Hey {{first_name}} , it's Gerald.
Just wrapped up a live conversation with Joanne from Safe Semen Shipping that completely changed how I'm shipping semen moving forward.
French Bulldog breeders have been using this system for years, and I'm late to the party.
What to Expect in This Issue
Why your $40 shipping boxes are killing motility rates (and the $28 solution that actually works)
The American Airlines cargo secret: How to ship semen for $62 same day delivery anywhere in the U.S.
The tuna trick that gets my studs to 1.2 billion count consistently before extraction
Extender ratios decoded: What actually works vs what the label tells you to do
Chem board vs cardboard: Why material science matters when you're shipping $5,000+ breedings
Reading time: 6 minutes
THE $50,000 PROBLEM EVERY STUD OWNER FACES
I've been breeding for 16 years. I've shipped semen hundreds of times. And my Achilles heel has always been the same thing: getting it there alive.
Here's what happens. I use the repro clinic. They do everything right. Count looks good. Motility is 90%. Extenders mixed properly. Package it up. FedEx tracking shows it moving. I'm feeling confident.
Then it arrives: 90% motility drops to 48%. One vial completely dead. The other half alive.
And here's the real problem—nobody knows whose fault it is. Was it the clinic? Was it FedEx? Was it the packaging? Was it temperature fluctuation during transit?
Last week I sat down with Joanne from Safe Semen Shipping. She breeds French Bulldogs in Dallas. Ships 5 to 7 studs per day. And she figured out what most of us are doing wrong.
It's the packaging. Specifically, it's three things: box size, foam density, and temperature control.
She spent 9 months and thousands of dollars developing a solution. When she told me the price, I didn't believe her.
"The high density foam has no air pockets. That means consistent temperature control for three full days."
THE BREAKDOWN: WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT
Standard Shipping Boxes (What Most People Use):
Cost: $42 to $60 per box
Weight: 4 to 5 pounds (drives up shipping costs)
Dimensions: Large and bulky
Material: Standard cardboard (lets temperature fluctuate)
Foam: Low density styrofoam with air pockets (poor insulation)
Safe Semen Shipping Boxes:
Cost: $28 per box (when you buy 10)
Weight: 3 pounds
Dimensions: 12" x 10" x 8" (compact equals cheaper shipping)
Material: Chem board (clay coated, moisture resistant, limits breathability)
Foam: High density (maintains temperature for 72 hours)
The difference? Chem board is not regular cardboard. It has a clay coating that seals the box and prevents temperature changes from getting inside. When it's hot outside, heat doesn't penetrate. When it's cold, cold air doesn't get in.
The high density foam has no air pockets. That means consistent temperature control for three full days.
Joanne's boxes keep motility stable because the temperature stays consistent. No spikes. No drops. Just steady cold for 3 days.
THE AMERICAN AIRLINES HACK NOBODY USES
Here's where it gets interesting.
Most of us ship FedEx overnight. It costs $150 to $200 depending on distance. And if someone calls you on a Saturday asking for semen, you're stuck. FedEx doesn't deliver on Sundays in most areas.
But American Airlines cargo? $62. Same day delivery. Anywhere in the U.S.
Here's how it works:
Set up a cargo account with American Airlines. Google it. Takes about a week. They run a background check to make sure you're not shipping drugs. Once approved, you're good to go.
Check flight schedules online. Say someone calls at 12:30pm asking for semen. You know it takes 30 minutes to collect and package. That puts you at 1:00pm. You need to be at the airport an hour before the flight. So you look for flights departing after 4:00pm.
Book it under your account. You pick the flight. Your client picks it up at cargo when it lands. If it's a 4:30pm flight landing at 5:30pm their time, they're getting semen that's hours old.
Drop it at the cargo area at the airport. Not the front desk. Separate building for cargo. Pay $62 at the counter. Done.
Why this matters: Your clients get fresher semen. You pay less. And you can ship on Saturdays when FedEx won't deliver until Monday.
If you use outside studs yourself, you can set up the shipment under your account. The other breeder drops it off at their airport, pays the $62, and you receive it same day.
This is how French Bulldog breeders have been operating for years. It's time the rest of us catch up.
“15 minutes before extraction, give your stud a pack of StarKist tuna packed in water”
THE TUNA TRICK THAT INCREASES SPERM COUNT
SoCal Clinic in Riverside taught me this one. 15 minutes before extraction, give your stud a pack of StarKist tuna packed in water.
I don't know what it is about tuna. But I can tell you this: I have not missed when it comes to motility, volume, and count since I started doing this.
I've been hitting 1.2 billion when she does the calculations. Motility has been 80% and higher consistently.
Is it the omega 3s? Is it the protein? I don't know. But it works.
I also use Oxy Studs chewables 2 to 4 days before extraction. But the tuna on the day of collection is what makes the difference.
EXTENDER RATIOS: WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS
The label says 3:1 extender to semen ratio. Joanne does 1:1 (also called 2:1 depending how you count it). If she has 5ml of semen, she adds 5ml of extender to make 10ml total.
Why? Because everyone using her semen is using it within 24 hours. For overnight or same day shipping, 1:1 ratio works perfectly.
If you're shipping international or holding semen for multiple days, then you'd go to a true 3:1 ratio with a longer lasting extender like Canine Plus.
Extender recommendations: Dr. Kenny Skim Milk K9 semen extender without antibiotics. Joanne uses the small bottles from Revival Animal Health (46ml). Costs about $8 per bottle.
Why small bottles? Because she uses it once and throws it away. No refrigerating. No reusing. Fresh every time.
Temperature matters: Warm your extender to body temperature before mixing. Joanne uses a Dixie cup with hot water. Drops the extender bottle in while collecting the stud. By the time collection is done, the extender is body temperature.
Never shock the semen by mixing cold extender with warm semen. That kills motility.
WHERE TO GET THESE BOXES
I'm now carrying Safe Semen Shipping boxes on my website. Minimum order is 10 boxes. $280 shipped via FedEx ground anywhere in the lower 48 states. That's $28 per box including shipping.
Compare that to $42 to $60 per box on Amazon for inferior packaging that weighs more and ships at higher cost.
If you need them same day, Joanne can send them via American Airlines cargo directly to you.
To order directly: Text Robert at 214-668-6115.
To order from my site: CLICK HERE “EuropeanDobermanStud.com.
This is a game changer for stud service providers. Better packaging. Lower shipping costs. Higher motility rates when it arrives.
LITTER ANNOUNCEMENT!
My stud Cisco has a HOT working litter dropping soon!
LITTER H - CISCO X DRAMA QUEEN
Litter H: Working-line litter scheduled for early 2026.
Full health clearances, excellent structure, proven temperaments.
Both parents titled and in IGP preparation.
Limited placements to vetted homes only.
Serious inquiries: @lottabelleskennel
My Take
I've seen every variation of this scam. The fake titles are just the latest version of selling dreams without receipts.
We gotta do better as a community. Stop letting people get robbed. Stop protecting scammers because "that's not our business."
It IS our business when it hurts the breed and costs good people their savings.
Ask for the videos. Demand the proof. And if they won't show you process, that tells you everything you need to know.
Until next time,
Interested in Mentorship?
Want to build your kennel the right way from day one?
I'm launching a Mentorship Program for breeders—whether you're starting from scratch or scaling an existing operation. Monthly, quarterly, and yearly options available. Affordable. Opening early sign-ups. Can only take on a limited amount.
Interested? Get more info “HERE”.
How did you like this week's newsletter? 🐕 Loved it! 👍 Good 💢 Needs work