Confused about who to buy a puppy from?

With so many breeders and so many puppies available for sale, it is often difficult to decide how reputable a breeder is. Here is a 'Ready Reckoner' showing the marked differences between breeders. Green - good, Amber - exercise caution (some are more responsible, others less so) & red - 'speaks for itself'!

We recommend that you purchase your puppy only from a reputable breeder. Before you commit to buying a cocker spaniel puppy, you should make an informed decision on whether you feel confident in purchasing the puppy. Do your homework, ask the right questions and ensure you are happy with the answers!

	GOOD BREEDERS:	OTHER BREEDERS:	POOR BREEDERS:
Puppy Availability	Occasionally have puppies available. Breed with the intention of retaining a puppy for themselves	Often have puppies available. Breed primarily to sell puppies, will occasionally retain a puppy	Always have puppies available. Breeds only to sell puppies i.e. earn a living
Price	Charges the 'going rate'. Breeds not to make a profit, lucky to 'break even' on litter expenses. Generally sells male & female pup & all coat colour combinations at the same price	Varies, some charge more than the 'going rate', others less. Puppies priced to make a profit. Often sells bitches & 'popular' coat colours for more	Varies, some sell cheaply due to 'mass production'. Others charge more than 'going rate' due to puppy coat colour. Often sells males & females at different prices
Advertising	Doesn't advertise, relies on 'word of mouth', breed club referrals & personal recommendations	Advertises in local newspapers/on-line puppy directories	Always advertises, usually in the 'Trader'/'Exchange & Mart' and similar weekly papers & some on-line puppy directories
Web Sites	May have a website. There will be plenty of photos of their dogs, including background information about their dogs, the dog's pedigrees & their Kennel Club name (not just 'pet' name). There will be information on their health test results etc. In addition to this, their sites will offer advice about the breed & will usually demonstrate their commitment to their own dogs & the breed in general. Reputable breeder's websites are not about selling puppies	Quite often, have websites. Usually fairly 'home-made' looking. The main content of the website is about litters available, most of the photos on the website are of available puppies for sale. Few photos of their own dogs & dogs are often listed by their ‘pet’ names	Don't normally have websites. Some may, content is primarily puppies with puppy's available together with photos, very little other information provided, distinctly lacking in photos of dogs & their surroundings
Waiting Lists	Always have a waiting list	Rarely have a waiting list	Does not have a waiting list
Deposits	Some will take a deposit prior to sale on the proviso that it is a fully refundable deposit if either breeder or would-be owner decide not to proceed	Usually take non-refundable deposits, adverts often state "deposit secures"	Always insist on a deposit, deposits are non-refundable. Sales adverts usually state "deposit secures"
No. Breeds Available	1 - 3 (average number, depends on how many they own for show/working etc.)	1 - 2 (normally only one breed i.e. their own 'pet' dogs)	Several (especially of the 'popular' breeds)
Age Of Puppy At Sale	Will not sell a puppy before it is 8 weeks old, perhaps longer for smaller breeds	Varies, some will sell puppies at 6 - 8 weeks old	Usually try to sell puppies before they are 6 weeks old - saves money on keeping them longer. Some may sell to pet shops as young as 4 weeks old
Puppy Registration	Will NOT register their litters with an alternative registry, when registering puppies only uses the Kennel Club. Will provide the documents at the time of sale. Will normally place 'endorsements' on puppies registrations	Register puppies with either the KC or an alternative registry. May charge extra for a registered puppy. May have documents available at time of sale or may verbally confirm they will be forwarded. Rarely places 'endorsements' on puppy registrations	Uses alternative registries - not the KC, although minority still use the KC. May charge extra for a registered puppy. May have documents available at time of sale or may verbally confirm they will be forwarded - often they do not arrive. Never places 'endorsements' on puppy registrations
Pedigree Information	Will explain pedigrees to would-be owners & will know and have met many of the ancestors in the pedigree. Will choose breeding partners based on compatibility (including health/temperament). Sometimes they will use their own stud (if compatible) otherwise they will travel to a suitable stud	Will provide you with a pedigree but won't have met or known the ancestors in the pedigree (therefore won't know their attributes, faults or temperaments). Will use locally available stud dogs or their own stud dog (for every litter)	May not provide a pedigree or possibly only a basic pedigree. Will have no experience in the breed(s), won't have met the dogs in the pedigree (save for those they bred). Frequently combine working & show strains together, especially if it helps produce 'recessive' coat colours. Will keep their own stud dog(s) & not travel to use outside studs
Breed Standard	Fully aware of the Breed Standard. Breeds to the 'Breed Standard'. Exhibits their dogs to seek confirmation of quality, is able to apply the 'Standard' to their dogs physical traits & breeds to the betterment of the breed as a whole. Breeds quality breed 'typical' puppies. Doesn't specifically breed for coat colour, health, temperament & good conformation come first.	Is not aware of the Breed Standard or maybe aware but unable to interpret the 'Standard'. Does not exhibit their dogs & is unaware of each of their dogs 'faults'. Mothers are often 'pet quality'. Puppies may look like poor examples of the breed when fully grown. Often breed to produce the coat colours most in demand	Unaware of the Breed Standard. Breeding two of the same breed (often poor examples of the breed) to produce pedigree puppies. Puppies often look thin & usually look like poor examples of the breed when fully grown. Generally breed to produce the coat colours most in demand at the time.
