How to List Your Dog as a Stud: The Complete Guide to Getting Inquiries

A great stud dog deserves a great listing. Here's how to build one that gets responses from the right dam owners.

You've invested in health testing, you've raised a quality male, and you're ready to offer him at stud. Now you need to attract the right dam owners — people who are serious about their litters, respectful of your dog, and willing to do the work correctly.

A strong stud listing does that filtering for you. Here's exactly how to build one.

Step 1: Make Sure Your Dog Is Actually Ready to List

Before creating any public listing, confirm that your dog meets the minimum standard for a responsible stud.

He should have:

• A current brucellosis test (negative within 30 days is the standard before any breeding)
• All breed-appropriate health testing completed — or a clear timeline for completion if he is young
• AKC or breed club registration in order (if offering to registered litters)
• At minimum, reached 18 months of age — ideally 24 months so OFA certification is possible

You should have:

• A written stud contract ready (or a template you can customize)
• A clear understanding of what you are offering — natural breeding, AI, or both
• A reproductive veterinarian you work with, especially if AI will be part of your program

Listing a dog before he is properly tested and documented does more harm than good. Dam owners who do their homework will pass on an untested stud, and the inquiries you do get may not be from breeders you want to work with.

Step 2: Gather Your Documentation

Dam owners who are serious about their litters will ask for documentation. Have it organized and ready before you list.

Gather:

• OFA hip and elbow certificates (downloadable from ofa.org, or provided by your vet)
• CAER eye exam certificate (current — must be renewed annually)
• Cardiac clearance if breed-required
• DNA test results from an accredited lab — full disease panel
• AKC registration certificate or pedigree
• Any titles the dog has earned (conformation, performance, working)
• Photos and copies of the above to share with inquiring dam owners

Having documentation ready signals professionalism and saves you time when inquiries come in.

Step 3: Take Great Photos

Photos are the first thing a dam owner sees. They determine whether she clicks through or scrolls past. Poor photos of an excellent dog will kill your inquiry rate. Good photos of an average dog will generate attention.

What to include:

• A clear stack or stacked side profile — showing the dog's full structure from the side, ideally on a groomed surface or in a setting that shows him clearly
• A head shot — clean, well-lit, showing expression and breed type
• A natural activity photo — the dog moving, playing, or in his element. This shows personality and movement.
• A photo with handler or family — shows temperament and how the dog interacts with people

Photo tips:

• Shoot in natural light, outdoors if possible
• Avoid busy backgrounds that compete with the dog
• Have the dog well-groomed before the shoot
• Do not use blurry, dark, or low-resolution photos
• Show multiple angles — one photo is not enough

Video: A short video clip of the dog moving and engaging with his handler is increasingly expected and highly effective. Post it on the listing if possible.

Step 4: Write a Listing That Answers the Questions Dam Owners Have

A good stud listing answers the key questions before a dam owner has to ask. This saves time for both parties and signals that you know what you're doing.

Essential information to include:

Breed and registration — State the breed and his registry (AKC, UKC, etc.) with his registration number. Dam owners will verify this.

Health testing summary — List every test that has been completed with dates. Do not just write "health tested." Specify: OFA Hips Excellent (2024), OFA Elbows Normal (2024), CAER Clear (2025), Embark full disease panel — link to results if possible.

Pedigree highlights — If he has titled ancestors or is from a well-known kennel, mention it. If his sire or dam have OFA Excellent hips, that matters.

Stud fee — State the fee clearly. A listing without a price generates questions and wastes time. If the fee varies by arrangement (natural vs. AI), state the base fee and note that AI may incur additional costs.

Breeding terms summary — Natural only? AI available? Chilled semen a possibility? Mention it.

Location — City and state at minimum. Dam owners want to know if travel is required.

Contact method — How do you want to be contacted? Email? Phone? Make it easy for serious inquirers to reach you.

Step 5: Be Honest About Limitations

A listing that acknowledges limitations is more trustworthy than one that claims perfection.

If your dog is unproven (has not yet sired a litter), say so — and consider offering a reduced fee or free-return guarantee to account for the uncertainty.

If he has minor OFA hip scores (Good rather than Excellent), report it accurately. Dam owners who discover discrepancies will not work with you again.

If natural breeding is difficult due to your dog's size, conformation, or temperament, note that AI is the preferred method.

Transparency builds the trust that generates referrals.

Step 6: Set a Fair and Justified Fee

Research the current market rate for your breed and set your fee based on:

• Your dog's health testing completeness (more complete = higher)
• His pedigree quality and titles (stronger = higher)
• His proven or unproven status (unproven = lower, or reduce risk with free-return policy)
• Regional demand for your breed

Do not undercut the market dramatically. Low fees attract low-quality dam owners and signal low confidence in your dog. Do not dramatically overcharge without justification — dam owners doing their research will know when a fee is not matched by credentials.

If you are unsure, look at comparable listings in your breed on The Stud Dog and price yourself appropriately.

Step 7: Respond Quickly and Professionally

Once your listing is live, the quality of your responses matters as much as the listing itself.

Best practices:

• Respond to every inquiry within 24 hours, even if just to acknowledge receipt
• Ask qualifying questions — what breed is the dam? Has she been health tested? Is she AKC registered? What is the purpose of the litter?
• Do not agree to a breeding before you have seen the dam's health documentation
• Be willing to decline breedings that are not right for your dog or your program

A stud owner who is responsive, professional, and selective gets a reputation. That reputation drives referrals, and referrals are the best source of serious dam owners.

Step 8: Update Your Listing Regularly

An outdated listing loses credibility and wastes inquiries.

• Update health test dates as new clearances are completed
• Update photos as the dog matures
• Mark the stud as unavailable during periods when he is not being offered (illness, recovery, off-season)
• Note when he has sired his first litter (proving him out) and update the listing to reflect that

A current listing shows an engaged, professional stud owner.

Summary

A great stud listing starts with a genuinely health-tested, documented dog. It presents him with clear photos, complete health information, an honest pedigree summary, and a fair stated fee. It answers the questions serious dam owners ask before they have to ask them. And it is backed by a stud owner who responds quickly, selects breedings carefully, and maintains a written contract for every pairing.

Create your stud listing on The Stud Dog today and connect with dam owners who take breeding as seriously as you do.