Introduction
You have a dog that people stop and ask about. Great temperament, beautiful coat, healthy as they come – and friends keep telling you he should have puppies. Maybe you’re already getting requests. Maybe you just think it’s time.
Offering your dog as a stud is more involved than most people realize – but it’s absolutely something a first-time stud owner can do well with the right preparation. This guide walks you through everything: health testing, finding a veterinarian, semen collection, setting your fee, and getting listed. Start at the beginning and work through it in order. By the end you will know exactly what to do and what to expect.
Step 1 - Is Your Dog a Good Candidate?
Before anything else, ask yourself this question honestly: is this dog genuinely exceptional, or do I just love him? It is a fair question and an important one. The goal of stud service is to produce puppies that will go into homes and programs – and buyers are trusting you to help them do that well.
Conformation
Does your dog look and move like a good example of his breed? Conformation refers to how closely a dog’s physical structure matches the breed standard – size, proportions, coat, structure, and movement. You don’t need to be a show breeder or have a titled dog to offer a stud, but you should be able to honestly say your dog is a good physical representative of what the breed is supposed to be.
Temperament
Every breed has a purpose and a buyer. The temperament buyers expect from a stud depends entirely on what the breed is for and who the puppies will go to.
A working hunting dog stud owner should be describing drive, biddability, retrieve instinct, and field performance. A family companion breed owner should be describing calmness, sociability, ease of handling, and how the dog is with children. A guardian breed owner should be describing confidence, stability, and appropriate protective instinct.
Before you list your dog, look up your breed’s official standard – the AKC breed standard page covers temperament for every recognized breed. For designer or hybrid breeds, review the temperament standards for each parent breed. Then ask yourself: does my dog reflect what this breed is supposed to be?
If your dog has behavioral concerns – anxiety, reactivity, aggression, or traits that fall outside the breed standard – this may not be the right time to offer him as a stud. A conversation with a veterinary behaviorist or a breed mentor can help you assess this honestly. Buyers are trusting you with their breeding programs. That is a real responsibility.
Overall Health
Your dog should be in good general health before you consider stud service. Current on vaccines, a healthy weight, no active health conditions, and a recent veterinary wellness exam. Health testing – which we cover in the next section – goes beyond a general exam, but a healthy dog is the starting point.
Step 2 - Health Testing: What It Is and What You Need
Health testing is the process of screening your dog for genetic diseases and physical conditions that could be passed to offspring or that indicate poor health. It is the single most important thing you can do before offering your dog as a stud – both for the integrity of your listing and for the buyers who will trust you.
FMSD requires a minimum of two verified tests to become bookable: a breed-specific genetic panel and at least one health evaluation. Here is what each of those means and where to go to get them done.
Genetic Panel
A genetic panel is a DNA test that screens your dog for inherited diseases and conditions specific to his breed. It is done from a simple cheek swab that you mail to an accredited laboratory – no vet visit required.
Accepted laboratories include Embark, Paw Print Genetics, UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Animal Genetics, and Wisdom Panel. Each lab covers different disease panels – use the lab that covers the conditions most relevant to your breed. Embark is one of the most comprehensive options available and also provides a breed breakdown and genetic diversity score. However, for some breeds, Embark doesn’t cover all the tests you will need for every breed. Use OFA/Chic requirements to see what the breed requirements are and make sure embark covers them.
Cost: genetic panels typically range from $80-$200 depending on the lab and panel selected.
To find which genetic diseases are most important for your specific breed, visit the OFA website at ofa.org and search for your breed under the CHIC Program. This shows the health tests the breed’s parent club recommends or requires.
Health Evaluations – OFA
OFA stands for Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and is the leading canine health registry in the United States. OFA evaluates and certifies health screenings for hips, elbows, eyes, cardiac, patella, and other conditions. Results are publicly searchable at ofa.org.
The most common OFA evaluations are:
- OFA Hip Evaluation – assesses hip joint conformation. X-rays are taken by a veterinarian and submitted to OFA for review by a board-certified radiologist.
- OFA Elbow Evaluation – assesses elbow joint structure. Also done via x-ray.
- OFA Eye Exam (CAER) – performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. Screens for inherited eye diseases.
- OFA Cardiac Exam – performed by a board-certified cardiologist or internist. Screens for inherited heart conditions.
