Brand new to the group. We are looking to use our gorgeous Flattie 'Ted' as a stud dog and have found loads of useful information from the site. Many thanks! Our first Flattie after 30 odd years of rescue dogs and we love the breed. We live in Northumberland and keen to meet local FCR owners for walks along our glorious beaches.

Hi Ted's dad  I own a fcr and agree they are a wonderful breed .
I suggest you get in touch with the breed club who may be aw to direct you to fcr groups in your area who do various activities.
We have a very active group in Surrey
As for using him I suggest talking to his breeder who I hope was a responsible breeder in the first place.

Also you really need to be doing some sort of dog activity to prove how good he is so peolle get to know him .
Be is showing or working.  It isn't a simple as offering him to anyone who what's to breed or certainly shouldn't  be .you will also need to habe various health tests done on him .not vet checks and also know about his pedigree and their health status.

Something else to remember once a dog has been used it can change his behaviour amd you maynot like what you get. Very interested In bitches and possibbly marking everywhere .
You also have responsibility to any puppies that are born for their lives its not just the bitch.
Think very carefully why you feel you want to do this .if its to habe nother of him I suggest maybe going back to his breeder for another pup
Hope that helps

https://www.flatcoated-retriever-society.org/health-introduction/

Lots of info here

Thanks furriefriends, we are on the Scottish FCR and Flatcoat friends FB sites, and they are a mine of info as well as organising group get togethers which were a great way of socialising Ted when he was a pup. We did show him in the local shows pre covid and are getting back into that now events are opening again. I agree that it's a good way to show your dog to other fans of the breed and, of course, a lovely day out.

We have had his eyes, hips and elbows checked and have his family tree back to his great-great-grandparents along with pictures of them! It's so nice to see these pics and pick out the features that have been passed on. The breeder of his parents were Keamarola over in the Lakes, and we drop in to see them every now and then when we take the camper over there. She has a lovely place right by the shores of Lake Windermere which means swimming classes every day!

Many thanks for your reply and we will get in touch with the breed club.

Re showing I assume you are talking about fun dog shows . Have alook on places like Higham press and fosse data and find out where the kc shows are.also consider ring craft to teach you and him how to show .
You are in a good place fpr mamy kc shows as for some reason there seems to be more around the north . Bit of a nuisance for us southern people who have to travel so far lol
Concentrate on either showing or working him before you consider using him . I am sure the breeder will be helpful and I have a feeling they show anyway. May be wrong on that one but looking at there website how about gundog training I am sure they would advise

You need to ask yourself what your dog brings to the breed besides good health tests. Does he have correct conformation. Has he been proven in the show ring is he typical of the breed. Do you know your pedigree what lines will go together and what don’t part of this is knowing about health problems and not just the ones we test for. Epilepsy is cropping up in the breed and so is renal displaysia. Are you prepared to pull him from breeding if such thing do show up. More to it than just studding a dog out and getting a stud fee.