I want to stud my Mastiff, what are some things to know before doing this?

Question

He's updated on every shot and physical, AKC registered, good on everything I can think of...I just wanted to make sure all my bases were covered.

Answer 1

According to the Mastiff Club of America a potential stud should, at a minimum, be OFA cleared for both hip and elbow dysplasia, CERF certified and have a cardiologist examin his heart to rule out murmurs. (One of the posters above mentioned brucellosis and that pretty much is mandatory for any dog considered for breeding.) Additionally the MCOA strongly recommends a full MSU thyroid panel and a UPenn cystinuria clearance. Most of these health clearances can be done to dogs at 18 or 24 months and the dog should be recertified annually.

Answer 2

The first question to ask yourself is, “is there a reason to use him for breeding?”

Any dog can be healthy and many can be registered, but that doesn’t mean the dog should be bred. The American Kennel Club registry is simply to provide blood line records to assure people that an individual dog is of a specific breed and of blood lines within that breed exhibit definable attributes. However, that doesn’t mean that the dog represents the best attribute to which the dog belongs.

The American Kennel Club (and the United Kennel Club) have associated breed parent clubs which determine the desired traits o of dog. Through dog shows knowledgeable judges can determine if individual dogs are worthy of those breed attributes. Those dogs which are so determined (many of which become champions) are worthy of being bred to pass on their excellent traits to future generations.

Even these dogs go through special health checks. Each breed is likely susceptible to certain genetic medical problems many of which can be checked in advance. Dogs found to carry these genetic problems should not be bred. At the very least the results of such health checks should be made available to prospective owners of females considering breeding to your dog.

None of this has anything to do with your particular dog in the context of being a member of your family, it is only focused on breeding. Beginning in the early 1960s we became involved with Great Danes. We enter the many shows and studied the attributes of Great Danes before we ever considered breeding. Over the years we had many Great Dane family members which were great family members. Of those only a few were selected as being worthy of breeding even though most did well in the show ring.

Answer 3

Do you have a CERF certificate on your dog?
Do you have an OFA rating on your dog?
Has your dog earned any titles with AKC?
What other titles other than CH has your dog earned?
Why would I want to breed my CH female to your male? What qualities does he have that make him great?
Just becasue he has AKC papers does not make him breeding stock potential. I would want to see a finished championship title and possibley some sepcialed titles as well.

Answer 4

I would make sure to have a copy of your Mastiff's blood line.

Answer 5

CERFed eyes?? OFA hips?? Brucellosis test (before evrey breeding & require it of his mates too, very important if he catches it from one of his mates the state vet has to option of ordering him destroyed) Chamionship? gonna be hard to get mates without it if they can travel to a champian whos reputation will help place pups. Knowalage of what family lines nick with your boys lines?

Answer 6

ask a vetenarian.