- OFA Patella Evaluation – physical examination of knee joint. Screens for luxating patella.
Which evaluations you need depends on your breed. Visit ofa.org, search your breed, and review the recommended tests. Start with the ones listed as required or strongly recommended by your breed’s parent club.
Cost: OFA evaluations vary by test. Hip and elbow x-rays typically run $250-$550 at your veterinarian plus the OFA submission fee of $35-$50 per evaluation. Eye exams and cardiac exams have similar ranges. Costs vary significantly by region.
OFA hip and elbow evaluations can be done as preliminary exams from 12 months of age, but final OFA certifications require the dog to be at least 24 months old. Preliminary results are valid and useful but are not the same as a final certification. Some buyers specifically require final OFA results. PennHIP – an alternative hip evaluation method – can be performed as early as 16 weeks. Both methods are accepted on FMSD listings. Your listing displays whether each OFA result is Preliminary or Final so buyers can make an informed decision.
Brucellosis Testing
Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease that causes reproductive failure in dogs and can be transmitted through semen. There is no approved vaccine in the United States. A current negative Brucellosis test – dated within 12 months – is required for all stud dogs on FMSD and is required by most reproductive veterinarians before they will collect semen or perform any breeding procedure. If the stud breeds to a female using live cover, they must confirm that the female was negative for Brucellosis or get a re-test with a negative result. Every stud owner will need to attest to this prior to accepting a booking.
Your regular veterinarian can perform a Brucellosis test. Cost is typically $50-$150. Results are available within a few days from an in-clinic test or same day from a rapid test.
FMSD is working to display a Brucellosis Verified badge on listings where a current test result has been uploaded and admin-reviewed. Listings without a current test show a caution indicator. Keeping your Brucellosis test current is one of the most practical things you can do to reassure buyers their female is safe.
Step 3 - Finding the Right Veterinarian
Not every veterinarian can perform all of the tests your stud will need, and not every vet is equipped to do them correctly. Using the wrong veterinarian for certain evaluations – especially hip and elbow x-rays for OFA submission – can result in rejected submissions and wasted money.
For OFA Hip and Elbow X-Rays
OFA has specific positioning requirements for hip and elbow radiographs. A general practice vet who doesn’t regularly submit OFA x-rays may not position the dog correctly, resulting in a submission that OFA rejects or that produces an inaccurate evaluation. Before scheduling, ask your vet: ‘Do you regularly submit OFA hip and elbow x-rays and are you familiar with OFA positioning requirements? If they hesitate, find a vet who does this routinely. Finding a reproductive vet is your best option for someone that can do these tests properly.
For Semen Collection and Evaluation
Semen collection and evaluation requires a reproductive veterinarian – a vet who specializes in canine reproduction. Not all general practice vets offer this service. A reproductive vet will collect a semen sample, evaluate sperm count, motility, and morphology, and can also chill and ship semen for AI breedings.
To find a reproductive veterinarian near you:
- Search the Society for Theriogenology member directory at therio.org
- Ask your regular vet for a referral to a reproductive specialist
- Search ‘reproductive veterinarian’ or ‘canine reproduction specialist’ plus your city
What If There Is No Reproductive Vet Near Me?
This is a real challenge for stud owners in rural areas. A few options:
- Some reproductive vets offer telehealth consultations and can advise your local vet on collection and shipping procedures
- Large veterinary schools often have reproductive medicine departments that see outside patients
- Some mobile reproductive veterinarians travel to clients – search for mobile reproductive vet services in your state
- If you plan to offer chilled semen, factor in travel to a reproductive vet as part of your stud service logistics
Step 4 - Semen Evaluation: What It Is and Why It Matters
A semen evaluation is a test performed by a reproductive veterinarian that assesses the quality of your dog’s semen – specifically sperm count, motility (how well they move), and morphology (whether they are correctly formed). It is essential if you plan to offer chilled semen and strongly recommended before your dog’s first breeding regardless of service type.
Here is why it matters: a dog can appear completely healthy and still produce poor quality semen. Finding this out before a buyer has paid and is waiting for a shipment protects everyone. A semen evaluation gives you confidence in what you are offering and gives buyers confidence in you.
