i would be greatfull on any information about using my 5 year old male bullmastiff as a stud dog

Get him out where the breeders will see him, this means show him so that they can apprecialte and ecaluate his potential worth.  Even Champions may not get any stud work if they are not the lines or don't ahve the virtues that the bitches owner wants.

Or have his breeder look at him as s/he may know someone interested in a male from their line.  Though this may not get him any work.  To use a dog maybe only once in his life and the changes it might bring to his outlook on life may not be in his or your best interests.

There is of course your responsibility for the pusp produced over which you will ahve no say how they are reared and homed.

He will of course need to be Hip scored (I just paid £170) to check that his hips are scoring low enough to be bred from.

The first post on the breeding forum will give you more food for thought.

He is a bit old at 5 to be used at stud for the first time, But there is a lack of good quality bullmastiffs around (& has been for years) so if he is a good quality dog then speak to some people in the breed & get their opinions on him as a starting point :)

He is too old I have had Bullmastiffs for 23 years and never known of one that age be used at stud for the first time.

Not unusual in my breed for dogs not to get used until this age, as they are often not suitable for their own generation of bitches but can be used on their daughters.  Also most of our dogs don't reach their prime until 4 or 5. 

Current top dog in the breed this year just got his title this year at 5 1/2 years old.  In fact it is unusual to get a dogs title before 3 years old, usually at 3 to 5, though there have been dogs not made up until 10 years old, and the odd precocious younger one.

It certainly requires patience, luck and expereince to use an older dog for the first time, and sadly some never come round to making a stud.

In my breed it is the norm. for them to be used at 4 years of age but they are a rare breed so this may be the reason why.  Again my breed doesn't mature until they are between 3 and 5 years.

In my breed I have known a veteren used at stud for the first time.
Also veterens still winning c.c.'s
At Birmingham this May my 5 year old bitch got c.c. & b.o.b. and the dog c.c. went to a 10 year old.

Pam