Powerscourt Cocker Spaniels - Questions To Ask Breeders

Going to see a litter of pups can be a very exciting time and also quite daunting. Be sure to follow common sense and do not be guided by your heart alone! Here are a few questions you may wish to ask the breeder. The list is by no means infinite, but it should at least give you room for thought.

A good breeder will expect you to ask questions, he or she will also wish to know a great deal about you, your home and your lifestyle. Please be very cautious about breeders who are not interested in you or the home you are offering the puppy, equally so you should be cautious of a breeder who is not happy about you asking them any questions!

Before you begin your search for a dog, you should ask yourself if you have the time and commitment to devote to dog ownership. Puppies in particular can be hard work and it may be that your circumstances are not suitable at present. Please use the "are you ready for a dog?" link below to help you decide.

	A difficult area to discuss is the cost of the puppy. Good quality puppies from reputable breeders will generally cost a little more than less well bred pups. Generally speaking, the old adage still applies of "you get what you pay for.” A breeder won't be offended at your enquiry about the price of a puppy but please remember that cost shouldn't be your first question! Beware of puppies offered for sale at less than the "going rate.” At the moment the average cost of a cocker puppy from a recognised kennel (i.e. not from the free ads papers, puppy farmers and "backyard" breeders etc.) is £650.00 - £900.00 (there is some regional variation in prices.) However, it is worth noting that some "backyard" breeders are now selling puppies for more than puppies from an experienced and reputable show breeder which is another reason why the cost of a puppy shouldn't be the deciding factor in choosing a breeder! Whilst the price of a well-bred puppy may seem excessive, you must remember that your dog should, all being well live for at least 10 - 12 years, probably anything up to 15 years, and this equates to less than £80.00 per year of the dogs life. You would not be able, for example, to buy a car for £800.00 and expect it to last for 10 - 15 years of hopefully trouble free motoring! Rearing puppies correctly costs money (lots of money!). Health testing parents, providing the highest possible level of care, the best food, quality toys and bedding, worming treatment, vet checks and micro chipping puppies etc. costs more than rearing puppies to minimum standards and this naturally will be reflected in the price. Breeding is very expensive, time consuming and often heartbreaking to do correctly. Reputable breeders put their heart and soul into each litter. A reputable breeder screens each home carefully. They do this because each puppy is not a commodity, it's a living breathing soul who has had a great deal of emotional investment lavished upon it. Reputable breeders do not breed for financial gain (i.e. to make a profit); however, they have to cover their costs (eventually!) in order to have money available to continue to provide the best of care, food and meet vets bills for subsequent litters. If a puppy is for sale at significantly less than the "going rate,” you should assume economies have been made by the breeder. Buying a "cheap" puppy might seem like a good idea at the time; however, you should be asking yourself why: The pup costs less than the "going rate"? What economies has a breeder made in order to sell their puppies for less? Perhaps there has been no costly health testing of parents? Perhaps the pups and Mum haven't received quality food. Perhaps the litter hasn't been wormed regularly, vet checked, micro-chipped etc.? The list is endless, however if a puppy is sold at less than the "going rate" you can be SURE economies have been made somewhere by the breeder! Raising a puppy correctly actually costs approximately the same amount of money that is recouped in the puppy’s sale price – sometimes more!
	How many litters does the breeder have each year? Most ‘hobby’ breeders will have between to and four litters a year. An excessive number of litters can indicate the breeder is a commercial breeder. Remember that quantity vs. quality can be interchangeable! A person can breed one litter badly whereas another can breed 5 or 6 to high standards!
	It is not unusual to find that show breeders (and working breeders) may have two litters simultaneously. Breeding plans (for future show/working dogs) are made years in advance. Breeders are often faced with seasons coinciding and will, after careful consideration of the work involved, breed two litters close together. This is perfectly acceptable for show/working breeders but not the norm for "pet" breeders i.e. people who have no outside interest in dogs (showing/working etc.)
