We are asked dozens of questions during the course of a normal week! Below is a sample of some of the more frequent, they are not in any order of importance. If you don't find an answer here then please do feel free to contact us. You may also like to visit our Puppy Information page where you will find additional information.
- Where are you located?
- About Us
- What is the Dog Breeding Diploma?
- Accredited Breeder Scheme
- Assessment of potential puppy owners
- What age do your puppies leave for their new homes?
- Are Powerscourt puppies wormed, micro-chipped and vaccinated?
- Are Powerscourt dogs tested under the KC/BVA Health Schemes?
- What is OptiGen prcd-PRA testing?
- What is OptiGen/Antagene FN testing?
- Are Powerscourt puppies given a veterinary health check prior to leaving home?
- Do you supply a Contract of Sale with your puppies?
- Do you sell puppies to working households?
- What are your views with regard to families with children?
- Are your puppies reared in the home?
- When meeting the litter is it possible to meet the pups Mother?
- What type of support can we expect from Powerscourt?
Where are you located?
We are in Herefordshire which is centrally located in the Country. We are within easy reach of the M5 motorway (J7) and other major routes. We are happy to supply detailed travel directions. Please ask if you require them.About Us
We are a small hobby "kennel" of parti-colour Cocker Spaniels. We have enjoyed living with and showing this lovely breed for many years and we are proud of our dogs and their achievements.All our dogs share our home with us and are much-loved companions. Likewise our puppies are born and reared in the house and are well socialised.
Our dogs are health tested with KC/BVA Eye Certificates for Glaucoma. They are also OptiGen prcd-PRA tested, OptiGen or Antagene FN tested (or from two clear parents) and hip scored with scores below the Breed Mean Score for the breed. We are pleased to say that all Powerscourt puppies are unaffected with either prcd-PRA or FN.
Our dogs are sweet natured, have outstanding temperaments and are confident and sociable. In addition to this, they are typical examples of the breed that win well at all levels of competition.
What is the Dog Breeding Diploma?
We are hobby breeders; however, as a conscientious and caring breeder, I have studied the Animal Care College Dog Breeding Diploma course (passed with Distinction). The aim of the course is to encourage ethical breeding practices where the welfare of the mother and her puppies are paramount. The course also covers the hereditability of canine diseases, genetics, whelping, canine anatomy/structure, the Kennel Club Breed Standards and a dog's movement and balance. More information about the course can be found here!Accredited Breeder Scheme
We are founder members of the Accredited Breeders Scheme. The scheme aims to encourage best breeding practices. Full details of the scheme can be found here.Assessment of potential puppy owners
We believe that the exchange of information works both ways, we will require information from you to help us assess your lifestyle in relation to puppy ownership, but likewise we are also happy to tell you about our dogs, their puppies and us and answer any questions you may have.What age do your puppies leave for their new homes?
Our puppies generally leave us at 8 weeks old. They are fully weaned by the age of 6 weeks, however for their social and canine skills development, puppies need to have access to and play with their mother until at least 7 - 8 weeks of age.There is some flexibility about when our puppies leave us; we do occasionally keep puppies longer in order to fit around people's existing holiday commitments etc. However as all puppies go through a further socialization phase it is preferable if owners can collect their puppy by 8 weeks of age so that he/she can adjust to their new home environment during this important developmental stage.
Are Powerscourt puppies wormed, micro-chipped and vaccinated?
Our puppies are wormed upon the advice of our vet; this is at 3, 5 & 7 weeks of age (puppies staying longer are wormed every fortnight until they leave for their new homes.) Our pups Mum's are regularly wormed throughout their life, at the start of their 'season' & at the same time as their puppies.All our puppies are micro-chipped and with the chip registered in the new owners name at no extra cost to the owner. Their details are held on a national database (PetLog) administered by the UK Kennel Club.
We no longer have our puppies vaccinated before leaving for their new homes. Until recently, we routinely vaccinated our pups; however, the majority of the vets used by new owners use a different brand of vaccine to our own vets. Due to the insistence of the new owners vets that the vaccines are not compatible, this has resulted in our pups having to start the Primary Course of Vaccination again and this is not something that we feel is beneficial to the pup & is unnecessary regardless of the brand of vaccine used. The only reason a vet suggests a pup starts his vaccination course again is that he wants to make money!
