Getting a springer spaniel puppy, how important is it that it is kc reg??

[applegate]

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?!

KC registered (or even on accredited breeders scheme) does'nt mean they did all the necessary health checks.

Always Check Yourself!

He caught the pheasant...he is not trained as a gundog!

He's only caught a rat since though. Mainly because he won't put his ball down!

Hip, elbow and eye tests are really important for Springers in any breeding program. You should ask to see copies of all relevant tests.

They are MENTAL with a capital M but so much fun. So busy, clever and affectionate. The muddy, mischief-loving pictures on profiles on this thread are a very accurate representation of the sort of things you'll be dealing with on a daily basis. This morning, after taking Lucy for a mad rampage in the woods, I spent nearly an hour removing bits of twigs and burrs from her coat and then gave her a bath. She then bolted down the stairs and out into the garden flower beds, rolled in them and then bolted back upstairs and jumped (covered in black earth and fresh twigs and burrs) onto my daughter's brand new bedspread . She's now snuggled up on my feet snoring so it's impossible to stay cross for long. Embrace the mud, I say. Good Luck!

Just want to add that in the shooting community you often come acroos very good un KC registered working dogs. Are her dogs workers? However, these pepople have often sold the pups before they are born and the fact your breeder has 7 left sounds like she is not one of these.

I have working spaniels (one pedigree, one not) and an accquaintance who is a KC Accredited breeder of spaniels and I wouldn't buy one of her dogs for all the tea in China.

why weren't they registered though?

was the bitch that bore them under 2, or over 7?
was it her second litter the same year?

or could they simply not be bothered? if so, what else haven't they bothered with?

you can get good puppies out of even the most crap situation, doesn't mean you want to hand money over to those breeders.

KC registration alone is not a sign of a good breeder/well bred litter, but you will not, IMO, find a responsible breeder that does not KC register their puppies and that includes those who breed working dogs, who also frequently do not health test as apparently they 'know their stock are healthy'.

There is some good info here on health tests in Spingers:

www.sgurr.org.uk/healthnew.php

Well, huge thanks for all of the advice. We went to see the (kc) puppies first thing this morning and are getting one!! It wasn't the fact that they were registered that swung the decision in the end, more that the whole set up felt right.We saw all the paperwork, mum and grandma and I felt completely at ease with the breeder, background etc. Mum and grandma were really friendly lovely dogs and the puppies were gorgeous. We were asked loads of questions about our expectations and home life etc and they obviously really wanted to 'vet' us as much as were vetting them. Just got a couple of weeks to wait now!!

its good that you found the right breeder. Personally I would never buy an unregistered pedigree dog (partly because i would want to show it). when are you picking the pup up?