[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by yorkiegold

Stud owner fixes the fee. Stud dog owner approves the bitches. If you want the stud, you pay what they ask, get the genetic/health testing they require and sign whatever they ask you to sign.

Some people are breeding to make money and they'll breed to whatever's handy rather than paying a fair price to breed to a finished champion. It can cost $3,000 and up to finish a dog yourself and the sky's the limit if you hire a professional handler and campaign the dog nationally. The owner of a finished champion deserves every penny they get. Even though you may be able to get a champion sire with a 90% red pedigree (for what that's worth) for $650, I would rather pay more for the one that's producing champions, has years of careful health screening behind it, etc. Many serious breeders will ship their bitches half way across the continent to get the stud that's a perfect fit for their bitch regardless of what percent of the pedigree is red. I know Rottweiler champions that command $1,500 for a stud fee and no one blinks an eye.

But to the original poster's point, it can be a hassle to breed, your male will be nearly impossible to housetrain after breeding, even though you may decide to neuter him. Don't settle for less than you think it's worth to you personally. It's traditional (and recommended) for the bitch to come to the stud dog. Depending on travel distance issues, you may be required to keep the bitch over a period of several days. If one or the other is injured during the process (unlikely, but with a maiden bitch and virgin stud your chances go up) you will be responsible for getting whatever medical attention is needed. You would be responsible for keeping the bitch from being bred or hurt by any other male dog during this time which means Fort Knox security. Your boy will lose his tiny little mind for the 3-5 days time period the breeding will cover.

So don't do it for less than what it's worth to you. I don't care if you're overcharging for what you have or offering the bargain of the century, set the price that makes it worth the hassle to you. If the bitch owner doesn't like it, tell them to go find another stud.

CJ

Just a question...what lineage of dogs do you have/breed? And, are you a show breeder?