Studding.

[Sarah, Louie & Dougal]

So, we know there both two young yet, but they don't act it (humpin little buggers, espcially Louie!) 

Because of there gorgeous coats, unique colours and amazing personalities we was thinking of studding Louie & Dougal later on.

Does anyone know what age they have to be to be able to stud them? 

Also, the main reason is because we really want another puppy, but my mum said she will only get one if Louie & Dougal stud, and the puppy is extra cute (which it will be) and it'll be a fun, different experience as we've never studded a dog or anything before.

Thanks for your help :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don;t think Sarah understands what "genetic testing" is or what it entails. 

[Sarah, Louie & Dougal]

Karen, i think Sarah does understand what "genetic testing" is, im not stupid. So please stop trying to bully and be-little me :) Thanks again for NOT helping. By the way, you are extremely rude and be little somebody about something they just asked a question about, thinking you know all the facts.... Well done! :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The pedigree (or family tree as you call it) is not evidence of genetic health testing. But if your breeder did genetic health testing on the parents, there would be paperwork to that effect, showing what tests were done and the results. Hip score, elbow scores, PRA, and others depending on the breeds. And your breeder would be the person advising you on breeding. 

[Sarah, Louie & Dougal]

It can be called a family tree, you know what i ment so stop trying to belittle me!! So childish, and you've probably got about 20/30 years on me. Please grow up, i was only asking a simple question! 

[Julie and Max]

I thought most dogs come with spay and neuter contracts. Anyhow Karen has I am sure summed it all up.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

ALL dogs from reputable breeders have spay/neuter contracts or are desexed prior to leaving the breeder. 

[Judi Kilpatrick]

Karen, I know this is probably a whole different discussion and not part of Sarah's original question but since you mentioned desexing pups prior to leaving the breeder, are there concerns about desexing pups that young? I have always thought it was best to wait till they are at least 6 months old due to growth plate issues/hormones.. Again, sorry to stray from Sarah's original discussion..

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, there are concerns about it, Judi, and I personally would not buy a puppy from a breeder who does this. It has more to do with preserving "the lines" and preventing indiscriminate breeding than it does with what is best for the health of the puppies, IMO, but I would still rather see a breeder do ESN than allow any puppy to be bred to any other dog by anyone who feels like doing it, or to allow dogs to remain intact indefinitely. That's how the rescues and shelters stay busy. 

Doodle breeders don't have the option of withholding registration until they receive proof of spay/neuter, like the best purebred breeders do, and I guess some of them don't want to have to keep track of their puppies, follow through, and enforce a contract if necessary. The doodle breeders from whom I would consider buying a puppy are willing to do that, though.

[Judi Kilpatrick]

Thanks Karen, the breeder we originally considered getting our pups from required spay/neuter before leaving the breeder unless the pups were very small mini's which we weren't interested in anyway, the breeder would also not let us pick the sex of the pup. We wanted 2 males and could have had to wait up to 2 years to get them. Not only did we not want to wait until who knows when to get our males, it didn't sit well with us that they were desexed that young.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, that is a whole 'nuther discussion.  Good reason for waiting a few months before neutering, but still not an excuse for breeding your pet.  We didn't neuter our standard poodle until he was older and even thought about breeding him (he was a beautiful dog with great disposition) but decided there are plenty of good animals who need homes.  No reason to add to the pet population problems.

[Adina P]

Keep in mind that doing all the necessary health testing on your dogs gets costly. And the chances you'd find someone with a female that is ALSO tested (so you can be ethical in your breeding choices) that will be looking for a stud from a non-professional breeder is slim unless your breeder wants to use them and has enough unrelated females to use them on. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

It is my understanding that a male dog can start to have sperm at seven months old, but ten months is more common, and that young dogs do not have quality sperm. Most male dogs will have sperm by one year.  Stud dogs are at their prime between 18 months and 4 years old (or 5), after that, the quality of the sperm starts to lessen, and the ability to penetrate eggs, lessens.  I noticed in your profile that your doodle was born in March 2013, so it is very probably that he is able to reproduce.  I was told that it is best to have the male neutered at about 6 months as it is easier on them and the longer you wait to neuter, the more expensive it is.

I mean this in the kindest way, but I hope you think long and hard about using your two for studs - there are so many unwanted puppies in the world.