Male Yorkie-Breeding

Question
I have a 18 month old 4lb yorkie, his markings are black/tan. He was the pick of the first litter the parent's ever had. This is his first time to be breed. How much should I charge to breed him?

Answer
Danielle,

That is going to depend on the market for stud service where you live.  Think of it like you would pricing a house.  A three bedroom house in a major city is going to cost more than the same house in a small town or in a different region of the country.  It is usually based on what the market will bare.  It will also depend on how many studs are in the area.  If yours is the only one then you could charge a lot more than if yours was one of many.

His size is also a factor.  The ideal weight combination for breeding is a 2.5 to 3 pound male to a 5 to 6 pound female.  That combination will produce small puppies.  Since most people want small yorkies, most breeders want a small male to stud with their females.

Because yours is four pounds you will probably not be able to get as much for breeding as a smaller male.  You also have to consider that most breeders require that if you charge a stud fee and the breeding is unsuccessful you have to give the money back or guarantee another breeding.  

In my opinion it is a better idea to take pick of the litter and then sell the puppy.  You will make more money because the stud fee is usually less than the price of a puppy.  This is also better for the breeder because they don't have to put any up front money out.  Of course all breeders are different and you may come across one who will only agree to pay a stud fee and does not want to give pick of the litter.

The best thing you can do is get a local newspaper and do some research.  Look up stud services and see what they are charging.  If you live in a small town then get a newspaper from the nearest big city.  Keep in mind that the person who will use your male as a stud will have to be within driving distance of where you live.  You can also call some breeders and ask what they charge for stud service.  If you get several figures it will give you a better idea of what you can charge.

I am sorry I could not give you a figure but I hope you understand why.