Gundog Expert Articles

The Mating Procedure by Keith Erlandson

If you use a friend's dog on your bitch, it might be possible for you to give a pup in exchange for the mating but if you are going to use a proven stud dog, you most likely will have to pay a stud fee at the time of mating.  Should your bitch fail to produce pups, most stud dog owners will give a free service at a later date.  However, there is no legal obligation for them to do so.  You pay for the actual service, not a guaranteed result, unlike the 'live foal guarantee' in the horse world.

Several years ago there was a case in Lancashire which only involved a £50 stud fee but for some reason no free service was forthcoming, whether the stud dog had died in the meantime I don't know.The bitch's owner tried to sue but lost his case.

I once had a failed mating to a golden retriever stud but before my bitch came in season again, the dog died.  I lost my 5 guinea stud fee which was quite a blow as I was at that time an impecunious underkeeper. Some stud dog owners will not allow you to substitute a different bitch for the free service.

(posted 28/07/2003)