What Good Numbers Look Like
Your reproductive vet will give you a full report. In general terms:
- Progressive motility above 70% is considered good for fresh semen
- Morphology above 80% normal forms is considered good
- Total sperm count varies by dog size – your vet will contextualize the number for your dog’s breed and size
If your dog’s numbers are below expected ranges, your reproductive vet can advise on whether this is a temporary issue (stress, recent illness, infrequent ejaculation) or a more permanent concern.
Cost: a semen evaluation typically runs $75-$200 depending on your veterinarian and region.
Step 5 - Age and Timing: When Can Your Dog Start?
FMSD allows stud listings from 12 months of age. However, we strongly recommend waiting until your dog’s primary health testing is complete before actively breeding. Here is the practical reason: a dog who breeds at 12 months and then fails a health evaluation at 18 or 24 months has already potentially produced offspring carrying conditions you didn’t know about. Buyers deserve to know your dog’s full health picture.
A realistic timeline for most breeds looks like this:
Age | What You Can Do |
8-12 weeks | Begin genetic panel (cheek swab – no age minimum) |
4 months+ | PennHIP evaluation (if doing PennHIP instead of OFA hips) – Later is better but 4 months in the minimum |
12 months+ | OFA preliminary hip/elbow x-rays, OFA eye exam, OFA cardiac, OFA patella, semen evaluation. FMSD listing minimum age. |
24 months+ | OFA final hip/elbow certifications. Required by many buyers for a complete health profile. |
There is no single right answer on timing. Some breeds mature faster than others, and some buyers are comfortable with preliminary results. What matters is being transparent about what your dog has completed. Display everything you have and let buyers make an informed decision.
Step 6 - Natural Cover, Chilled Semen, or Side by Side AI?
There are three common methods for stud service in the dog breeding world. Understanding all three helps you make informed decisions about your program – even if you are just getting started.
FindMyStudDog.com currently supports chilled shipped semen only. Natural cover and side by side AI may be added in a future update.
Natural Cover (Live Cover)
The buyer brings their female to the stud’s location for a natural breeding in person. It is most common for the female to travel to the stud. This is the traditional method and requires no special equipment or veterinary involvement for the breeding itself.
What this means for you: You need to be comfortable supervising a natural breeding, handling both dogs calmly, and managing the logistics of having someone come to your home or property. A current Brucellosis test for your male is strongly recommended, and the buyer’s female should have one as well. Natural cover is not currently supported on FMSD.
Chilled Semen (Shipped AI) – Available on FMSD
Semen is collected from your dog by a reproductive veterinarian, extended with a preservation solution, chilled, and shipped overnight to the buyer’s veterinarian or chosen shipping location where it is used for artificial insemination within 24-48 hours.
What this means for you: You need access to a reproductive veterinarian who can collect and ship. The date the buyer selects on FMSD is the date you need to ship – plan accordingly. The buyer determines the right timing through progesterone testing on their end. Shipping costs and collection fees are your responsibility to include in your stud fee. A semen evaluation before your first chilled shipment is essential.
Side by Side AI
The buyer brings their female to the stud owner’s location or a reproductive vet clinic. Semen is collected from your dog and immediately used for artificial insemination on site – no shipping required. This combines the benefits of fresh semen quality with a controlled, documented breeding process.
What this means for you: You need a reproductive veterinarian present or available to perform the collection and insemination, or arrange for the procedure to happen at a vet clinic. This method requires the most coordination but produces excellent results. Side by side AI is not currently supported on FMSD.
Important Note: FindMyStudDog.com currently supports chilled shipped semen only. If you are interested in offering natural cover or side by side AI in the future, those service types may be added to the platform. For now, all bookings through FMSD are for chilled semen shipments.
Step 7 - Should You Collect on Your Own?
This is a question first-time stud owners often ask and it deserves an honest answer.
Semen collection is a learned skill. The technique used during collection – the handling, timing, and environment – directly affects sperm motility and viability. A poorly executed collection can render a sample non-viable before it ever reaches the buyer’s veterinarian. For a buyer who has timed their female’s cycle carefully and is counting on that shipment, a failed sample is a significant problem.
Beyond collection technique, chilled semen requires extending the sample with a preservation solution at the correct ratio and temperature before shipping. This requires specific supplies and knowledge. Errors in extending affect viability just as much as errors in collection.
For your first collections especially, working with a reproductive veterinarian protects your dog, the sample quality, and the buyer’s investment. A reproductive vet can also teach you the process over time if you want to learn it properly.
