14.02.25
This Valentine’s Day, Naturewatch Foundation launches its new report, ‘Forgotten Dogs’, which shines a light on the welfare of male dogs used for breeding, often referred to as stud dogs.
When considering welfare issues affecting dogs used for breeding, we understandably think about the mother and her puppies – about the over-exploitation of female dogs and the poor start to life that thousands of puppies experience. Often, people think far less about the welfare of the ‘stud’ dogs involved, and yet they can be just as much of a victim within the dog breeding industry.
Unlike a female dog used for breeding, who can only lawfully be bred six times in her life, there are no legal limits to how many litters a stud dog can sire. This can make stud dogs a lucrative stream of income, appealing to dog owners with very little knowledge of the animal welfare implications of breeding, putting them at significant risk of exploitation.
Concerning results found amongst stud dog adverts
Naturewatch Foundation monitored the main pet marketplaces where stud dogs are advertised at the end of 2024 and our findings have been concerning. Between 29th of November and the 20th of December 2024, there were on average 4,867 listings for stud dogs available for hire for breeding on the UK’s largest pet marketplace, Pets4Homes. Amongst these were adverts for dogs with extreme unnatural features, juvenile dogs under 12-months being advertised for breeding, and ‘package deals’ being offered by canine fertility clinics, which include artificial insemination and ultrasound scans – potentially to be carried out by laypeople.
Welfare concerns
The welfare of stud dogs can be significantly impacted by factors such as housing, nutrition, exercise, socialisation, and veterinary care. Poor management in these areas can lead to serious welfare risks. Stud dogs kept in breeding kennels, or in connection with canine fertility clinics, can experience psychological stress from isolation, restricted space, noise, and sensory overload.
Transportation and stud dog welfare
Transportation to clinics or mating sites can also further increase stress. Assisted reproductive techniques can remove the need to travel as far; however, it is vital that these procedures are carried out by registered veterinary professionals. Incorrect semen collection techniques by untrained individuals can pose risks such as injury, psychological trauma, and the spread of infections. All forms of canine artificial insemination constitute an act of veterinary surgery and should only be performed by registered veterinary professionals, as confirmed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2023, following campaigning by Naturewatch Foundation.
Effects of the welfare of puppies
The health and welfare of stud dogs also has a direct impact on the health of the puppies they sire, and so to produce healthy offspring, it is crucial that the dog has good health, welfare and temperament. Some of the dogs we saw included on pet marketplaces had particularly poor physical features, with exaggerated skin folds, thin nasal passages and sloped backs. Listings for brachycephalic breeds appear to be the most expensive, with some stud dog owners charging £3,000 a time. There were also a number of listings that had limited information on what health checks had been done, if any at all. Sadly, breeders paying for these services are at significant risk of passing on these unhealthy traits to the puppies they then hope to profit from.
At Naturewatch Foundation, we always try to find out more about the animals directly affected by the welfare issues we campaign on. This time, we spoke to our friends at Hope Rescue in Wales, about some of the ex-breeding male dogs that they have had in their care. They shared the stories of Eddie and Toby, two dogs who had been used for breeding.
Case study: Eddie
Eddie (pictured above) arrived at Hope Rescue as a stray. However, the charity was informed by members of the public that until then he had been used as a stud dog. Eddie suffers from a chronic skin condition, for which he will need to be medicated for life. He was itchy and uncomfortable when he was first taken in, as he clearly had not been receiving adequate treatment.
Sadly, it is also very likely that this skin condition would have been passed onto his puppies. Happily, Eddie’s health and welfare has improved significantly since he’s been receiving loving care from Hope Rescue, and he’s now searching for his forever home.
Case study: Toby
Toby spent the first 6 to 7 years of his life as a stud dog and had no experience of life outside of his kennel walls. Sadly, he was one of the most withdrawn dogs that Hope Rescue had ever seen. When he was placed into foster care, he would panic, run and hide from his foster carers, too frightened to be near people and interact with them.
Toby was moved to another foster home, with a trained dog behaviourist, where he remains to this day. Toby has needed extensive care and work to help him build up his confidence, but he will always need to keep his world small.
Toby is also medicated for the seizures that he suffers from, meaning that many of the puppies he fathered could be suffering from the same health issues.
It is important that we work to recognise and protect all dogs affected by the breeding industry, including stud dogs like Eddie and Toby. Our new report, ‘Forgotten Dogs’, has been sent directly to DEFRA and Welsh Government ministers and will be arriving on their desks today, as we continue to campaign for reforms to dog breeding regulation in England and Wales to better protect all dogs and puppies from exploitation.
Read the report here
All photos provided by Hope Rescue.
