responsible, she has a copy of the pedigree of the bitch and is happy that it's of sufficient merit and will match two of her three stud boys.  She will help my friend pick which boy when she meets the bitch.  She will also only consider a mating if the scores (for the hips) come back at 10 or less (my friend didn't say what she said about the elbows!).  At this stage she wouldn't enter into any further discussions about arrangements/fees etc.

Anyway, money is not the issue and my friend will pay the going rate without a problem.  However as I have a breed where the stud fee is usually half the going rate of a well bred puppy we wondered (both being new to Rottweiler breeding) what the likely fee would be?  We don't think that the stud dog owner will take advantage (not suggesting it at all) of my novice friend but we did feel it would be nice to have a ball park figure to go by so that all the expense involved could be accounted for (purely for practical reasons).

Sorry to ramble, just wanted to let you know that this breeding is being well thought out and all the necessary health checks etc. are taken care of and that a responsible stud dog owner with suitable dogs has been selected and that the mating will only go ahead subject to good results for the hips/elbows.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Chris

Unless your Vet is an expert in breeding Rotts then their opinion and recomendation is of little value.

The bitch should be assessed by a breed expert and a stud used that will complement her in looks, tempereament and bloodlines, this takes expert knowledge.

If you contact the breed clubs not only will they be able to advise the average stud terms, but also advise on other matters pertaining to the breed.

Hello Brainless

Thank you for your reply.

Fortunately it is my understanding that the stud dog owner is a breed expert, this is why she's going to look at the bitch and help my friend choose between two of her three stud boys (she clearly knows one bloodline wouldn't suit!).

Thank you for your advice to contact the breed clubs, will do this now.

Chris

Why doesn't she just ask the stud dog owner. I am sure if they are reputable they will charge her only the going rate.

Hi Blue

I believe she did ask the stud dog owner, however the stud dog owner wouldn't enter into any further discussion about arrangements until she sees the hip/elbow results and the bitch. The stud dog owner will see the results and the bitch at the time of the visit for mating (she already has a copy of the pedigree) and this is why I asked the question.  My friend would clearly like to take the correct fee in cash with her and so a broad idea of the stud fee would be nice to know in advance!

As I said in my earlier mail, our stud fees are half the cost of a well bred puppy, my friend doesn't mind what the stud fee is (she's not being fussy etc.) but would like to know roughly how much she can expect to pay to save embarrassment (& a dash to the cash point for more money!)

Chris

Hi Chris,

sorry I can't help on price, got no idea in Rotties. It does strike me though as if the stud dog owner is being a bit unfair by only telling you on the day of the mating how much it's going to be! That doesn't leave you with much chance of finding another stud if she changes her mind, or you don't like her stud dogs. I'm also puzzled as to how the stud dog owner thinks her dogs will be a suitable match without even seeing the bitch!!

I would personally contact one of the breed clubs for advice on the fee, and the stud dog owner. They may be able to suggest other breeders with suitable stud dogs, after all you want to try and produce the best you can.

good luck.

Also, just to add, before you mate her make sure the stud dog owner produces a written contract to cover every eventuality and make sure you are completely happy with it before going ahead. I can't stress enough how important this is, search champdogs for previous posts where problems have occurred.

The stud fee depends really.
A champion rottie can be from £500 to £800 but most seem to be around £600 to £700.

Please be sure that the breed expert is a breed expert and not just someone with a few dogs.
(No disrespect to the stud dog owner)

You do need to find out the stud fee as if its too expensive or the terms arent fair then you could consider using another dog.

Hi Carolyn & Husky

Thank you so much for your very helpful posts.  I will make some further enquiries myself (on behalf of my friend).  I was also a little concerned that information was not being shared too readily. 

I have three boys (Gundog breed) at stud and I'm always very open and honest from the outset about all the arrangements (including health screening, pedigree's, type/conformation of the bitch, reason why the person wants a litter and last but not least the prospective breeders suitability to rear a healthy litter to a high standard and ensure they go only to the best of homes.)  I have no doubt my friend shares these views and this is why I'm assisting her with the process and between us we are trying to do things correctly.

Whilst I don't wish to cast any doubt on the breeder concerned I'd rather that she was more open about things.  I do however think she is conscientious by not allowing any bitches to come to her dogs without a hip score of 10 or less and I quite understand that she'd like to see the bitch herself prior to committing to a mating but I'd rather this was dealt with prior to the bitch being in season and ready for mating.