If you are committed to collecting on your own: invest in proper training from a reproductive veterinarian, use a quality semen extender, and do a test collection evaluated by a vet before you offer chilled semen to paying buyers. Never ship a sample you haven’t had evaluated.
Step 8 - Setting Your Stud Fee
Pricing your stud appropriately takes a little research but it is not complicated. Here is the framework.
Research the Market
Browse FMSD listings for your breed and service type. What are comparable studs charging? Look at studs with similar health testing profiles, similar pedigrees, and similar service types. This gives you a realistic baseline for your breed and market.
Factors That Affect Your Price
- Health testing completeness – more testing generally commands a higher fee
- Pedigree and lineage – titled dogs or dogs from well-known lines typically command more
- Proven vs. unproven – a dog with confirmed successful breedings and live puppies can charge more than an unproven stud. Your first breedings may be priced lower to build a track record
- Service type – chilled semen typically commands a higher fee than natural cover because of the additional veterinary and shipping logistics involved
- Breed demand – popular breeds with high demand for specific traits (coat color, genetics, size) can support higher fees
Your Stud Fee
Your stud fee covers the breeding service itself. Set it based on the factors above to reflect the true value of your dog. This is the number buyers will compare against other listings, so price it with confidence.
Your Standard Collection Cost
Separately from your stud fee, you’ll set a Standard Collection Cost on your listing. This is a flat amount that covers your veterinary or home collection cost and applies to every shipment – first shipment, second shipment, and any re-breeds.
- Veterinary collection fee typically runs $100-$350 per collection depending on your clinic and what’s included
- If you collect at home, factor in semen extension supplies and materials
Get an actual quote from your reproductive vet before setting this. Since this fee applies to every shipment equally, pick a number that works across the board rather than your cheapest or most expensive scenario.
Your Collection Cost is NOT subject to sales tax and appears as its own line item at checkout, separate from your stud fee.
Shipping
Shipping is calculated automatically at checkout based on real-time rates and the buyer’s location – you do not need to estimate or include shipping costs in your pricing. The platform generates a prepaid label on your behalf and shows the exact shipping cost to the buyer before they confirm. You’ll never need to coordinate shipping costs directly with a buyer.
Rebreeding Policy
Decide before you list what your policy is if a breeding does not result in pregnancy.
Common options:
- Free return service on confirmed non-pregnancy with veterinary documentation (most common among established studs)
- Partial refund on confirmed non-pregnancy
- No guarantee – fee is for the service regardless of outcome
- How many puppies constitutes a litte (1, 2 or 3)?
Most high-performing listings offer at least a free rebreed on confirmed non-pregnancy. It significantly increases buyer confidence, especially for unproven studs. Your rebreeding policy is set on your listing and is binding once a booking is confirmed.
Step 9 - Temperament: Knowing Your Breed and Your Buyer
Buyers read your description. They want to understand not just what your dog looks like on paper but what he is like to live with and what kind of puppies he is likely to produce. The way you describe temperament should speak directly to what buyers of your breed are looking for.
Think about who buys puppies from your breed and what they need from those puppies:
- Working and sporting breed buyers want to know about drive, trainability, field performance, prey drive, and biddability
- Family companion breed buyers want to know about calmness, sociability, how the dog is with children and other pets, and adaptability
- Guardian breed buyers want to know about confidence, stability, appropriate protective instinct, and handler relationship
- Therapy and service dog candidate buyers want to know about extreme social ease, sound sensitivity, adaptability to new environments, and handler focus
Don’t just say ‘friendly and good with kids’ – that tells a serious buyer almost nothing. Tell them what makes your dog exceptional for the purpose his breed serves. Specific, honest descriptions of temperament build far more trust than generic language.
Not sure what temperament your breed is supposed to have? Look up your breed’s standard at akc.org or the relevant breed club website. For designer or hybrid breeds, review the temperament standard for each parent breed. Then describe how your dog measures up – honestly.
Step 10 - Photography: Your Listing's First Impression
Buyers decide in seconds whether to click on a listing. Your photos are the most important element of your listing after health testing. Here is what works.
