With four young kids, as well as various other pets, we are keeping our number of breeding dogs on the low side. I feel, with minimal dogs, it would be too easy to allow myself to be convinced that our own male would the right mate for our females, even if they don't actually balance each other perfectly. If you are looking outside your kennel you will have a wider selection- and since you are paying a stud fee, you are going to want to be totally sure that their male is the right match!