Thread: Pimping out Nikau

So I've kept Nikau whole for the reason if i wanted to keep his line going I'd have the chance to in the future, dependent on his nature and ability.
Well his nature is perfect for me and my family, no aggression and great with children. He's "forced" me to be more active as i got lazy/ busy with work, he's smart and easy to train. If anything i probably haven't hunted him enough as i would have liked to, but as he nears 2.5 years old and the hand full of trips we have done, he's improved i just need to do my job better.

We had a vet check up a couple weeks ago and he's a "specimen of a dog" i was told. Proud Dad moment. and I was asked if i was going to get him the snip, which i kindly told the vet of my plans dependent on his nature. The vet advised me that breeding dogs between 2.5 years and 4 years is prime time for Males.


My questions are, Who's pimped / studded out their male dog intentionally? What sort of negotiations are to be expected? What costs should I look to cover, if any? What should i expect in return?
I've heard of stories of getting the 1st pick of the litter. But I'm not ready for another dog, 1 is enough for my household at the moment.


Any advice is greatly appreciated. Picture of the gigolo i plan to pimp out eventually.

honestly likely just beers not a pedigree so yes what you can get if not taking a pup - unless he has a strong sheep/heading dog background i.e known working dog parents

Thanks Barry, That makes sense. Although he's my best mate and I think he's the bee's knees, at the end of the day his parents were just working dogs. Mother, tough on cattle. Father, good sheep dog. And i want him to be a hunting dog....

The blood lines of his parents are strong though, well the paper says they are. Mother is from A. Vaughan and ties back to L. Smith's, Ace. Father is from G. Young, and ties back to G. Dickie's, Tweed. Both national champs

He still has a natural instinct to have a very strong eye on anything, dogs, birds, rabbits, (deer, hopefully) and will tend to cast out naturally in open fields. All traits i have not worked on at all with him and know nothing about. I've just seen them on tv or read about them.

A photo of Ace i found online. Which i think is like looking into the future of what Nikau will end up aging like.

then he is worth some dollars - known pedigree as a heading dog -was a shepherd years ago but very out of touch on what you may charge

Nice looking dog there.

When I was breeding Rotties the going rate was either pick of the litter or the price of 1 pup. You need to do your homework on the bitch and the owner and don't assume they know what they are doing. A bad experience can either do your dog harm, or the bitch. Where the deed happens matters too and it is best to have them together for at least a couple of days when the bitch is hitting her peak receptive time. First time matings can mean either the bitch or dog can panic when they tie and the boy or bitch can be dragged around and injured ( possibly permanently) so someone needs to be with them to move in and stop any problems before they get out of control.

He looks a nice boy.

It's gotta be performance and pedigree for the best chance of good progeny. Breeding good dogs from good dogs is hard enough, let alone trying to do it when there are dodgy or non working backgrounds.

Projects, I wouldn't breed from him until he has proven himself as being very good/above average at what you have him for, and only mate him with bitches with similar traits and proven backgrounds.

I believe that there are far too many first cross/unproven matings going on.

p.s. A good example about pedigrees/breeding being important is the crossing of heading dogs with huntaways. These 2 breeds have been line bred for specialised excellence. No matter how good the parents are, the chances of getting a good handy pup with a balance of the parents traits (heading and driving) in a first cross is limited. Sometimes there is a handy pup in the litter, sometimes there is not. They are often sheep biters and hairbrained. There are exceptions, but that is the norm.

Good dogs to good dogs, and line bred for excellence.

Yeah it’s called line breeding if it works and in breeding if it doesn’t.

Thanks @Tahr Solid advice and made me realize i dont need to feel the need to rush into breeding him even though the vet has said he's got a couple "prime years" to be breeding in.