Best way to find a local breeder - want to get dh a much longed for springer for christmas

[Theantsgomarching]

I know a dog is for life, we already have a westie who is loved and part of the family. My DH grew up with a springer spaniel and has always wanted one. I've always said our hands are full enough with dc's and one dog, but am now thinking it'd make a great present for him for christmas.

What is the best way to find a reputable breeder who will have puppys around this time?

LtEveDallas - I hate to say it, but your situation sounds perfect!

We had a rescue Springer who sadly died after 2 months and I remember telling DH that we had to move out of London to find a house with a field for him.

My collies have show lines and have been fine in London - lots of walking, running, training and ball playing keep them happy. Our Springer was a failed gun dog, though, and I felt he really needed fields and furries to be truly happy.

I'm 99.9% sure are next dog will be another collie (after Christmas!) and a Springer if and when we move out to the country.

If you want a puppy, go via the breed club, that way you at least will not be supporting unscrupulous breeders who don't care less about the puppies they breed or they parents and you'll also have a chance of a healthier dog. You will almost certainly have to wait until after Christmas though, as any decent breeder breeding now will be doing so to a waiting list, not for 'Christmas Trade'.

Again, as others have said, don't rule out a rescue dog. A lot of them do come with a full history or have been thoroughly assessed in a foster home. Breed rescue (again, via the breed club) might also be able to help you. Sometimes breeders rehome puppies that are older and have been retruned to them and breed rescue may know of these, however, by far these aren't the most 'needy' dogs.

I do resent the implications that breeders are all scum who just dump their dogs when their breeding life is over. There is a world of difference between a good breeder and a crappy one and good breeders neither over breed their bitches or dogs, nor pass them on when their breeding days are over, because breeding was never the primary reason (or even any part of the reason) for owning the dog.

Oh, epupz is not a good place to look for a dog at all, full of adverts from puppy farmers and byb's.

I agree midori, I have bred for many years.

I have only ever had one litter that could have gone out during the week leading up to christmas, I kept back those puppies that were going to homes with children until the holiday was over. Puppies are lots of work at the best of times, add the mix of presents, Xmas trees, toys, visitors and toilet training it's not good.

No good breeder would consider letting you have a puppy for Christmas and if they do then maybe they are not the right people to buy from

Thank you all for your input. There is much to consider.

I got my springer puppy after finding him on champdogs.com
you can search by breed and you can see straight away if the breeder has tested their dog for conditions common to their breed.
IMO, if the breeder bothers to test their dogs, it shows me that they care about the pups they breed and are nit just in it to earn some money.

There are a lot of beautiful young springers in rescue just waiting for a home.
Had my circumstances for getting a dog been different, we would have got a rescue. As it was, it took
us some time to bond with him, but all is fine now, thank God. (not that I would ever have dreamed of giving him up)

Just like to add that up until recently we had 2 springers that we rehomed. Our first was via the rescue section on the it's a spring thing website. He'd been rescued from an Irish pound so watching that link was v sad for me. He was only about a year old, now had him for 5 years and he's adorable! Perfect in every way! ( well, as perfect as a springer can be??!! )
Our 2nd was an 8 year old. She'd been with the same family from a pup, then they gave her up. Their loss, very much our gain. She was utterly brilliant with our toddler and baby and we're still trying to get over the fact that she suddenly died about 6 weeks ago. She'd been with us almost 4 years.
I can see your worry about not knowing the history if you get a rescue, but we didn't and both our dogs have made our family complete. We're tentatively thinking about another, as our remaining dog seems very down and our house seems too quiet! We will be getting another rescue springer, no doubt about that. Good luck with whatever you choose

nothing useful to add, but I am now completly and utterly in love with Mars on the Mnay tears site. don't think I could squeeze him in though.