Indicators Of A Reputable Breeder |
Indicators Of A Less Reputable Breeder |
How To Find A Reputable Breeder |
KC Registration - What Does It Mean? |
Many would-be puppy owners choose a cocker spaniel breeder based on the price of the breeders puppies. Indeed, many people believe a "puppy is a puppy" or perhaps “they only want a pet” & therefore higher priced pups cost more because their breeder's are greedy.
Reputable breeders do not attempt to make a profit on breeding; the cost of their pups reflects their quality, health & high rearing standards.
Rearing puppies to high standards costs more than those reared to less exacting standards & naturally, this increased cost will be reflected in the price of a puppy. Generally speaking, when buying a puppy from a reputable breeder, the maxim of "you get what you pay for" still applies.
The cost of cocker spaniel puppies does vary, (currently the cost from a reputable & knowledgeable breeder is approximately £750.00 - £900). Price variations are generally regional. In certain parts of the country, veterinary bills & general expenses are less than in others and therefore the price of puppies reflect these external factors. The cost of puppies from 'backyard' breeders & breeders having 'one off' litters ranges from around £450 - £1000 as their puppies are priced either to sell quickly or to make a good profit.
It is a fact that the average cost (to the reputable breeder) to rear a puppy correctly generally amounts to the pup's sale price or indeed more - there is no profit to be made by puppy sales when a breeder raises a litter correctly & with no expense spared!
The purchase price of a puppy should NOT be a priority when choosing a breeder or puppy & therefore should not be the main deciding factor; however, price is often used as a "benchmark" with people frequently choosing to save a money by purchasing a less expensive puppy.
Clearly, if your budget is tight the cost of a puppy will be important. However it might be prudent for would-be owners to hold back from buying a puppy until they have saved a little more towards the cost of a quality, well reared puppy from a good breeder rather then purchase a cheaper puppy. Would-be owners should also consider the day-to-day costs of keeping a dog, for a guide to this visit our Cost of Dog Ownership page.
When deciding to buy a puppy, would-be buyers should look at ALL aspects of their purchase rather than choose on price alone: -
- are the puppy's parents fully health screened for hereditary diseases?
- are the parents healthy, sociable and friendly?
- has the breeder cared for the pups well?
- is the puppy's living environment clean & stimulating?
- are the pups healthy, socialised and happy?
- are the puppies & mother receiving a good quality & appropriate diet?
- are the pups wormed regularly & vet checked prior to leaving for their new homes?
- does the breeder have a good reputation?
- will the breeder support the buyer for the lifetime of the dog?
There is also the emotional aspect to consider. Once you have your pup home with you he should become part of your family, if he has behavioural problems, or if he becomes ill or in worst case scenarios he dies you will understandably find this difficult & distressing.
Average Costs To Rear A Cocker Spaniel Litter Correctly:
Here is a rough breakdown of costs for a four puppy litter:-
| Expense | Cost £ |
|---|---|
| Stud Fee | 450.00 |
| Fuel costs - travel to stud (minimum amount) | 52.05 |
| Whelping equipment (whelping box, heat mat, heaters, vet bedding, playpen, puppy toys etc.) | 633.28 |
| Routine supplements/wormers/disinfectants | 174.48 |
| KC/BVA PRA Eye Test | 48.00 |
| KC/BVA Glaucoma Eye Test | 48.00 |
| KC/BVA Hip Score Fee | 50.00 |
| Vets Charge for hip-score X-Ray | 87.88 |
| OptiGen prcd-PRA DNA Test | 137.57 |
| Antagene FN DNA Test | 112.75 |
| Pregnancy Health Check | 28.70 |
| Whelping Health Check* | 28.70 |
| Dew Claw Removal | 20.50 |
| Puppy "MOT" pre sale (minimum amount, some vets charge per puppy not per litter) | 28.70 |
| Micro-Chip Puppies | 75.00 |
| Feeding the bitch using premium quality food (pregnancy & lactation) | 278.92 |
| Feeding the litter using premium quality food (weaning to leaving home) | 277.54 |
| Electricity (heating & lighting), detergents, household cleaning materials etc. | 523.59 |
| Puppy Packs (inc. printer ink/paper/toys/food etc.) | 110.57 |
| KC Registration (four puppies) | 52.00 |
| Total: | £3218.23 |
*This is a basic post-whelping check. If a Caesarean Section is required the price varies from vet to vet, the approximate cost is £800.00, this price is an average charge for a day time procedure without complications. Out of hours the price can be considerably more (upwards of approx. £500 more!).
Average Costs To Rear A Litter Cheaply:
Here is a rough breakdown of costs for a four puppy litter: -
| Expense | Cost £ |
|---|---|
| Stud Fee (most use their own stud so no stud fee or a 'pet' stud dog nearest to them!) | 250.00 |
| Fuel costs - travel to stud | 15.00 |
| Whelping equipment (cardboard box for whelping, no other equipment) | 0.00 |
| Routine supplements/wormers/disinfectants (only wormer used) | 30.48 |
| KC/BVA Eye Test only (no vet visits or "MOT" & no micro-chipping puppies) | 45.00 |
| Feeding the bitch using basic quality food (pregnancy & lactation) | 33.00 |
| Feeding the litter using basic quality food (weaning to leaving home) | 25.01 |
| Electricity (heating/lighting & washing machine) - minimal usage | 80.00 |
| Puppy Packs (inc. printer ink/paper/toys/food etc.) - if indeed any puppy pack is supplied! | 40.00 |
| KC Registration (four puppies @ £13 per pup) or alternative registration fees - @ £4 per puppy less | 52.00 |
| Total: | 570.49 |
When you compare the two tables, you will see that rearing a litter correctly costs more money than is recouped through puppy sales (assuming there are no dramas, dramas = extra expenses!) with a loss of 6.7%.
Clearly if there are fewer pups or extra expenses then a greater loss can be expected.... The rearing costs for a litter where the breeder spends the barest minimum amount returns a 430% profit!
Does a breeder spend money on doing things correctly & therefore give their pups the best start in life, the highest chance of good health and longevity or do they do things 'on the cheap' so they can 'line their own pockets’?