Are Powerscourt dogs tested under the KC/BVA Health Schemes?
There are two KC/BVA health schemes for Cocker Spaniels, one is the Eye Scheme, the other is the Hip-Scoring Scheme.Our dogs are examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist under the KC/BVA Eye Scheme. We are pleased to say that all our dogs are unaffected.
The KC/BVA eye test for PRA is a clinical (visual) examination, it is not possible to determine whether clinically clear animals (at the date of examination) are carriers, clear or whether they will become affected with PRA at a later date. Because of the limitations of the scheme, we also started DNA testing our dogs in 2004 (when the test first became available) and we continue to test as appropriate.
We also take advantage of the KC/BVA Hip-Scoring scheme and our dogs are X-Rayed at the age of 12 months. ALL X-Ray films are sent to the BVA for scoring. We are pleased to say that our dogs have scores which are below the Breed Mean Score (average for the breed). For details on our health testing results please visit our health testing page.
What is OptiGen prcd-PRA testing?
OptiGen is a DNA-based test that helps breeders avoid the most common form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA refers to a group of diseases that cause the retina of the eye to degenerate slowly over time. The result is declining vision and eventual blindness. “prcd” stands for “progressive rod-cone degeneration.”Prcd-PRA is inherited as a recessive trait, which means that for a trait to develop the dog must inherit two mutant genes responsible for the trait. One gene is inherited from each parent (thereby making two genes in total). “Carrier” dogs have one mutant gene and one “Normal” gene and are known as “heterozygous” for the trait/disease.
All our dogs are DNA tested (or are from "Normal/Clear" parents) and we are pleased to say that we have no affected dogs. "Clear/Normal" dogs will never develop the disease and are not carriers of prcd PRA and cannot pass this disease onto their offspring. "Carrier" dogs will also never develop this disease and provided they are mated to "Normal/Clear" dogs, none of their offspring will develop the disease either.
A “Carrier” dog will NEVER develop the disease but can pass it onto their offspring (if they are mated to another “Carrier”.
A “Normal” dog has no copies of the mutant gene and is termed “homozygous clear” for the disease meaning both copies of the gene normal. The will NEVER develop the disease or be able to pass it onto their offspring. A dog carrying two copies of the mutant gene is termed “homozygous affected” – both copies of the gene are abnormal (mutant).
“Normal/Clear” dogs are statistically normal for prcd-PRA and will not develop this disease or pass it to offspring. No known “Normal/Clear” dog has developed prcd-PRA or produced prcd-PRA-affected offspring. Source OptiGen For details on our health testing results please visit our health testing page.
What is OptiGen/Antagene FN testing?
Autosomal Recessive Hereditary Nephropathy is another term for the fatal kidney disease known as FN (Familial Nephropathy). Familial Nephropathy (FN) is a recessively inherited fatal renal (kidney) disease that has been recognized in the English Cocker for more than 50 years.FN is inherited in the same way as prcd-PRA. Both are recessive conditions and for the disease to occur both parents need to be “Carriers” or “Affected”.
A DNA test for FN became available in December 2006. We were the first UK to test ALL our dogs and we were delighted to discover that ALL results were “Normal”. This means our dogs are not carriers of FN, they will never suffer from FN and neither will they be able to pass the disease onto their offspring.
The American company OptiGen hold the license to perform DNA tests for FN on US and Canadian resident dogs. They are also able to test samples belonging to none resident dogs provided they were previously prcd-PRA tested by OptiGen (prior to Dec. 06). The French company Antagene hold the license to perform DNA tests for FN on European dogs.
"Significance for breeding: Genetically Normal dogs can be bred to any dog and will produce no pups affected with FN." Source OptiGen /Antagene. For details on our health testing results please visit our health testing page.
Are Powerscourt puppies given a veterinary health check prior to leaving home?
Yes. All our puppies are examined by our vet prior to leaving for their new homes. Puppies are examined thoroughly, particular areas of examination are: -- Teeth - to check the bite
- Ears - to check for infection/ear mites (there shouldn't be any infection/mites!)
- Mouth and Throat - to look for deformities
- Hips - manipulation to check joints
- Patella's - to check for Patellar Luxation (slipping kneecaps)
- Bottoms - the check for soiling (an indication of a possibly ill puppy)
- Abdomen - to check for hernias and that internal organs are correctly placed
- Groin - palpation to feel for inguinal hernias
- Legs and feet - to check all toes are present
- Coat - to check for fleas and mites (there shouldn't be any parasites/mites!)
