Choosing a stud dog
Start with your bitch: what you want to keep and what you want to improve. Look for a dog whose strengths complement hers, in working ability, temperament and build, and see him work if you can. A working record, from shoot days to working tests and field trials, tells you more than a pedigree alone. Ask whether he has sired litters before and, if possible, speak to the owners of some of his puppies, or look out for his litters among the gundog puppies for sale.
Health testing
Both dog and bitch should have the health tests recommended for the breed, which each breed guide lists: hip and elbow scores under the BVA/KC schemes, a current BVA/KC/ISDS eye certificate and the relevant DNA tests. DNA results matter most when pairing, because for recessively inherited conditions puppies are not expected to be affected by the tested variant when at least one parent has a reliable clear result. Ask to see the certificates. For Kennel Club registered dogs, the Kennel Club's Mate Select service shows the inbreeding coefficient of a proposed mating.
Agreeing terms
Agree everything in writing before the mating: the fee, whether it is paid at the mating or when puppies are born, what happens if the bitch does not take, and whether the stud owner will take a puppy instead of a fee. Agree, too, who handles the Kennel Club paperwork if the litter is to be registered, and what health checks each side will show the other. Keep a signed copy of the agreement with the litter's paperwork, so that nothing depends on memory if a question comes up later.
Before the mating
Plan well ahead. Have your bitch checked by your vet, and make sure she is fit, at a healthy weight and up to date with her vaccinations and worming before her season. Many owners use progesterone testing to pinpoint the best days to mate, which is especially useful if the stud dog lives some distance away. Think, too, about the puppies before they exist: who will buy them, how you will raise and socialise them for their first eight weeks, and whether you can keep any that do not find homes. Remember that the rules on breeding licences apply to you as a breeder, and that every puppy must be microchipped before it leaves. Our buying checklist shows the questions your puppy buyers should be asking you, so it is worth reading from the other side. To see the other stages, browse all gundogs for sale.