	Have the parents been screened for breed particular hereditary disease? For Cocker Spaniels: - Both parent's should be DNA tested (or their genetic status known via parentage, with at least one parent being 'Clear') for prcd-PRA. The company responsible for PRA testing is OptiGen. The test is a DNA (genetic) test which looks for the presence or absence of the mutant gene responsible for the disease. Both parent's should be DNA tested (or genetically Clear via parentage) for FN. There are two companies responsible for FN testing : OptiGen and Antagene. The test is a DNA (genetic) test which looks for the presence or absence of the mutant gene responsible for the disease. Both parent's should be screened under the KC/BVA Eye Scheme by a Veterinary ophthalmologist and have "unaffected" results. Please note, this is a specific test, it is not a routine eye check-up carried out by a breeders own vet (unless of course he's a qualified eye panellist)! Have the parent's of your puppy been hip scored (hopefully with scores equal to or below the BMS!) for signs of hip dysplasia? Hip scoring is carried out by the KC/BVA. Conscientious and caring breeders will health screen their breeding stock! The only way to ensure the puppy you are buying is unaffected (or the risk of inheritance is minimal i.e. in the case of hip-scoring) with the known hereditary diseases (diseases where testing is available) is to ensure the parents of the puppy have been tested! Breeders who tell you that there is no need to test, as there are no problems in "their" dogs are "putting their head in the sand.” Of course there are no problems if you don't look for them, the only way to categorically say there are no health issues is to test your dogs and breed from dogs with appropriate results!
	Does the breeder breed only Cockers (or perhaps one or two other breeds)? If the breeder has a selection of puppies available from different breeds then the chances are high that this is a commercial breeder or puppy farmer and you should be wary of buying a puppy under these circumstances.
	Are the puppies reared in the house or a kennel? If they are reared in the house, they should be confident and comfortable with their surroundings. If they are kennel reared and then brought into the house, unless well socialised by the breeder, they may well be nervous and timid about their surroundings. The house should be clean (give or take a few stray dog hairs or paw prints!), homes with multiple dogs can be a bit "doggy" particularly if the weather is wet but should be basically clean and tidy. If you arrive to find a less than clean house but the dogs are immaculate then you can assume that all the breeders’ time is taken up with caring for their dogs. However if the dogs and their kennel/living area are scruffy too then it might be wise to presume that little attention has been paid to either the dogs or their living conditions and you should seriously consider how committed the breeder is?
	Are the dog's coats shiny and the dogs healthy looking? Check the coat for signs of scurf or skin disease and parasites i.e. fleas or lice. Puppies with parasites can indicate a less than scrupulous breeder. Ask the breeder if and when the puppy has been wormed? Generally speaking pups should be wormed between 2 - 3 weeks of age and then fortnightly thereafter until they are 12 weeks old. After this age the pup should be wormed upon the advice of your vet (usually every 1 - 3 months).
	Have the puppies been well socialised by the breeder? Well socialised puppies (both by breeders and new owners) are more likely to grow into confident and friendly dogs. Poorly socialised dogs are likely to develop behavioural problems such as aggression and phobias. Good socialisation by the breeder is of paramount importance when choosing a puppy.
	Does the puppy look plump and contented? Does the puppy look healthy? Are the puppy's eyes, ears and bottom clean and free from any discharge or soiling? Check the puppies ears, healthy ears don't smell offensive (sometimes there is a slight "earthy" smell but this is quite normal).
	Ask if the puppy will be Vet checked prior to leaving the breeder? Good breeders will have their puppies fully examined by their Vet (to ensure they are physically healthy with no clinical signs of illness or parasites etc.) before the pups leave for their new homes. The Vet will also check for such things as heart murmurs, hernias, cleft palates, deformities and the presence of testicles (in males). As with all things controlled by nature it can occasionally be the case that some pups are not 100% perfect. Given full information about a condition (if any) both the breeder and purchaser can decide whether they wish to sell or buy the pup and whether the condition will have an impact on the pups future health and wellbeing. Minor problems don't usually have any detrimental effect on the pup or its ability to be a loyal and loving companion animal and you shouldn't automatically reject a puppy who is otherwise healthy, well reared and from a good breeder just because of, for example, a level bite (rather than a scissor bite).