- Respiration (using a stethoscope) - listening for crackles (chest infection etc.)
- Heart (using a stethoscope) - listening for heart murmurs
- Temperature taken (a raised temperature is an indication that infection is present)
- Testicles (in males!) - to check the location of the testicles
Do you supply a Contract of Sale with your puppies?
Yes. Our puppies are sold with a Contract stating:- Name, gender, date of birth, micro-chip No.
- Health declaration and veterinary examination findings
- Details of the parents health testing status
- An option to return a puppy with a full refund
- Our promises and commitment to the Purchasers and the puppy
- Your promises and commitments to us the Breeders and the puppy
Do you sell puppies to working households?
Every request for a puppy is treated upon its own merits and this applies equally to working households. Depending on the number of hours worked, the number of people in the household, the working times/pattern of the owner and/or whether there are suitable alternative arrangements in place to care for the puppy/dog, and then we will consider the request without immediately dismissing it.Young puppies need attention every 1 - 2 hours throughout the day (all day!). This includes frequent toilet trips, feeding, playing with and some general training. Cockers are 100% people orientated, they need social interaction in order to be happy. A lonesome Cocker is a very unhappy person who will get up to all sorts of mischief (i.e. be almost impossible to house train, be noisy and destructive). This will be a miserable existence for a puppy/dog and will tarnish your enjoyment of your new pet.
If your working hours are long and/or you are going to be away from the house for more than two hours at a time we suggest that you wait for a puppy until your circumstances alter. I'm afraid it's not sufficient to leave a puppy all day even if you plan to visit him during your lunch break, neither is it feasible to take a puppy to work with you or rely on the goodwill of neighbours to take the time and responsibility to care for YOUR dog.
What are your views with regard to families with children?
We are generally happy to sell puppies to families with children. Every request for a puppy is treated upon its own merits.As part of our assessment process, we seek to identify many factors, which will confirm the suitability of the potential owner. Their home lifestyle is one area and this includes their relationship with their children. In most situations, it is easy to see if the family are respectful of each other and that children are well behaved. In a happy, loving, courteous and disciplined household, there is no particular reason why a puppy/dog should not be well cared for and loved.
However, as a general rule we regret that we are not willing to sell a puppy to a pregnant or newly delivered mother or to a family with very young children (i.e. under 5's). As a mother, I know how tiring these times are and many first time would-be owners (or those who have not had a puppy in their home for 8 or more years) unfortunately do not fully comprehend the amount of work involved in owning a puppy.
Are your puppies reared in the home?
Yes our puppies are home reared. All our dogs share our home and our puppies are born in the study and remain there until they are four weeks old. After this they move into the kitchen were the environment is more stimulating!Once the puppies reach 6 weeks of age, they join us (and the adult dogs) in the sitting room for brief periods in the evenings where they get ample opportunity to socialise with the other dogs and to enjoy a cuddle from us!
When meeting the litter is it possible to meet the pups Mother?
Yes, you can meet Mum. We actively encourage new owners to meet Mum as we believe it's important for you to meet the mother of a pup you are considering for adoption.What type of support can we expect from Powerscourt?
Having a new puppy in the household is always an enjoyable and fun time. However, puppies can be hard work at times and you can expect to have a few "ups and downs" from time to time.We will support you with advice at any stage of your puppy's/dog's life. You are welcome to telephone us or email with any worries or queries you may have (night or day). We will be happy to share our experiences with you and help you resolve any areas of concern. We will also resume ownership (or help find a suitable new home) for any of our puppies (regardless of how old they are) should the need arise.
We also have an owner's forum where owners can interact with each other and ourselves. This is a very popular forum with many owners joining in the banter and sharing puppy ownership experiences.
We also hold an annual picnic where owners and their dogs join us for a relaxing, informal and fun day out. This event always proves popular and is well attended.
When you set out to purchase a puppy you may feel that support, help and advice are not necessary and perhaps these areas will not be a priority when searching for a puppy. However, please don't under estimate the value of choosing a breeder who will support you. It won't be until you have a dilemma that you will realise that lifelong support and commitment from your puppy’s breeder can be invaluable and perhaps save you a lot of distress/anxiety!