What to Shoot
- A standing conformation shot – side profile, dog standing naturally, showing full body structure
- A head and face close-up – clear, sharp, showing expression and eye color
- A coat shot – shows texture, color, and pattern accurately
- An action or personality shot – shows temperament and energy
- A scale reference shot – helpful for breeds where size varies significantly
What Works
- Natural outdoor light – overcast days are ideal, avoiding harsh shadows
- Plain or natural backgrounds – grass, a simple fence, a neutral wall
- Dog is clean, groomed, and in good coat
- Minimum 5 photos – listings with 5 photos receive significantly more inquiries
What to Avoid
- Blurry or low-resolution images
- Dark indoor shots
- Photos with heavy filters or editing that misrepresents coat color
- Photos where the dog is partially hidden, moving too fast, or not clearly visible
- Kennel names or Contact info – they will be removed
Step 11 - How to List on FMSD
Once your health testing is complete or in progress, you are ready to list. Your listing is your storefront – the more complete and honest it is, the more inquiries you will receive.
The full step-by-step listing process is covered in detail on our How To page. Here is what to have ready:
- Your photos (minimum 1, recommended 5)
- Health test documents (PDF or image of official results)
- Breed, date of birth, weight, color, and coat type
- Your stud fee
- Your Standard Collection Cost
- Service type(s) you offer – only chilled at the moment
- Your availability
- Your rebreeding policy
- A bio covering temperament, accomplishments, and what makes your dog a strong choice
Listings with verified health documentation, 5 photos, and a complete bio receive significantly more inquiries and rank higher in search results. Take the time to do it right the first time.
Step 12 - Do You Need to Know About Breeding?
You don’t need to be an expert. But you do need to understand enough to communicate confidently with buyers and manage your stud’s role in a breeding well.
Here are the basics buyers will expect you to know or be willing to discuss:
Progesterone Testing
Most buyers of chilled semen will use progesterone testing to time their female’s cycle and determine the optimal insemination date. You don’t need to perform this test – that’s the buyer’s and their vet’s responsibility. But you should understand what it is so you can have an informed conversation when a buyer says ‘my progesterone is at 5, you know what they are talking about. Ultimately they select the date to collect and ship.
Timing Coordination
For chilled semen breedings, collection must happen at the right time relative to the female’s ovulation. Buyers will coordinate this with you in advance. You need to be available and responsive during the breeding window – sometimes with 24-48 hours notice. This is the most time-sensitive part of stud service.
What Buyers Will Ask You
Expect buyers to ask about your dog’s temperament in detail, his pedigree and lineage, whether he has produced puppies before, how you handle the collection process, and what your communication style is like during the breeding window. Being responsive, transparent, and prepared for these conversations is what separates stud owners that get repeat business from those that don’t.
Keep in mind that you need to keep everything on platform and not share kennel names or contact info – it’s the only way we can protect your booking!
The FMSD FAQ and How it works cover the key terms and concepts buyers will reference. Spend 20 minutes reading through both before your first booking. You will feel much more prepared.
Step 13 - Marketing Your Stud
Good news: on FMSD, your listing does most of the marketing for you. A complete profile, verified health testing, quality photos, competitive pricing, and a fast response rate are your most powerful marketing tools – and they are all built into the platform.
A few additional things worth knowing:
Response Rate Matters
FMSD tracks your response rate and displays it on your listing. Buyers notice. Responding to inquiries within 24-48 hours is one of the easiest ways to improve your listing’s performance.
Reviews Build Trust
After every completed transaction, both parties can leave a review. Positive reviews from real buyers are the single most powerful trust signal on your listing. Deliver a great experience, communicate well, and the reviews will follow.
Featured Listings
FMSD offers an optional Featured Listing placement that gives your stud boosted visibility in search results. This is worth considering once your listing is complete and your health testing is verified – putting a featured budget behind an incomplete listing is wasted spend.
What Not to Do
Do not use FMSD messaging to contact buyers who haven’t inquired about your dog. Do not misrepresent your dog’s testing, age, or pedigree. Do not offer discounts or alternative payment methods outside the platform. These behaviors violate FMSD’s terms and can result in listing removal.
Ready to List Your Stud?
You now have everything you need. Health testing done or in progress, photos ready, pricing decided, and a clear picture of what buyers are looking for. Your next step is creating your listing.
Listing is free. Health verification is free. You only pay when a booking is completed.
If you need help, just reach out – we are happy to help you throughout the process!