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For female dog owners

Stud My Dog: Find A Verified Stud For Your Female

The right stud makes all the difference. Check your female is ready, know which tests to ask for, then browse verified studs by breed and town, and message the owner directly.

Quick answer: studding your dog means finding a health-tested male to mate with your female. Confirm she's ready, complete brucellosis and breed tests, choose a stud with sound temperament and papers, then time the mating with progesterone testing.

Visual guide

Stud My Dog Checklist

Five steps between "I want a litter" and a well-timed, healthy mating.

  1. 1

    Health test

    Brucellosis, DNA and breed screenings for your female.

  2. 2

    Find a stud

    Search verified listings by breed and town or city.

  3. 3

    Check papers

    Ask for his health certificates and pedigree.

  4. 4

    Agree terms

    Fee, number of matings and repeat terms, in writing.

  5. 5

    Time mating

    Use progesterone tests to hit the fertile window.

Readiness

Is My Dog Ready To Breed?

A first heat can come as early as six months in small breeds. That doesn't mean she's mature enough to carry a litter safely.

2 yrs
Around 2 years old
Full physical maturity varies by breed.
2x
At least two full heat cycles
Breeding earlier risks harder deliveries.
Vet
A full vet exam
Your vet confirms she is ready.
Yes
Vaccinations up to date
Have records ready to share.
Plan backwards from her heat

Start Looking 2-3 Months Ahead

  1. 3 months
    Vet exam & her tests
    Book the physical, brucellosis plan and breed screenings.
  2. 2 months
    Shortlist studs
    Compare listings, ask for certificates, video call.
  3. 1 month
    Sign the agreement
    Fee, matings, repeat terms. Brucellosis for both within 30 days.
  4. Heat - day 5
    Start progesterone
    Test every 2 days until ovulation.
  5. Days 10-14
    Mating
    2-3 matings, 24-48 hrs apart.
Timeline

Her Heat Cycle, Phase By Phase

The fertile window is narrow. Miss it and you wait about six months. The best mating time is 48-72 hours after ovulation.

Days 1-9
Proestrus
Swelling and discharge. Not yet fertile.
Days 10-14
Estrus
Fertile window. Mate 48-72 hrs after ovulation.
Days 15-60
Diestrus
Pregnancy, or false pregnancy.
~4-5 months
Anestrus
Rest until the next cycle.
Pro tipStart progesterone testing around day 5 and repeat every 2 days. 5.0-10.0 ng/mL signals ovulation. Skipping it is a top reason first matings fail.
Breeding calculator

Plan The Mating

Pick the first day of heat to see the fertile window and a due date.

Before you contact a stud owner

Health Tests To Complete First

Ask the stud owner for the same tests on his side. Check your breed's list with your vet or breed club.

Non-negotiable

Brucellosis, both dogs

A sexually transmitted infection with no reliable cure. It can cause miscarriage and permanent sterility. Test both dogs within 30 days of mating, even if tested before.

No current test from the stud owner? Walk away.
Breed-specific

Hips, elbows, eyes & heart

OFA or PennHIP evaluations, eye certification and cardiac exams, depending on the breed. Golden Retrievers, for example, need all four.

Genetics

DNA panel

Screens for inherited conditions a physical exam can't see, plus an inbreeding score to check the pairing keeps puppies genetically diverse.

Quick reference

How To Evaluate A Stud Dog

Health clearances first, pedigree second. A title means nothing without screening.

What to look for

Hip & elbow scores on file
Brucellosis test within 30 days
DNA panel results
Registered pedigree papers
Calm, confident temperament
Healthy past litters
Owner shares references
Written agreement offered

Red flags

"Vet says he's healthy", no papers
Refuses brucellosis testing
No DNA or hip/elbow results
Can't show pedigree papers
Aggressive or anxious behaviour
Nothing on previous litters
Won't let you contact past owners
Verbal agreement only

Temperament is inherited

Meet him or video call. Calm, confident and sociable is what you want.

Ask about past litters

A proven stud with healthy puppies beats an untested dog with a flashy pedigree.

Keep genes diverse

Be wary of a stud bred to dozens of females ("popular sire"). Check the inbreeding score.

Listed right now

Stud Dogs Open To Breeding

See all stud dogs
How PetsFindly helps

Skip The Facebook Groups

Word of mouth and social groups are slow and there's no way to check health claims up front. On PetsFindly, every stud listing shows its health answers and breeding terms before you message.

Create free profile
  1. 01

    List your female

    Breed, age, health answers, photos and what you want in a stud.

  2. 02

    Search & filter studs

    By breed, town or city and health answers. Your top 3 matches are free.

  3. 03

    Message the owner

    Talk timing, fees and logistics directly. No middlemen, no commission.

Budget planning

What A Stud Really Costs

The stud fee is only part of it. Typical US ranges below (India ranges coming soon). Some owners take pick of the litter instead of cash.

Stud fee
Breed, pedigree, titles
$250 - $3,000+
Progesterone tests
3-6 tests at $50-100
$150 - $300
Brucellosis tests
Both dogs, $50-100 each
$100 - $200
Travel
If the stud isn't local
$0 - $500+
Artificial insemination
If natural mating isn't possible
$200 - $500
Total estimated range
$700 - $4,500+

Most breeders arrange 2-3 matings, 24-48 hours apart. Ask what's included before you agree a fee.

What raises a stud fee?
Health clearances, show titles, proven healthy litters and demand in big cities.

Always Get It In Writing

A handshake isn't enough when puppies and money are involved. Both owners sign before any mating.

  1. 01Fee amount and when it's paid
  2. 02Number of matings included
  3. 03Repeat mating if no pregnancy
  4. 04Pick-of-litter terms, if any
  5. 05Health tests required for both dogs
  6. 06Who pays travel or AI costs
  7. 07Registration paperwork
  8. 08Signed by both owners before mating
Resources

Stud & Breeding Guides

See All Posts
Have a male instead?

Offer your dog as a stud

List him free with his health answers and stud fee.

List my stud
Support

Stud My Dog Questions

Can't find your answer? Contact our team.

Progesterone blood tests are the most reliable. Your vet starts around day 5 of heat and tests every 2 days. At 5.0-10.0 ng/mL she is ovulating, and the best mating window is 48-72 hours later. Holding her tail to the side is a helpful sign, but testing removes the guesswork.

Find The Right Stud For Your Female

Start 2-3 months before her next heat. Browsing is free.