Not only are the reasons listed above valid, but also consider this: A collected, frozen, and stored stud dog does not: * Bark * Need fed * Poop * Fight with other stud dogs in the storage container * Require expensive housing other than the yearly storage fee * Need exercised * Die- unless something totally disastrous happens with the storage facility. Stored semen can last virtually "forever" as long as it stays frozen. What it can do: * Be on hand whenever the bitch is ready to breed * Can be shipped worldwide * Can be thawed for health testing as tests become available * Can save lines/breeds from near extinction * Save you and your bitch the stress of travel for breeding * Can help prevent the spread of canine STD's * Prevents injury to the stud and bitch Considerations to be made when you decide to have your stud dog collected and frozen: * Age. The best age to have your boy collected is right after health clearances have be done/passed at the age of 2yrs and until age 6-7 if used regularly, to age 5-6 if used very sparingly. * Use a reputable reproductive veterinarian who not only can collect your stud, but also evaluate the semen, test for any STD's or issues prior to collecting, having storage capabilities long and short term as necessary, and has a great track record of success with surgical A.I. and TCI procedures using frozen semen. * Have a teaser bitch in standing heat available for the best collections, not only in quantity but also quality. The higher quality/quantity allows for more breedings per collection which means more litters that can be bred. * Make sure to have your dog "cleaned out" 2 weeks prior to collection. That sample can be used as a "test batch" to make sure the correct stabilizing agent is used, and also to test for any prostate issues, infections, virility/sperm count, and the frozen test batch can be saved for use for sending in for future health tests. Cleaning out a stud dog also gets them used to be "handled" which makes for the job to be less stressful for you and the dog. * Make sure that you have had your dog DNA profiled with AKC prior to collection- this takes up to 4 months, sometimes longer with AKC so get it done sooner than later. Good luck!!!
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