Stud Dog Contracts: What to Include, What to Avoid, and a Free Template

The document every responsible breeder should have before any breeding takes place

A handshake agreement feels friendly. It also falls apart the moment something unexpected happens — and in dog breeding, something unexpected almost always does.

A written stud dog contract is not about distrust. It is about protecting both parties, setting clear expectations, and making sure a positive breeding experience does not turn into a dispute that damages both your reputations.

Whether you are the stud owner or the dam owner, this guide walks you through every section of a contract, the most common mistakes to avoid, and a complete template you can copy and use today.

Why a Written Contract Is Non-Negotiable

Breeding involves money, animals, emotions, and time. When all of those are at stake, memory becomes unreliable and intentions get misinterpreted. Experienced breeders have seen it all:

The dam owner who remembered the stud fee was due after a confirmed pregnancy. The stud owner who believed that entitled them to a free rebred litter. The breeder who never received the stud service certificate because everyone thought the other person was handling it.

Every one of those situations had a fix: a clear contract signed before the breeding took place.

A good contract removes guesswork, preserves the relationship, and gives both parties something to reference if questions come up — weeks or even months later.

The 9 Sections Every Stud Contract Should Cover

1. Owner Information

List both parties clearly and completely. Full legal names, phone numbers, and email addresses for the stud owner and the dam owner. If either party is a kennel or LLC, include the business name as well.

Vague ownership details create problems when you need to follow up, send documents, or enforce any part of the agreement.

2. Dog Information

Include the full registered name, call name, breed, AKC or CKC registration number, and color for both the stud and the dam. If coat genetics are relevant to the pairing — as they often are with Cavapoos, French Bulldogs, or poodle crosses — add those details here as well.

This section also confirms that both parties have verified they are working with the correct dogs, which matters more than most people expect.

3. Stud Fee

This is where most disputes originate. Define every detail.

What the fee is. State the exact dollar amount, or describe the pick-of-litter arrangement precisely. If it is a flat fee, write the number. If it is pick of the litter, define what "pick" means — first choice, by gender preference, at what age.

When payment is due. Before breeding? At confirmed tie? After pregnancy confirmation? After whelping? Each option is legitimate, but the one you choose needs to be written down.

What is included. Does the fee cover a single breeding attempt? Multiple ties over a heat cycle? Shipped semen if the breeding is not local?

What additional costs exist. Shipping, veterinary fees, progesterone testing, AI procedures — agree in writing on who pays for what.

4. Breeding Method

Natural breeding and artificial insemination are both common. Specify which method is agreed upon, who arranges veterinary assistance if AI is used, and who bears the cost of any procedure. If the female is traveling to the stud, clarify who is responsible for her care during the visit and who covers veterinary costs that arise away from home.

5. Health Requirements

Both dogs should meet agreed-upon health standards before breeding. At minimum:

Both dogs are current on vaccinations and in good general health, with no known conditions that could be transmitted to the other or that would compromise the litter.

If your breed or program requires specific genetic testing — OFA hips, CAER eye exams, CDDY, IVDD panels, or any DNA health clearance — list those requirements here and specify that proof must be provided before the breeding date.

This section protects your breeding program. Do not skip it.

6. Pregnancy Guarantee and Rebreeding Policy

This is the most important section, and the most frequently misunderstood.

If the female does not become pregnant, what happens? Options include a free rebreeding at the next heat cycle, a partial refund, a full refund, or no guarantee at all. Any of these is acceptable — but only if both parties agreed to it in writing before the breeding.

If a rebreeding is offered, define the conditions. Same stud only? Within a specific timeframe? One additional attempt only? What happens if the stud is no longer available, has retired, or has passed away?

If no guarantee is offered, that is also a valid policy. State it clearly so there is no expectation of recourse.

7. Registration Papers and Documentation

The stud owner is typically responsible for providing a signed stud service certificate after the breeding takes place. Specify when that document will be delivered — typically after full payment is received.

Without the stud service certificate, the dam owner may not be able to register the litter with AKC, CKC, or another registry. This paperwork matters.

8. Puppy Terms (If Pick of the Litter)

If the stud fee is pick of the litter rather than a cash payment, this section needs to be thorough.

Define when the pick occurs — typically between 6 and 8 weeks. Clarify whether the stud owner picks first or second. Address what happens if the litter has only one surviving puppy, if all puppies are one gender when the stud owner wanted the other, or if there are no viable puppies at all.