Breed Traits	Fully understands the characteristics of the breed including temperament/behaviour/activity levels/sociability/size	Some understanding of the breed based on their own ownership experiences	No interest in the breed(s) - puppies are only saleable commodities
Mother's Welfare	Only breeds from a fit & healthy mother. Does not have excessive litters from one bitch, breeds at suitable breeding ages (breed type dependent), allows appropriate intervals between litters. Retires bitches from 'maternal duties' if difficulties encountered or if bitch becomes unfit for breeding (her health takes precedence over all matters)	Generally breeds from appropriately aged bitches, may have 5 - 6 litters per bitch. Often not aware of what a 'fit & healthy' mother should be. Does not have the experience/knowledge to know when to retire a bitch. May have multiple litters from overweight/unfit/poor condition bitches because they are not aware of optimum breeding parameters	Breeds from bitches at young ages, has six or more litters from one bitch, may have short intervals between litters (unless licensed). Either breeds for the fertile life of a bitch or may discard her if she proves costly to keep in pup or only produces small litters. Not concerned with a mother's welfare, only concerned with her puppy producing ability
Health	Fully aware of all canine health related issues. Will be knowledgeable about health issues & provide sound advice to would-be owners. Breeds from healthy dogs that have been fully health tested. Does not charge more for pups from health tested parents because parents are health tested.	Unaware or partially aware of canine health. Potentially convinced that their own dogs appear healthy, therefore their puppies will be healthy. If questioned will tell buyers that their dogs are healthy & they don't test because they know they are healthy so no need to test. If they do health test, puppy prices will often be inflated to cover the cost of testing.	Unaware about & disinterested in canine health, if questioned will tell buyers that their dogs are healthy & they don't test because they know they are healthy so no need to test. Health screening is expensive! Any that do health test will inflate the price of their pups to cover the cost of testing!
Health Screening	Fully aware of all possible hereditary conditions, actively screens all breeding animals using EVERY recommended health testing scheme	Unaware or partially aware of genetic health. Undertake little or no screening of breeding partners. If screening, often only basic KC/BVA Eye Testing done	Unaware of & disinterested in genetic health. Doesn't screen breeding animals. Health testing costs money!
Worming & Vaccination Info.	Will regularly worm puppies (& their mother) & will provide owners with records of worming/vaccinations undertaken & give written advice about future treatments	Usually worm puppies, & will usually tell owners what is required	Unlikely to worm puppies or their mother regularly or to provide advice on vaccination/worming
Vet Exam & Micro-Chipping/Tattoo	Will always have their puppies thoroughly examined by their vet before sale. Will usually micro-chip/tattoo puppies before sale at no cost to the new owner. Will never sell less than 100% healthy puppies unless any issues are fully explained to the would-be owner	Occasionally have their puppies examined but not always. Don't usually chip/tattoo, many that do will charge extra. May sell puppies with health issues without explaining the issues to potential owners	No vet exams or permanent identification provided. Often sell puppies in less than 100% good health
Diet	Will provide puppies with a quality & suitable diet, give a comprehensive diet sheet & a supply of food to new owners	Usually provide puppies with a suitable diet. Will provide owners with a basic diet sheet & a small sample of food	Usually feeds puppies a cheap diet which is not always appropriate for a growing puppy. Will not normally provide a diet sheet or food sample
Care Advice	Will provide owners with comprehensive care advice for their puppy based on their years of experience as dog owners/breeders. Most will also provide 'puppy packs' with toys, treats & extra food etc.	Usually provides little or no information, any information, if given, is basic	Provides no information & certainly no costly 'puppy packs'
Contract of Sale	Uses a Contract of Sale setting out the breeder's obligations to the puppy/dog & their owners, guarantees regarding health etc & the owners obligations to the dog i.e. to care for him well, contact the breeder if any problems or he needs a new home etc.	Occasionally uses a Contract of Sale (usually basic with no clear commitment from the breeder)	Very unlikely to use a Contract of Sale, very unlikely to provide any documentation
Vetting	Always 'vets' new owners lifestyles & commitments to ensure suitability & compatibility with a puppy	Some 'vetting' undertaken, however due to their own relative inexperience 'vetting' may be inadequate	Not interested in the new owners circumstances. A sale is all that is required
