Getting Started
FindMyStudDog.com is a dedicated marketplace connecting dog breeders with verified stud dogs. Whether you are looking for the perfect genetic match for your female or you own a quality male you want to offer, FMSD provides a safe, structured platform with built-in messaging, secure payment processing, health record verification, and a formal dispute process.
FMSD serves two types of users: stud dog owners (Sellers) who want to list their male and earn stud fees, and breeders (Buyers) who are searching for a quality stud match for their female. Both sides benefit from transparent profiles, verified health records, and a protected transaction process.
No. FMSD supports all breeds and hybrid/designer breeds. You can filter by breed, size, location, health testing status, coat type, color, service type, and more. Stud owners can set their listings to exclude mixed breed bookings, and buyers can filter accordingly.
You can browse listings without an account. You will need a free account to contact a stud owner, save favorites, or initiate a booking.
FMSD is available nationwide across the United States. Listings include location details so you can filter by proximity. Sellers offering chilled semen can serve buyers in any state.
FMSD is fully accessible via mobile browser. A dedicated app may be developed at a later time.
Browsing and creating an account are free. Listing a stud and completing health verification are also free. Costs only apply when completing a transaction (Buyer Protection Fee added to buyer total, Seller Platofrm Fee deducted from seller payout
BUYER CATEGORIES
1. Finding and Evaluating a Stud
Use the search bar or browse by breed from the homepage. Filter by breed, location, titles, coat genetics, health testing status, coat type, size, price range, and availability. Click any listing to view the full profile before reaching out.
Yes. Log in and use the 'Save' or 'Favorite' button on any listing to build a shortlist to compare or revisit.
'Natural' means an in-person live cover breeding. 'Chilled' semen is collected, extended, and shipped overnight for use within 24-48 hours via artificial insemination. FMSD is currently only offering "Chilled" shipped semen. Live cover and Side by Side AI may be added at a later time.
Currently, genetic compatibility is the buyer's responsibility to assess. Use filters to find studs carrying the health clearances and traits your program needs, and review the full health documentation on each listing. A genetic compatibility tool is planned for a future update but is not yet available. When in doubt, consult your reproductive veterinarian or reach out to support at FMSD.
COI stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding - a percentage measuring how closely related the sire and dam are genetically. A lower COI generally indicates greater genetic diversity, associated with better health and litter viability. Ask the stud owner directly through FMSD messaging if you would like COI information for a specific pairing.
The Verified badge means FMSD has reviewed the submitted health documentation. It does not guarantee fertility, genetic outcomes, or breeding success. Always review the actual test results and consult your veterinarian.
2. Booking and Payment
Submit a formal booking request through the platform. The seller reviews and accepts. Payment - including the stud fee and Buyer Protection Fee - is collected securely by FMSD. Both parties agree to the stud service terms. The seller ships and provides tracking. After delivery confirmation and a 4-day hold, payment is automatically released to the seller.
All major credit and debit cards and ACH bank transfers. Cash, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, and any off-platform method are not accepted for covered transactions.
No. The listed stud fee is the confirmed price. If you have questions about what is included - such as shipping or semen analysis fees - message the seller before booking.
The Buyer Protection Fee is a small fee added to your transaction total. Think of it the way you think about a service fee on Airbnb or a booking platform - you are not just paying for the transaction itself, you are paying for the experience and protections that come with using a marketplace built specifically for this purpose. Here is exactly what that covers:
A verified marketplace - Every stud on FMSD has submitted health documentation that has been reviewed and verified by FMSD administrators before the listing goes live. You are not scrolling through unverified posts hoping someone is telling the truth - you are browsing a curated marketplace of health-tested studs.
Search and filtering tools - Find the right match for your female by breed, location, health testing status, coat genetics, service type, availability, and more. Tools that would take hours to replicate manually are built into the platform.
Secure payment processing - Your payment is handled by a certified third-party payment processor. Every seller must complete identity verification - including government ID and tax identification - before receiving any payout. You are never sending money to an anonymous account.
Escrow protection - Your stud fee is held securely by FMSD after payment and is not released to the seller until delivery is confirmed and a 4-day hold period clears. If something goes wrong before that point, your funds are protected.
Dispute resolution - If a seller fails to fulfill, stops communicating, ships non-viable semen, or misrepresents their listing, FMSD reviews the case and determines the outcome.
On-platform communication records - All messaging stays on FMSD, creating a documented record of everything agreed to before the breeding. This record protects you if a dispute ever arises.
The Buyer Protection Fee is displayed before you confirm payment - no surprises. It is non-refundable in most cases. The only exception is if the seller completely fails to fulfill the booking, in which case FMSD may refund both the stud fee and the Buyer Protection Fee.Yes. By completing the booking, both parties agree to the stud service terms on the platform - including the seller's rebreeding policy and any custom terms. The agreement is stored on the platform and accessible by both parties.
