Articles Index/Breeding
Posted 12/18/97

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN OFFERING A DOG AT STUD

I was recently asked, "I have a dog that I would like to use for stud, whom do I contact?" The answer is that there is no single person to contact. ANTA does not maintain a stud dog list but does from time to time publish pedigree and year books, in which one can advertise. (Updates will be announced in these pages when they are in the works.) However, there are some practical considerations that are of general interest and which I can address here.

First, is your dog a champion? If not, his appeal to breeders will be less. If he is primarily a pet, the time away from home to be shown to championship and promoted may be stressful and change him.

Next, consider the reasons a breeder would seek out a particular dog:

• The dog has earned a reputation for his show performance and/or for his greatness as an example of the breed;
• His progeny have achieved great success;
• He fits into a particular breeding plan;
• He is convenient and available.

Notice that most reasons depend on the dog being promoted or advertised to the breed community at large. Thus, a dog that is shown to his championship and achieves Best of Breed, group placement or better will develop a better reputation than a dog with lesser success. Additionally, wins at prestige shows and promotion through advertising in dog fancy magazines will add to breeder awareness.

Now, view the situation from your perspective. Campaigning a dog and promoting it beyond your immediate circle of dog acquaintances is expensive and you cannot count on stud fees covering the expense. And interest in even a popular stud dog tends to be short-lived.

Are you ready for the responsibilities of the stud dog owner? Consider the following:

• The bitch normally goes to the stud so you will need to take care of the bitch during the mating process. This includes picking up a bitch at the airport when shipping is involved; dealing with fleas, parasites, or disease the bitch may, but should not have; determining when mating should take place; arranging for any special veterinary/mating needs and tests; continuously observing the dogs while they are together to confirm the mating; and return shipping as necessary.
• A stud dog learns by experience, so the first attempts may be unsuccessful.
• You must decide whether you want your dog to breed naturally or to use table breeding or artificial insemination.
• Some bitches, especially the inexperienced, may be fearful and even attack the stud.
• The dog may not want to breed a particular bitch. This could be due to natural selection or to an unidentified problem.
• Dog and dog owner need to know when the time is right. The timing may not be convenient for you.
• Breeding a "pet" may result in unwanted changes to his personality, such as accentuated marking, territorial or dominant behavior.
• Other dogs and bitches in your home will respond to the presence of a strange bitch in season; some may become jealous or aggressive.

The decision to breed a dog or bitch should never be taken lightly. The purpose should be to improve the breed, by producing offspring that are better than one or both parents. It should not be that you simply want puppies. And this means you should have a breeding plan that respects genetic and practical realities. At the minimum, read chapters 5 & 6 of The Norfolk Terrier by Joan R. Read, available from the ANTA store.

If, after digesting all of the above, you want to offer your dog at stud, go for it.

Ed Plummer
ANTIC, March 1997

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