Meeting Owners	Will always insist owners visit prior to any sale arrangements being formalised. Likes to meet all the prospective owners' immediate family & will discuss the pros & cons of ownership, puppy/ dog care & other important information. Will not sell puppies as presents/surprises & rarely sells two pups from a litter to one owner (certainly not without a great deal of discussion to establish owners experience with dogs)	Usually ask owners to visit before puppy collection but not always. Often do not need to meet all the family. Will generally sell pups as presents/surprises. May sell two pups from the same litter to the same home without advice to owners about managing two pups	Will not want owners to visit before puppy collection. Any type of sale will do! May attempt to persuade buyers to purchase more than one puppy as 'company' for each other
Visiting Puppies	Will encourage you to visit & will introduce you to the pup's mother, the litter & possibly other relatives	Will usually let you meet the pup's mother either before or at collection. May offer to deliver the puppy	Doesn't want visitors, would rather only meet you at time of sale. Doesn't usually let you meet the puppy's mother or see the entire litter, will bring out a puppy. May offer to deliver the puppy or meet at a neutral location
Socialisation	Puppies will have toys, be socialised & played with, have access to the garden (for play), be comfortable with being handled & used to hearing all normal household sights & sounds. House training will be started (not completed as it's a on-going process)	Normally socialised around a breeder's lifestyle. Usually no special provisions made specifically with socialisation in mind, level of socialisation varies depending on a breeders family circumstances	No socialisation undertaken & no socialisation opportunities. Puppies are usually unfamiliar with normal household activities. Often rarely handled or played with. May never leave the kennel & potentially difficult to train, socialise & house train
Puppies Living Conditions	Will provide clean, warm & suitable conditions & reared in a home environment (either in the home or 'home' like kennel environment)	Will normally provide an adequate living environment for their puppies. Usually reared in the home	Puppies normally reared in kennels, often with little regard to cleanliness/warmth & usually not handled & socialised or stimulated by toys/exercise
Breeder's Dogs Living Conditions	Either in the home or appropriate kennels. All facilities will be of good standards & clean/hygienic. Facilities will be appropriate to the number of dogs kept, their breed etc. & will provide excellent opportunity for comfort, exercise, socialisation & stimulation exceeds the Minimum standards listed here.	Usually in the home, often with no special provisions made for the number of dogs kept. Many breeders will be breeding from 'pet' dogs & the 'set-up' may be acceptable but haphazard & basic	Usually in kennels, often very basic kennels where standards of cleanliness/hygiene & overall facilities are poor. Little regard to canine health/comfort, welfare & natural canine behaviours
After Sale Support	Will offer advice & practical support for the life of the puppy/dog	May provide some advice/support depending on their own levels of experience	Will not provide any advice/support after the sale. Disinterested in the owner & the puppy once sold
Re-Homing Puppies	Will insist owners keep in touch & also insist that owners must contact them if they are no longer able to keep the puppy/dog. Upon resuming ownership of a dog, most will offer a refund of the purchase price (amount based on age at time of return)	Occasionally offer to resume ownership of a puppy/dog. No refunds usually given. Not always in a position to resume ownership	Will not take a puppy/dog back unless they think it's to their advantage, however no refunds given
Pet Insurance	Will provide the puppy with a period of free pet insurance & will recommend insurance is applicable to the puppy/dog for the duration of its life	May provide insurance cover, unlikely to explain the benefits of continuous pet insurance. May charge extra for a puppy with insurance	Unlikely to provide any free insurance
Canine Hobbies	Involved in one or more canine hobbies (exhibiting/working trials etc.) Breeds to maintain their own quality line, for the betterment of the breed & for show/working reasons	Not normally involved in any canine hobbies. Owns 'pet' dogs & breeds for financial/leisure reasons	Not involved in any canine hobbies. Owns & breeds dogs for a living
Breed Club Membership	Active member of one (usually several) breed clubs. Is known within the breed	Not a member or occasionally a member of the parent club. Is not known within the breed	Not members, unlikely to be accepted as members