Dog breeding guides by breed and topic

Guides for Breeders

Plain-language dog breeding guides from VerifiedStuds: what stud service costs, which health tests matter, how artificial insemination works and how booking a stud works here.

Two Labrador puppies, for a guide to dog stud fees

Dog breeding guides: fees, booking and AI

Stud fee guide: typical fees by breed, pick of the litter, return services and contract terms.

How VerifiedStuds works: how to search, message, book and pay, and what each badge means.

Canine artificial insemination guide: fresh, chilled and frozen semen, progesterone timing and AKC rules.

Dog stud service FAQ: quick answers that also link to each full guide.

Health testing guides

French Bulldog health testing

English Bulldog health testing

Golden Retriever health clearances

Labrador Retriever health testing

All breed health testing guides: 24 breeds, plus brucellosis.

For other breeds, follow the list your parent club recommends, and then check registered results on the OFA website.

Dog breeding guides for stud owners

List Your Stud: what you need, what it costs and the Founding Stud offer.

Build my listing: send us your documents, and we build the listing for you.

How to stud your dog: requirements, proof, pricing and getting him seen.

What makes a good stud dog: the seven qualities breeders check.

Stud dog care and breeding frequency

How often can a stud dog breed?: every-other-day breeding, daily use and what the research shows.

Stud dog rest between breedings: typical rest gaps, and why a very long break can hurt too.

Stud dog age limits: when to start, AKC age rules, peak years and retirement.

Signs of stud dog overuse: missed litters, falling counts and the popular sire problem.

Stud dog sperm quality: normal semen values and what raises or lowers them.

Heat, mating and timing guides

Dog heat cycle: the four stages, the signs of each and a free heat calculator.

Progesterone testing for dogs: what the numbers mean and which days to breed.

When to breed a dog in heat: why days 9 to 14 often miss, and how vets find ovulation.

How do dogs mate?: the tie, slip matings and stud visit etiquette.

How to find a stud dog: where to look, what to check and red flags.

Breeding a dog for the first time: a step-by-step checklist with costs.

Dog pregnancy and whelping guides

Dog pregnancy calculator: her due date and the key vet dates.

How long are dogs pregnant?: the nine weeks, week by week.

Signs a dog is pregnant: early, middle and late signs.

Dog pregnancy tests: relaxin, ultrasound, palpation and x-ray compared.

Whelping guide: labor signs, the three stages and when to call the vet.

How many puppies can a dog have?: average litter size and what changes it.

Color and genetics guides

French Bulldog color genetics: each locus explained, with the merle warning.

Stud fees, contracts and paperwork

Questions to ask a stud dog owner: health, fertility, money and contract questions in order.

Stud dog contract: what each clause should cover.

Pick of the litter explained: when a puppy replaces the fee, and how to write it down.

How much to charge for stud service: the one-puppy rule and what moves the price.

Full vs limited AKC registration: why a stud needs full papers.

How to register a litter with AKC: steps, fees and signatures.

AKC DNA profile for stud dogs: the Frequently Used Sires rule and shipped semen.

Do you need a license to breed dogs?: federal, state and local rules in outline.

Planning a litter

Dog breeding for beginners: the whole journey, with a guide for each step.

How old should a dog be to breed?: AKC limits and what clubs advise.

How much does it cost to breed a dog?: a line-by-line budget.

How many litters can a dog have?: limits, rest and retirement.

Coefficient of inbreeding explained: what COI means and how to use it.

False pregnancy in dogs: signs, timing and when to see the vet.

Dog breeding terms glossary: the words breeders use, from AI to whelp.

Ready to find a stud? Start with your breed.

Or list your own stud free while the 100 Founding Stud spots are open.