Pick-of-litter arrangements are common and can work well. They require more detailed contract language than a flat fee arrangement.

9. Liability

Breeding involves living animals and outcomes are never fully predictable. The contract should state that both parties accept the inherent risks of the process, that neither party holds the other liable for accidental injury or illness that occurs despite reasonable care, and that the breeding is undertaken at each party's own risk.

This is standard protective language. Include it in every agreement.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Disputes

Verbal agreements only. Memory is imperfect and selective. A conversation is not a contract.

Missing rebreeding terms. The most common source of conflict in stud arrangements. If your contract does not address what happens when a breeding does not take, you will be figuring it out under pressure, after the fact, with a frustrated breeder on the other end of the phone.

Vague payment timing. "After the puppies are born" sounds reasonable until you are 8 weeks post-whelp still waiting on payment. Specify the date or the milestone.

No health verification. Requiring documentation before breeding protects both dogs and both programs. Skipping it saves time now and can cost significantly more later.

No signatures. A contract that is not signed by both parties is not a contract. Signatures confirm mutual agreement and create accountability.

How a Stud Contract Builds Your Reputation

Breeders who use written contracts send a clear signal: they are professional, organized, and serious about what they do.

If you list your stud on The Stud Dog, having a defined contract process ready before inquiries arrive gives potential dam owners real confidence. It tells them you have done this before, you have thought through the details, and you stand behind your program.

That reputation builds on itself. Breeders who are easy to work with and clear in their terms become the first call — not an afterthought.

Free Stud Dog Contract Template

Copy, fill in, and adapt this to your program. For high-value arrangements, legal review is recommended.

STUD DOG SERVICE AGREEMENT

This agreement is entered into on: ______________________

PART 1 — OWNER INFORMATION

Stud Owner Name: ______________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Email: _______________________________________

Dam Owner Name: ______________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Email: _______________________________________

PART 2 — DOG INFORMATION

Stud Dog Registered Name: ______________________ Call Name: ___________________________________ Breed: _______________________________________ Registration Number: ___________________________ Color / Coat Genetics: _________________________

Dam Registered Name: __________________________ Call Name: ___________________________________ Breed: _______________________________________ Registration Number: ___________________________ Color / Coat Genetics: _________________________

PART 3 — STUD FEE

Agreed stud fee: $ ____________________________

Payment is due: ☐ Before breeding ☐ At confirmed tie ☐ After pregnancy confirmation ☐ After whelping

Method of payment: ____________________________

Additional costs and who is responsible:

PART 4 — BREEDING METHOD

☐ Natural breeding ☐ Artificial insemination — ☐ Fresh ☐ Chilled ☐ Frozen

Responsible for veterinary costs: _______________

Notes: ________________________________________

PART 5 — HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Both parties confirm their dog is: ☐ Current on vaccinations ☐ In good general health ☐ Free of known communicable conditions

Required genetic clearances (list specific panels):

PART 6 — PREGNANCY GUARANTEE

If no pregnancy results from this breeding: ☐ One free rebreeding within ______ months ☐ Partial refund of $ _______________ ☐ Full refund ☐ No guarantee — fee is non-refundable

Rebreeding conditions: _________________________

PART 7 — REGISTRATION DOCUMENTATION

The stud owner agrees to provide a signed stud service certificate within ______ days of receipt of full payment.

PART 8 — PUPPY TERMS (pick of litter only)

☐ Not applicable — flat fee arrangement ☐ Pick of litter applies

Pick order: ☐ Stud owner selects first ☐ Dam owner selects first Selection occurs at: ______ weeks of age Gender preference: ____________________________

If no viable puppies result: ____________________

PART 9 — LIABILITY

Both parties acknowledge that dog breeding involves inherent risks and agree that neither party shall be held liable for accidental injury, illness, or unforeseen outcomes that occur despite reasonable care. This breeding is undertaken at each party's own risk.

SIGNATURES

Stud Owner Signature: ___________________________ Printed Name: _________________________________ Date: _________________________________________

Dam Owner Signature: ___________________________ Printed Name: _________________________________ Date: _________________________________________

This template is a starting point. Customize it to reflect your program, your policies, and the laws in your jurisdiction. Legal review is recommended for high-value arrangements.