The Stud Dog Booking Process: Step by Step for First-Timers

Booking a stud dog for the first time feels overwhelming. There are health tests to request, contracts to sign, progesterone levels to track, and logistics to coordinate — all within a narrow timing window. This guide walks you through every step in order.

Step 1: Find and Evaluate Potential Studs (Before Heat)

Start your search at least 4–6 weeks before your dam's expected heat cycle. This gives you time to:

• Review multiple stud dog profiles and compare health testing
• Verify OFA records at ofa.org
• Request and review DNA panel PDFs
• Check pedigrees for compatibility (COI, shared ancestors)
• Ask preliminary questions about availability and breeding method

Do not wait until your dam is in heat to start looking. Good studs get booked quickly, and rushing the evaluation process leads to poor decisions.

Step 2: Initial Contact and Pre-Screening

Contact two or three top candidates. Your initial message should include:

• Your dam's breed and age
• Her health test results (or a summary)
• Your approximate expected heat timeline
• Whether you prefer natural breeding or AI

The stud owner will respond with their stud's available dates, fee structure, and requirements. This is when you'll request the health test documentation if not already listed.

Step 3: Sign the Contract

Once you've chosen a stud, sign the contract before any money changes hands. A complete stud dog contract should cover:

• Stud fee amount and payment timing
• Breeding method
• Return service terms
• What happens if the stud is unavailable
• AKC co-signing requirements (if applicable)

If the stud owner doesn't have a contract, ask for one or bring your own.

Step 4: Start Progesterone Testing When Heat Begins

As soon as you notice the first signs of heat (vulvar swelling, bloody discharge), contact your vet to begin progesterone testing. Most vets recommend starting 5–7 days after first signs appear.

Initial progesterone (below 2 ng/mL) confirms she's in early proestrus. Testing every 48 hours tracks her progression toward ovulation (LH surge at 2–3 ng/mL, ovulation at 5–8 ng/mL, peak receptivity at 10–25 ng/mL).

Share the progesterone results with the stud owner as you go — they need this information to confirm your appointment timing.

Step 5: Confirm the Appointment

When progesterone confirms ovulation (typically 5–8 ng/mL), the optimal breeding window opens in 2–4 days. Contact the stud owner immediately to confirm the appointment date and time.

Confirm:

• Natural tie or AI (and which type of AI)
• The exact address
• What to bring (contract copy, health test records, progesterone printout)
• Payment method and timing

Step 6: The Breeding Appointment

Arrive on time with all documentation. For natural tie breedings, allow 30–90 minutes. For AI, the time depends on whether the procedure is vaginal, transcervical, or surgical.

Get written confirmation of the breeding from the stud owner — date, method, and the stud's registration information. This is required for AKC litter registration.

Step 7: Confirm Pregnancy

Schedule an ultrasound with your vet at 25–30 days post-breeding. Ultrasound at this stage can confirm pregnancy and give an approximate puppy count.

X-ray at 55–58 days confirms an exact puppy count and skull sizes — important for breeds prone to dystocia.

Step 8: Notify the Stud Owner

Let the stud owner know when pregnancy is confirmed. This is professional courtesy and keeps the relationship open for future breedings. If the pregnancy doesn't take, notify them early so you can coordinate return service timing.

After the Litter: AKC Registration

Both the stud owner and dam owner must sign the AKC litter registration paperwork. The stud owner signs as the sire's owner, confirming the breeding took place. Some stud owners require payment to be current before they will countersign.