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Dog Stud Fees When Breeding Dogs (2024 Update)

Written by: Ed Malaker

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Ed Malaker

Dog Stud Fees When Breeding Dogs (2024 Update)

Breeding dogs can be extremely lucrative as many breeds will fetch a high profit. It’s also a great way to learn about dogs, and once you gain experience, you may even want to try your hand at mixed breeds to create something entirely new.

However, when you’re just starting, it’s common to have loads of questions. One we get frequently is how much studs cost. In general, it is usually between $250 and $1,000. If you are interested in dog stud fees, keep reading while we cover everything you need to know to get started breeding your pet.

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What Is a Stud Dog?

A stud dog is a registered male dog the breeders use for mating. The stud is between 7 months and 12 years old and is healthy and intact. Most will have official documents providing you with a complete history and lineage of the dog as well as its genetic makeup so you can avoid health problems and other issues when breeding.

dark sable working german shepherd dog
Image Credit: LNbjors, Shutterstock

How Do You Use a Stud Dog?

The owner of a stud dog writes the contract outlining the expectations and terms of the breeding. The owner of a female dog (queen or bitch) reviews the contract, and if the terms are acceptable, signs it, and the two dogs are allowed to mate. The contract will usually outline the cost of using the stud as well as how much time the dogs will spend together. It may also stipulate if you can use the offspring for mating or if you must get them spayed or neutered.

Choosing a Stud for Your Queen

Choosing a stud to breed with your queen is critical to the success of your breeding program.

Genetics

Any potential stud for your queen should have documents detailing its complete genetic history, not just for the dog in question but for all of its ancestors. You should be able to determine how many generations it’s been since one of the animals had hip dysplasia or certain types of cancer. This knowledge can help you determine how likely it will be that your puppies have these health problems. You will need to review these documents extremely carefully so you can have a clear picture of the stud’s health before you proceed any further.

Dog sniffing dog in heat
Image Credit: atiger, Shutterstock

Previous Success

Hopefully, the stud in question has fathered other puppies, so you can look at them to get an idea of the quality of offspring. If the male dog has fathered competition winners in the past, there’s a good chance you will also receive competition-quality puppies to begin your new breed. We recommend avoiding dogs that father puppies with hip dysplasia or other health issues.

Compatibility

Once you are confident that you have found a healthy stud that will produce high-quality puppies, the only thing left is to make sure it’s compatible with your Queen. Hopefully, you have worked some time into the contract to allow the two dogs to get to know each other to see if they get along. If the two dogs seem friendly around each other and appear interested in mating, all is well, but if they start to fight or growl at each other even after several attempts, you may need to choose a different stud for your Queen.

beagle dogs mating
Image Credit: Sigma_S, Shutterstock

How Do I Know If My Stud Is of Breeding Quality?

As long as you have an intact, purebred dog that doesn’t have a history of dysplasia or other genetically transmitted health problem in its family history and there is documentation of that history through paperwork, your dog can be a stud. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to register it with the appropriate kennel club for your breed, and recent certification of the dog’s health from a vet is also helpful. Then it’s all a matter of advertising to bring in potential queens.

How Often Can I Rent Out My Stud?

Sperm can be collected for 3 to 5 days and usually begins 2–3 days before breeding. However, most owners recommend giving the dog plenty of rest in between, or it can reduce the sperm count, lowering the likelihood that pregnancy will occur. We recommend allowing the dog to rest for at least 2 days in between attempts.

bulldog lying on the carp_heathergunn, Pixabaye
Image Credit: heathergunn, Pixabay

How Much Is a Stud Fee?

For most stud owners, the stud fee is usually between $250 and $1,000, but it can vary significantly depending on the breed and health of the dog. It’s also common for stud owners to choose the first pick of the litter instead of cash for payment. This allows the stud owner to gain another dog to use as a stud in the future.

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Summary

Owning and renting out a stud can be a great way to make extra income, and some breeders can use it for a full-time job. Choosing a stud can be a bit tricky and time-consuming, but patience and attention to detail will help you breed a healthy litter of puppies to start you on your path to becoming a successful breeder.


Featured Image Credit: Piqsels

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