When you pay, funds are held securely by FMSD - not released to the seller immediately. Once delivery is confirmed via tracking and a 4-day hold passes, funds are released minus the platform fee. If a dispute is opened during the hold, payout is paused until resolution.
All payments are processed through a certified third-party payment processor. Every seller must complete identity verification - including government ID and tax identification - before receiving any payouts. Funds are held in escrow until delivery is confirmed. This verification requirement means sellers on FMSD are verified individuals, not anonymous accounts.
3. Shipping and Delivery
Sellers collect, package, and ship using accepted veterinary and industry standards for chilled specimens. Sellers must enter tracking through the FMSD platform after dispatch. All shipping costs must be included in the listed price currently - this is an update we are working on.
Yes. Tracking is entered through the platform by the seller and is visible from your transaction dashboard.
Carrier delays (FedEx, UPS, etc.) are outside the control of both FMSD and the seller. No automatic refund is issued. If your breeding window is missed, you may request an additional shipment subject to the seller's terms and possible additional cost. Always have your reproductive vet on standby and identify a backup stud before your female's breeding window opens.
Contact FMSD support immediately with your tracking number. If the package is confirmed lost and the seller properly dispatched it, FMSD will review the situation. If the seller failed to ship or provide valid tracking, FMSD may deem the booking non-fulfillable and issue a full refund. We recommend always having a backup stud identified before your breeding window opens.
Yes. You are responsible for being available for time-sensitive semen shipments. If delivery is attempted and missed, you are responsible for immediate retrieval - missed delivery is not grounds for a refund. Consider having the package shipped to a your Reproductive vet, UPS or FedEx store for convenient scheduled pickup.
Sellers may require a signature. If you waive signature confirmation, you assume all associated risks including loss, mis-delivery, or theft. Signature confirmation is strongly recommended.
4. Semen Quality and Breeding Outcomes
Do not discard it. Have it evaluated by a licensed reproductive veterinarian immediately and obtain a written report. This report is required to open a quality dispute. Claims are reviewed case by case. FMSD does not independently verify semen quality but will review all submitted evidence.
No. FMSD is a marketplace facilitator. Breeding involves biological variables outside anyone's control. No guarantee of semen viability or pregnancy is expressed or implied by using the platform.
A failed pregnancy is governed by the seller's rebreeding policy, disclosed before you book. To pursue any claim you must submit veterinary documentation - ultrasound or x-ray from a licensed vet - within 70 days of the last insemination or live cover breeding.
Breeding timing is entirely the buyer's responsibility. If a breeding fails because of improper progesterone testing or a miscalculated window, no refund or credit is available. Work with a reproductive veterinarian to confirm correct timing before ordering.
No. Puppy quality, litter size, coat, color, and temperament are biological outcomes that cannot be guaranteed by a stud listing platform. Any representation of expected puppy traits comes from the seller, not from FMSD.
5. Disputes and Refunds (Buyer)
Go to your transaction dashboard and click 'Open Dispute.' Select a category, describe the issue, and upload supporting documentation. File within 7 days of the event - or 70 days for no-pregnancy claims.
FMSD reviews your submission, may request documentation, and notifies the seller who has 7 days to respond. FMSD evaluates all information and issues a final decision. Outcomes include no action, full or partial refund, platform credit, or seller penalties. FMSD's decisions are final.
Yes. Stud fee is refunded. The Buyer Protection Fee is non-refundable. Exceptions may be granted at FMSD's discretion.
Only in cases of verified seller failure, material misrepresentation, or confirmed service breakdown as determined by FMSD through the dispute process.
Any payment or agreement made outside the FMSD platform - including Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or cash. Keep all communication and payments on-platform to be protected.
SELLER CATEGORIES
1. Listing Your Stud
Create an account and click 'Add a Stud' from your dashboard. The listing builder guides you through uploading photos, choosing whether you allow mixed breed bookings, entering breed and physical details, adding health test results, setting your stud fee, and setting availability. Health testing must be verified before your stud can receive bookings.
Minimum: 3-5 quality photos, breed, age, weight, stud fee, service type, location, and availability. Strongly recommended: all health test results, pedigree, titles or certifications, and a bio covering temperament and accomplishments. More health data means more bookings.
Yes. Manage multiple listings under one account - each dog has its own dedicated profile page.
Listings stay active until you pause or deactivate them. No automatic expiration. Keep health records and availability current.
Yes. Define your rebreeding policies, timing conditions, and guarantees. These are displayed on your listing and agreed to by buyers before booking. FMSD reserves the right to decline enforcement of terms deemed unreasonable, and the FMSD Terms of Service controls in any conflict.
