On average, a German Shepherd stud fee can vary from between $250 and $1000. This significant range is proof that there are a variety of factors at play when determining the stud fee. To get a clearer idea of how much you should charge for your stud, you need to be aware of the following:
Main Factors Determining Stud Fee
Here are the top factors that will determine how much you can charge for your stud’s services:
Health of Dog
This is perhaps the most important factor – the health of your dog. Before being approved as a stud, your dog will have to undergo various tests to rule out common canine conditions and genetics.
At the same time, your stud will also have to prove that they don’t show any markers for breed-specific diseases. For German Shepherds, this is often hip and elbow dysplasia. Careful breeders may also want to check on markers for degenerative myelopathy, hemophilia, and more.
In general, the healthier that your dog is, the more desirable they are and the higher the fee can be.
Age of Dog
German Shepherds reach sexual maturity at two years of age. Despite this, some breeders may not want their dams to sire with a dog that has only recently reached sexual maturity. They may want to wait several months or even a year to guarantee success.
If your dog is older than two years but not over three or four, breeders may be willing to pay more for the stud fee.
Registrations and Certifications
If your stud has been registered with AKC or received a certification from an equally recognizable organization, their value automatically goes up.
As the AKC itself admits, the registration isn’t a mark of quality. It does provide potential breeders with some peace of mind, though. To begin with, the registration guarantees that your stud meets the ideal requirements for physical appearance for German Shepherds.
This is useful information for breeders who want to sell puppies to people involved in dog shows. Proving that the stud was a perfect physical representation of the breed can go a long way here.
Features like the Canine Good Behavior program can also give breeders a better idea of the temperament of the dog. In turn, they may be able to increase the likelihood of producing mild-tempered dogs.
In the end, this certification is helpful because it carries weight in the German Shepherd breeding industry. If your dog is registered, you can quote a higher price and have the breeders agree without too much hassle.
Good Family History
A good breeder isn’t just interested in the health of your stud. They also want to know about his parents’ health and perhaps even grandparents’. The further back a breeder can go, the better. This helps them to lower the risk of genetic conditions in future generations.
If you have this information for breeders and can show that your dog’s family has a long history of good health, this may allow you to bump up your stud fees.
Winner of Shows and Titles
Have you enrolled your studs in shows and contests?
Have they won or claimed favorable positions?
If so, this can work to increase how much you could charge for stud fees. This is especially true for breeders who want to produce show puppies.
Shows provide affirmation for your dog’s appearance, behavior, intelligence, athletic ability, and more. They can back up other documentation provided for your stud.
Previous Champion Puppies
Even if your dog hasn’t been in shows, you may want to do some research on how his puppies have fared. If your dog has produced one or more champion puppies, this can help to prove that your stud is capable of producing superior puppies.
Get confirmation from breeders or owners and use this as evidence.
Additional Factors Affecting Stud Fees
Here are some other elements that may increase or lower how much you charge for stud fees:
Other Stud Fees
Before setting your fees, you need to research how much other owners or breeders charge for their studs in the same region. This will give you a better idea of the upper and lower end of the fees.
It is important to consider other features of the studs before conforming to the stated fees. For instance, do they have the same pedigree as your dog?
Are they certified, provided the same level of health checks, etc.?
After all, it doesn’t make sense to charge the same as a stud that doesn’t have the same kind of credentials as your dog.
Pick of the Litter
In some instances, you may waive or lower your fee in exchange for the pick of the litter. This allows you to choose the strongest, friendliest, or best-looking puppy from the litter. You may choose this puppy to raise them for breeding or show purposes.
Percentage of Profits
You can also lower or waive your fees if you want a percentage of the profits. You will receive an agreed-upon percentage for each puppy that is sold. In many cases, this can be significantly higher than anything you receive as a stud fee.
This arrangement only works if the breeder agrees to it, however. Due to this, you will have to find one that is willing to work out such a contract.
Lack of Previous Experience
If this is the first time you’re using your dog as a stud, you may need to prove what your dog can do. This is why many novice stud owners will waive their fee for the first litter. You can get documentation of a successful litter as well as any champions produced.
This can be used to increase your dog’s stud fees on later occasions.
Boarding and Care Fees
In many instances, the dam is taken to the stud’s residence for mating. As such, the female dog can spend days or weeks in the care of the stud owner.
In some instances, owners will charge a boarding and care fee for the dam. This depends on the stud and dam owner. This fee may be included in the stud fee or one that is paid separately.
This should give you a better idea of how much you can charge for your German Shepherd stud fee. You can now calculate a cost that’s more suited to your stud, its health, and abilities.
