Choosing the Right Stud Dog

Since choosing a stud dog is an important part of the breeding process and requires the utmost attention, this article will outline some of the factors to consider when selecting a stud dog. To become a responsible breeder one must make sure that a series of health examinations to obtain certifications declaring the dog is free of eye, joint and other health problems which are undesirable are taken care of immediately and throughout the span of the dogs breeding life.

Most potential breeders will spend a great deal of time preparing their female dog for breeding. Whether they purchase the female as a puppy or an adult dog they will carefully evaluate the dog physically, socially and according to temperament to ensure the dog they select for the breeding process is of the highest grade of quality. The same amount of diligence must apply to the process of selecting a stud dog for the breeding.

Before a breeder begins the process of selecting a stud dog, it is extremely important to examine the female very closely. Hopefully, by this point in the process the female has already received all of the necessary health certifications and is evaluated to have a temperament that is suitable for breeding and matches the qualities the breeder would like to replicate in future litters. However, these are not the only considerations when evaluating the female for breeding. It might even be worthwhile to have other knowledgeable breeders examine the dog and evaluate her physical structure as well. Small flaws should not impact your decision to use a female, it just is a precaution and something that needs further attention in litters acquired by her. When you carefully evaluate your breeding dog for slight flaws you can select a stud dog likely to assist in correcting these flaws and it will help you to select a stud dog that compliments your female well. Just for an extreme example; your female shows signs of being scared and you are trying to breed guard dogs. In this situation you would select a strong and fearless stud dog to counteract the female and its coward character.

The most simple and common theory to selecting a stud dog involves breeding like to like. Based on this theory a stud dog will be selected based on his overall ability to compliment the female in terms of appearance. Litters produced from the act of breeding are likely to produce puppies that resemble the parents which share a similar appearance and structure. As long as the appearance is acceptable according to breed standards and the structure of the parents is sound the puppies produced from a like to like breeding are likely to have an acceptable appearance and be physically sound.

Line breeding is the more complicated method of choosing a stud dog. During the process of line breeding the pedigrees of both the dog and the bitch are carefully examined. In-breeding involves breeding a dog and a bitch that share commonalities in their pedigrees. This means there are several dogs and bitches that exist in the lineage of both the dog and the bitch. This type of breeding can be risky and is only recommended for experienced breeders who have carefully researched the pedigrees. Another type of line breeding is called out-crosssing which involves matching females and stud dogs that share no, or very few, common ancestors in their lineage. Care is still taken to ensure the pedigrees are of a high quality.

Whether you decide to select a stud dog based on like to like breeding or line breeding you will likely narrow your choices down to a few worthy dogs initially. After the potential stud dogs are narrowed down to a few options, it is a good idea for the breeder to contact the owners of each of these dogs. During this contact the breeder can learn a great deal about the potential stud dog. The owner should be able to provide any available health certifications as well as information about the litters sired by the stud dog. They should also be able to speak to you objectively about the strengths and weaknesses their dog offers. This is important because it will help you to make the best possible decision for your bitch. Breeders should be wary about stud dog owners who do not produce health certifications and cannot elaborate on the strengths and weaknesses of the dog.