Yes. Per the Seller Agreement, all costs including shipping and semen analysis fees must be included in the listed price. No fees can be added after a booking is confirmed.
2. Health Testing Requirements
To receive bookings on FMSD, stud dogs must have a minimum of two verified tests on file: (1) a breed-specific genetic panel from an accredited laboratory, and (2) at least one additional health evaluation such as OFA Hips, OFA Elbows, OFA Eyes (CAER), OFA Cardiac, or OFA Patella. Listings can be created without testing but will not be bookable until verification is complete.
Listings with more complete health profiles receive significantly higher visibility and more bookings. Recommended: all breed-appropriate OFA evaluations, a comprehensive genetic DNA panel, and a current semen evaluation if offering chilled services. The analysis can't be uploaded but you can provide the results in the description text for your stud.
Any accredited lab including UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Animal Genetics, Paw Print Genetics, Wisdom Panel, Embark, and others. Note that Embark does not cover every breed-specific test - for example, the DM test specific to Bernese Mountain Dogs is available through Animal Genetics but not Embark. FMSD accepts results from multiple labs.
A current negative Brucellosis test performed within the last 12 months is required for all stud dogs on FMSD before they can receive bookings. You will enter your test date as part of your listing setup. Listings without a current test date on file will not be bookable.
If you have performed any live cover breedings outside of FMSD, you must ensure the female was tested negative for Brucellosis prior to that breeding - or obtain a fresh negative test before shipping chilled semen through FMSD. All sellers are required to attest to this before accepting a booking on the platform.
Brucellosis is a serious contagious disease that can be transmitted through semen without direct contact between dogs. There is no approved vaccine in the United States. Keeping your test current protects your dog, the buyer's female, and the integrity of your breeding program.
Upload your health documents directly to your listing profile during the listing creation process. FMSD currently accepts PDF files and images of official test certificates. For OFA results, download your official OFA certificate from ofa.org and upload it directly - OFA certificates are available in your OFA account after your evaluation is complete. Once reviewed and verified by FMSD admin, your results will display on your public listing.
Yes. List with completed tests and note pending ones. Update as results come in. OFA hip final evaluations require 24 months minimum - preliminary results are accepted for younger dogs. Your stud is bookable once the two required minimum tests are verified.
3. Fulfillment and Shipping
Collect and ship semen on the confirmed booking date using accepted veterinary and industry standards. Enter tracking through the FMSD platform after dispatch. All costs must have been included in the listed price - no add-ons after booking.
Attempt fulfillment the next available day if timing is still viable. If same or next-day fulfillment is not possible, the booking may be deemed non-fulfillable by FMSD and the buyer will receive a full refund. Repeated failures may result in reduced visibility, listing removal, or account suspension.
All communication is on-platform so FMSD has a full record. Contact FMSD support through your transaction dashboard. FMSD will attempt to reach the buyer and determine appropriate next steps.
4. Payments and Payouts (Seller)
After delivery is confirmed via tracking and the 4-day hold period clears with no dispute raised. Expect funds in your connected account within 2-5 business days after release.
Yes. FMSD may delay or withhold payouts in cases of active disputes, suspected fraud, or policy violations. FMSD will make commercially reasonable efforts to notify you but is not required to do so before acting. Payouts release once disputes resolve or the hold period clears.
A Seller Service Fee is deducted from your payout at transaction time. The exact amount is disclosed before any transaction is confirmed. Listing and health verification are both free. The only optional paid feature is a Featured Listing placement.
5. Disputes and Refunds (Seller)
FMSD notifies you and gives you 7 days to respond. Submit any supporting documentation. FMSD evaluates all information and issues a final decision. Possible outcomes include no action, a refund to the buyer, platform credit, or penalties. FMSD's decisions are final.
Buyer fraud is taken seriously. If FMSD determines a buyer submitted false records or misleading information, the claim is denied and the buyer's account may be suspended or permanently banned.
The buyer must provide a written veterinary evaluation documenting motility and quality findings. FMSD reviews all evidence and evaluates per your stated seller terms. FMSD does not independently verify semen quality but assesses all submitted documentation.
SHARED CATEGORIES
1. Messaging and Communication
Once logged in, click 'Contact Owner' or 'Message' on any listing. This opens a direct message thread within FMSD's built-in messaging system. All communication must stay on-platform.
On-platform messages create a verifiable record of all terms, agreements, and representations. This record is essential in any dispute. Off-platform arrangements are not covered by FMSD protections. Sharing contact information to bypass the platform violates the Terms of Service and can result in account suspension.
Do not do it. This is a violation of Terms of Service and a red flag for fraud. Report it immediately using the 'Report' button. Off-platform payments are not covered by any FMSD protections.
