So we have done lots of research and are going to go for a springer spaniel, I have phoned about several litters to find out info and have narrowed it down to two that sounded like just what we are looking fro and we would like to go and see but..... one litter is 80 miles away, however sound lovely but only 2 puppies left and are more pricey. The other litter is 5 miles down the road, 7 puppies left out of 9 and are much cheaper; this litter is not kc reg. The lady said that although she had paperwork for mum she didn't send it off.
I am a bit torn, the money doesn't hugely worry me because I feel that this is a family dog that we will have for years so I won't worry in a year if it was £150 more or not, and we will not want to breed or anything. But should I be looking at one that is KC reg to ensure that it is a more reputable breeder and definitely hasn't had anything else bred into it??
Or am I being silly to worry and should just go and look at the closer ones?
Advice please?!
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Getting a springer spaniel puppy, how important is it that it is kc reg??
applegate · 21/09/2012 08:35
It's jot important really unless you're planning to show them or anything. But the fact they say they are eligible and yet they haven't rings slight alarm bells for me, it's very cheap and easy if they really have all the relevant paperwork etc. I have a lurcher /springer cross she's gorgeous 
Its about who is the better, more knowledgable breeder - this would be quite difficult to decide. You don't want to be supporting a back-yard breeder, but then im sure that back-yard breeders get their pups registered.
I would base my decision on what you see when you go there, what feeling you get from the place.
I wanted a border terrier, we looked at quite a few, all KC registered, not "back-yard" breeders but got the impression that the people, knowledgable as they were, were in it for the money, and it didn't feel right. So i broke every rule in the dog buying book - i answered an add in the local free adds for a border/patterdale (did a quick research on the patts) and went to a family home which had basically put their bitch with the woman's fathers patterdale (im not even sure the bitch was a full BT if im honest) to "let her have a litter". Totally the "wrong" thing. But there were four pups - one had been sold already, the other two, they informed me, they couldn't bear to part with 
They weren't THAT knowledgable but had told me all the advice they were given from their vets etc (i'm ex vet nurse so didn't need advice per se, but it was good to know that they had taken an active inerest) had the puppies first jab done (parvo) and wormed etc. It just FELT right - on paper, totally wrong, but that was 5 years ago and my dog is just lovely, a lovely family pet who i wouldnt change for the world - i still look broodily at the border terriers sometimes, but DDog was The one :)
So what im saying is, on paper, matters not - but go with the person who cares the most, thats what i'd do. To be fair, the woman with 7 out of nine pups left doesn't sound brilliant, my friend bred from her dog for the first time, she had homes for the pups before they were born (some even conceived i think!). Oh and prepare to be questioned, if the breeder doesn't show any concern that you know what you are taking on - YOU DO KNOW SPRINGERS ARE MENTAL DON'T YOU then id be dubious
should not have clicked the link, should not have clicked the link
I have two springers (pics on profile) and would advise anyone looking for a KC Registered as opposed to rescue to make sure the breeder you pick is a KC Assured Breeder.
Most important would be to make sure that both parents have had the relevant health checks. Although I do understand that this will mean that the pup will be more expensive.
Go with your gut instinct, this should tell you if you have picked a good breeder/pup.
Good luck, can't wait to see pics 
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My springer was from a local breeder who has bred lots of mad hair spaniels. We see them around regularly and meet his mum on walks so I am hoping that he has not inherited anything horrid.
Having said that, friends of mine purchased a springer from a registered breeder and he died of something horrid. They called on the breeder when passing and as soon as she opened the door and saw them she knew they had come to tell her the dod had died as all the litter had gone the same way.
So you never know.
YouveCat Like your pic of the pheasant. Was that at a shoot or was it caught? Mine's tally so far is a Swoose, a duck and three Canada Geese. 
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