my name is peter ebdon i have a 4yr old cocker spanial (blue)thinking
of putting him to stud what advice would you give me on how to go
about it.

Hi Peter

I think you need to think v carefully about why you want to offer your dog at stud. Most breeders looking for a stud dog will be looking for a really good example of the breed who has either done well in the show ring or at field trials (if a working Cocker) & who has passed all the recommended health tests for Cockers (eg eye-testing and/or hip-scoring). If your dog doesn't fall into these categories then no matter how lovely he is, it is unlikely any reputable breeder would want to use him. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's just the way it is, I'm afraid!
Another thing you need to consider is the age of your dog - at 4 years old, he may be a little old to be starting out on a stud career. It's not as easy as it sounds - many dogs do not actually know what to do when they are faced with a bitch in season & a stud dog owner needs to have the experience to help their dog "perform" & also the experience to know what to do with a difficult bitch (again many bitches are not that keen on the idea of being mated & may attempt to bite the male - could you cope with this?). Stud dog owners also need to have good knowledge of pedigrees (so they can advise if a proposed mating is suitable) & a good knowledge of the bitch's cycle (many bitch owners bring their bitch to the dog on the wrong day). It took me over 10 years before I felt I had the confidence & knowledge to offer a dog at stud - there really is a lot you need to know if you want to do the best for your breed & be a responsible owner.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide!

Regards

Jane