	When buying a show puppy and/or a puppy with the possibility of breeding from him/her in the future it's imperative that you choose/or are offered a puppy who is free from obvious show "faults". Check the bite (teeth) of the puppy to ensure they are a scissor bite (please keep in mind that mouths in particular can change on young pups), with a male puppy, check to ensure both testicles are descended into the scrotum. In the case of pet pups, these issues are not quite as important. In an ideal world every pup born would have no obvious show "faults" however a healthy pup from a good breeder is more important than a 100% perfect show specimen. Honest breeders will advise you of any show "faults" a pup has and explain them fully. Minor issues with teeth, slow to descend testicles etc. do crop up from time to time, however if the pup is otherwise healthy this shouldn't overly influence your decision not to purchase the pup. If you are buying your pup from a "pet" breeder, it is unlikely that they will know what "show faults" are and will not normally be able to advise a would-be puppy buyer about the suitability of a puppy for the show ring. If you are buying, a puppy to show it would be wise to purchase your pup from a show breeder and not a "pet" breeder.
	Can you see the puppy’s mother? You should be able to meet their mother; she should be comfortable with you (all things considered) although she may be a little concerned when you approach or handle her puppies (this is normal and quite understandable). How the mother looks and behaves will give you some indication as to how your new pup will develop. Please bear in mind that the mother might not be looking her best, it's hard work rearing a litter and most bitches can look a little tired and their coats may be a little shabby due to the pups pulling at her coat! Maternal duties often mean that bitches will loose their coat and may look a little thin (despite eating vast quantities of food). Do not expect to see a glamorous show dog when you visit! However, the Mum should look well groomed, clean and healthy.
	Most puppies are registered with the UK Kennel Club. Ask if your puppy is registered with The Kennel Club - there are alternative registries; however reputable breeders ONLY register their puppies with The Kennel Club. Dog Lovers Registration or Pedigree Pets Registration Club is not the equivalent to Kennel Club Registration! Whilst KC registration is not a guarantee of quality or indeed proof of your puppy's pedigree, it is necessary if you plan to show, compete at some events with your dog or breed from him/her. Ensure the registration documents are given to you at the time of collecting your puppy. If for some reason they are not available at the time you collect your puppy, ensure that details about forwarding the registration documents to you are given in writing. Be very wary of a breeder who tells you they will forward the documents later. Ask if the registration papers have been endorsed, if so ask the breeder to explain this to you and ensure mention of any terms relating to the restrictions is mentioned in your puppy sales contract.
	Will the puppy have a schedule for vaccinations and routine worming? It is helpful to know what the puppy has or not had and when worming/vaccinations should be undertaken.
	Does the breeder give a pack of information to the new puppy owner that includes a diet sheet, basic care and training information? Good breeders will provide comprehensive information with their puppies.
	Does the breeder provide a Contract of Sale? Good breeders always sell their puppies with a Contract. The document varies from breeder to breeder but broadly, it should contain details of the puppy, the pup’s parents, date of birth, KC reg. no., microchip no. and full details about health/welfare and the breeder’s commitment to the dog and the buyer. It will also stipulate the purchaser’s commitment to the puppy.
	Will the breeder be available to give support and advice after you get the puppy home and for the duration of your dogs life? Good breeders always offer a lifetime commitment to the dogs they breed and their owners.
	Will the breeder supply free insurance for the puppy during the first few weeks in its new home? Good breeders usually arrange this cover for four or more weeks free of charge.
	Reputable breeders will normally (although not always) be involved with activities with their dogs i.e. dog showing, obedience, agility, field trials, shooting etc. etc.
	Will the breeder take the puppy/dog back for re-homing or help the purchaser find a new home for the dog should this ever be needed? Good breeders will always offer to re-home or help find a new home for the dogs they breed if the dog should unfortunately need a new home at some stage.
	Is the breeder a member of The Cocker Spaniel Club or other regional Cocker Spaniel Breed Clubs? Is the breeder a member of any local breed/training or obedience clubs?

For Cocker Spaniels: -