Yes. Email and in-app notifications for new messages. Manage preferences in account settings.
2. Account, Profile, and Reviews
Click 'Sign Up.' Register with email or connect via Google or Facebook. Account creation is free. You must be at least 18 years old.
Complete health testing, verify identity, maintain a track record of successful reviewed transactions, keep listings complete and accurate, and respond quickly to messages. FMSD displays a trust score on profiles that grows with these milestones.
Yes. After a completed transaction both parties are invited to leave a review. Reviews are tied to verified transactions only and are subject to FMSD approval before publishing. Honest positive or negative reviews are permitted. False, defamatory, or bad-faith reviews may be removed.
Use the 'Report' button on any listing, message, or profile. For transaction disputes, open a formal dispute through your transaction dashboard.
Deactivate a listing at any time from your dashboard. To delete your account, contact FMSD support. Transaction records are retained per the Terms of Service even after deletion.
3. Safety and Privacy
Multiple protection layers: verified profiles, on-platform messaging records, secure escrow payments, and a formal dispute process. The third-party payment processor requires identity verification including government ID and tax identification from every seller before payouts can be received - a significant deterrent to bad actors. Keep all communication and payments on-platform.
All payments are processed through a certified third-party payment processor. Funds are held in escrow after payment and released only after delivery confirmation and the 4-day hold period. Every seller must complete identity and tax verification before receiving payouts, meaning sellers on FMSD are verified individuals.
Your contact information is not shared publicly. Communication stays within the platform messaging system. FMSD does not sell personal data to third parties. See the FMSD Privacy Policy for full details.
Yes. FMSD may suspend or terminate any account for misrepresentation, fraud, policy violations, off-platform transactions, or other harmful conduct. Upon termination, access ceases immediately and pending funds are handled per the Dispute and Refund Policy.
Setting Up Your Payout Account
Stripe is the secure third-party payment processor FMSD uses to send stud fee payouts to sellers. Setting up your Stripe Connect account is how you tell FMSD where to deposit your earnings. It is required before you can receive any payout. FMSD does not store your bank details - all financial information goes directly and securely to Stripe.
You can set up your Stripe payout account at any time after creating your FMSD account. You do not need to complete it before listing your stud. However, payouts cannot be released to you until your Stripe account is fully set up and verified. We recommend completing it before your first booking so there is no delay when your first payout is ready.
Most stud owners on FMSD should select Individual. Choose Individual if you are offering stud services as a personal activity, even if you have a kennel name or breed under a registered name. Choose Company only if your breeding operation is formally registered as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or other legal business entity with its own EIN. Nonprofit does not apply to stud services.
Enter your personal full legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID or tax records - first name and last name. Do not enter your kennel name, breeding program name, or business name in this field. Stripe uses this to verify your identity and it must match your government records.
This field tells Stripe what kind of transactions to expect on your account. Enter the following: 'I offer stud dog services including chilled semen through FindMyStudDog.com. Buyers pay through the FMSD platform and I receive payouts after confirmed delivery.' This is accurate and complete for Stripe's purposes.
Enter www.findmystuddog.com. This is the platform you sell through and is the correct answer for this field. You do not need a personal website or business website of your own.
Stripe Connect setup has three steps shown in the progress indicator at the top of the screen: (1) Business type - select Individual, Company, or Nonprofit and confirm your country. (2) Business representative - enter your personal details including legal name, date of birth, address, product description, and identity verification information. (3) Bank details - add the bank account you want payouts deposited into. Complete all three steps in order to activate your payout account.
No - that is Stripe's progress stepper showing your position in the setup flow. Clicking a completed step lets you go back and review or edit it. It is not an error. Work through each step in order using the Continue button to move forward. Once all three steps are complete your account will be submitted for verification.
Stripe is required by US financial regulations - specifically Know Your Customer and anti-money laundering laws - to verify the identity of anyone receiving payments. For Individual accounts this typically means providing the last 4 digits of your SSN for lower-volume payouts, or your full SSN if your annual payouts exceed IRS reporting thresholds. This information is submitted directly and securely to Stripe. FMSD never sees or stores your SSN. Depending on your inputs, it may or may not ask for you SSN.
LIVE MODE FLAG: LIVE MODE FLAG: Confirm in live mode whether last 4 digits or full SSN is requested for typical FMSD Individual seller payout volumes. Update answer to be specific about what sellers will actually see.
On the Bank details step, Stripe offers two options: (1) Link your bank account automatically by logging into your bank through Plaid - this is the fastest option for most people. (2) Enter your routing number and account number manually if you prefer. Select the account you want your FMSD payouts deposited into and click Save. You can update or change your payout account later by contacting Stripe support.