The actual amount of the stud fee is not important but knowing what the ball park figure is helps a great deal as I have to confess that I had considered the possibility of the stud dog owner perhaps taking advantage of my friends naivety.  Sorry, not meant to offend anyone with this comment, just that I encountered it myself in my early days in my own breed!

Once again thanks for your help.

Chris

I wouldn't apologise Chris your quite right there's alot of people ready to take advantage of others naivety.  It happens all the time and then they end up getting ripped off.  It's good your helping your friend.  But you definitely need to see the stud dogs quite soon before your friends girl comes into season and the results are back, and all being good you could also see some other stud dogs and see which one is the best match.  The woman might be very good concerning health tests on her dogs but her rottwielers might look like dobermanns for all you know.  Good luck

Warm regards susan

Hi Susan

Thanks for your reply.  Yes it would be terrible if we turned up and didn't like the stud dog owners set up or dogs!!  This is one of the reasons I'm concerned about her lack of information, turning up on the day is all rather leaving things to the last moment!

I've seen quite a few nice looking dogs whilst watching the other breeds at shows and I could certainly think of a few avenues to explore.  The trouble with not being in the breed myself (although I have an eye for a good dog) is that we are approaching this from outside the breed!  With my own breed I know what I'm doing and where I'd like to take my girls or not as the case may be!

We want to have compatible pedigrees but of course would also like to keep to type.  My friend also owns a neutered male who is from German lines, superb temperament but ever such a big boy (developed elbow and hip dysplasia!)  By the way he was never bought as a stud dog and was neutered way before they bought the bitch.

Thanks for your help.

Kind regards, Chris

Hi Chris, isn't your friend still in touch with her breeder who could advise her which avenue you to take regarding a stud dog.  If not it might be a good idea to get in touch with a breed club or the secretary of the kennel club.  That woman is leaving it far to late for you to know whether to use her studs dogs.  Wont your friends results be back before the bitch comes in season.  You seem very guarded of what you say(no offence intended) just a general observation.  Dont worry to much what people think no-one will bite your head off.

Warm regards Susan

Hi Susan

Yes hopefully the results will be back soon (they were submitted six weeks ago), the bitch is not due in season (based on her normal pattern) until mid September.

I guess I am guarded but this is purely because being a regular visitor to this site I have noticed that there can be some very harsh replies to questions that I feel are fair and just and yet quite often the poor poster gets very harsh replies due to other posters jumping to conclusions (I have to say that often this is because of a badly worded question!)

My friend's bitches breeder is not in a position to help at the moment and both my friend and I do want to ensure this breeding is well thought out and that healthy, breed typical and sound pups result.

Regards, Chris

Good luck to you Chris and your friend finding the right dog.

warm regards Susan

Thanks Susan.

R's Chris

I do however think she is conscientious by not allowing any bitches to come to her dogs without a hip score of 10 or less

Personally if this person was a 'breed person' they would assess all of the bitch and not just a set of hips!   The bitch might be a generally decent bitch with no glaring faults, one that would make her a good brood but her hip score could be 13 (Rottie breed average) so she is dismissed?   Whereas Joe Bloggs with his not so decent bitch hip score of 4 would be allowed?

Everything has to be taken in to perspective, a low scoring dog is not necessarily a low scoring producer.   I have heard of dogs with scores of 2 in total siring pups of 50, 60,70+ scores!

This isn't a go at you Chris or your friend but rather the 'stud dog owners' train of thought.  I'm sure they would be others out they who would guide her.

Chris apart from contacting club secreatries there are several Championship shows coming up where she coudl see the breed and stud dogs in soem number.  there is Richmond Championship show on second weekend in September, and Driffiels after that, with Midland Counties (she may be late) towards the end of October.  There may also be Rottie club shows coming up in next couple of weeks.

Hi Brainless

Yes will go up to City of Birmingham for Working Day (as well as Gundog Day where I'm entered) and have a peek at all the lovely boys!  Don't fancy going to Richmond two days running as it's quite a long way from where we live and a pain of a route!

Will have a look in DW Rottie breed notes and see if there are any breed specific champ shows.

Thanks again, Chris

hi chris,
the average score for a rottie is 13 anything below this is excellent but thats not to say that they will produce good hips back in puppies can i ask who your friend is taking her girl to or thinking of ? and i would agree with christinew that the whole dog has to be taken into account not just there hips

Hi Chris i'm at Birmingham with my Bullmastiff on Friday i might just see you there, i love rotts my mum owns one she's called Bella.

Warm regards Susan