Is it possible to get a puppy quickly.....for the right reasons!

[sleepwouldbenice]

Hi all

So we've wanted a puppy for a couple of years ago now. We have plans all laid for the day to day and week to week care. From reading to breeds to dog walkers to exercise to dog friendly local places and beaches etc (weare very lucky where we live) but I couldn't actually ever make the move as the nature of our jobs mean we can't take weeks off at a time therefore we wouldn't be able to dedicate the weeks/months to the initial support for the puppy and it just wouldn't be fair
Even picked the breed, a show cocker as fits well with family life, the walks we know we can do, the ability to do much longer walks weekly etc.
Suddenly we have an opportunity! I finish my job at the end of April and I can be off until September when I do need to return to work. At that stage someone would be at home 5 days a week bu already have established relationship with puppy visitor/dog walker to help out for the other 2 days and any holidays etc.

But time is against me right?! The last thing I want to do is buy from a non reputable breeder or cause or have any issues another way. But one thing I have not done is establish any contact or done any research on breeders as didn't think we could make our dreams a reality..... The other thing I am clueless about is health tests for that breed but hoping to ring that out on kennel club site or similar?

Does anyone have any words of advice or can suggest anything, for example I have seen a website called champ dogs ?? But again I worry about reputation of breeders

All advice gratefully received.......
Thanks

Must it be a puppy? There are some brilliant looking dogs available for rescue via the breed rescue www.caessr.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/needing-homes.html

Have a look at Many Tears Animal Rescue. They are based in Llanelli but have fosterers around the country.
www.manytearsrescue.org/

KC will list all the recommended health tests for cockers on their website.

My puppies parents didn't have all of them, just the FN and prcd-PRA but they were the two I was personally concerned about. When contacting breeders I just filtered out those that didn't have any health tests. Do be specific though about what health tests you mean because often people confuse DNA health testing etc with a vet check up. If you just ask if they have had 'health tests' some 'home breeders' might say yes unless you specifically ask if the parents have been tested for x,y,z. I also saw the certificates when viewing the puppies.

If you want a puppy soonish you will need to contact lots of breeders and be prepared to travel a long way.

I got a puppy quickly as one dog died suddenly and the other wasn’t coping alone although I do have a common breed so it was easier. In fact I had a choice of a few litters.

I had a list of health tests and qualities I wanted. Went on KC puppy lists and also contacted some from champdogs. Checked out all breeding/health tests and did a bit of a Facebook and Google stalk then viewed the litters. Both bitches had very large litters so a fair few to pick from.

My main priority bar health testing was a particular temperament so I went to view the litters, parent and also where they had been raised.

It’s a bit of a minefield so I would prepare to travel!

Just remember that being registered/KC registered is no guarantee that they are a responsible breeder and treat the mother dogs well. You absolutely need to see the puppies with their mum and double check that all the correct health checks have been done (sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs).

Personally I'd go for an adult rescue that's been in a foster home, but obviously that's a decision for you.

The best place to go via is breed clubs. Because show cockers are quite a common breed, it's possible that you might find one.

However you need to be very careful that you don't subconsciously turn a blind eye to red flags because of the short time scale.

Yes possible with a bit of luck. We got a show cocker a bit earlier than we expected, as the breeder had kept a couple of puppies back to assess show potential, and decided against that in the end. Used kennel club website but preferred champ dogs, spoke to a few breeders (many of whom know each other btw), visited one, whom we liked and were prepared to go on the waiting list for. She had mentioned another breeder with puppies which weren't currently listed in champ dogs and we made contact, and had puppy four weeks later! Still took us nearly three months overall. Our breeder owned both sire and dam, so we could research them on champ dogs for health tests and also on the cocker spaniel pedigree database. We visited the breeder twice before we said yes, and that was after going home and thinking very carefully about it. We picked our girl up at 14 weeks and struggled to get training organised quickly, but had some one to one sessions with a brilliant trainer to "hit the ground running" and work on what needed doing for her, then. Our breeder was great, it was made clear her pups would need to go to the right home, and she took a lot of care to breed her pups and socialise them - and we have a confident, outgoing nearly bombproof girl who loves people, other dogs but not so keen on the cat! Would recommend our breeder. So there are good breeders out there not always on the standard list which can be found via other recommendations. PS I visited a kennel club assured breeder and didn't feel comfortable about the setup, so the more breeders you talk to and see, the better

Be careful with champ dogs. It's often seen as a good way to get a dog and whilst it is often better than preloved there are quite a few puppy farms, unknowledgeable and ignorant breeders on there. I know there are a couple of really dodgy Cavalier breeders on there.

KC Assured Breeders aren't necessarily good either.

Breed club is definitely the most likely place of finding a good show cocker breeder. There are multiple area clubs and national clubs.

My show cocker was found that way and it was definitely the fastest, easiest route to quality breeders. (I went via KC and champ dogs for my 1st puppy, a Cavalier, and it was much harder to find a good breeder, as there were so many bad ones).

I just wanted to add that I found Champdogs useful when researching breeders. You then have to apply all the normal common sense tests to any litters you find on there as it's a real mixed bag but it can help you know what litters are out there and look into lineage etc.

Breeders know breeders. Once you have a a few contact names they often can help refer you onto other breeders they know have litters on the way or ready to go.

As others have sad, show cockers are fairly common so it's entirely possible you will find a puppy ready to go in April from someone you are comfortable buying from.

I personally found champdogs fairly useful, as with anything though I did weed out the puppy farm/unregistered as I want them to go as pets/health tested actually no only vet checked

There were some really good breeders on there through the rubbish. I also contacted the breed club who told me who to avoid!

With show cockers I would want to see as many dogs from that line as possible- so many of them with horrible skin and conditions

I was in a similar situation and got our puppy from a rescue. You have to be on the ball and trawling the rescue sites daily if you specifically want a pup but when it happens it's pretty quick!

Thank you so much for all your help and advice esp re medical checks. Seems like if I put in lots of work I should get lucky. Just really keen not to get it wrong and encouraging a dispicable industry. Will look at all the options suggested. Thanks so much...... Rather excited!!!

Cannot recommend many tears enough. House check and phone interview one week. Meet Greet and collect following week. We had to be quick as my other dog was pining for his mate. Wetting and pooing everywhere crying. It was so sad.