Looking for a show cocker

[clutterpup]

After a lot of research and two years of waiting we're looking for a show cocker (kids aunt has a show and she's much more laid back than the working ones our acquaintances have!). No rush, hoping to have the right one by the next 12-18 months with the usual health tests, raised in the home, socialised etc. Just not sure how to avoid puppy farms/backyard breeders?

I've been on the kennel club website looking at breeders, there's not many in Scotland and the ones who are there aren't kennel club assured and haven't been inspected. Is that a red flag? Is there a better way to find a responsible breeder?

I'm hoping to email a few asking if they've any planned litters in the next 12 months, check they're health tested and how they raise them, parents temperaments (that they're show type as there's no information to say which) and give them some information about us and why I think we'd be a good family.

Does that sound ok? This would be our first family dog so I'm a bit unsure how to go about it but want to make sure we're doing it right! Tia!

I read the thread title as ‘looking for a slow cooker’ sorry, I’ll leave now...

probably should have added a better title!

Show cockers are great, ours is completely brain cell deficient but we wouldn’t be without him. He is a brilliant family dog who is happy to do as little or as much as we ask of him so long as at the end of the day he can sprawl over us on the sofa. I can’t help with breeders I’m afraid as we got ours from a one time only planned litter from my aunts bitch. Just wanted to assure you that you’ve made a great choice

Thanks Larry, that's reassuring! That's exactly what I love about them and think one would be a great fit for our family too. Yours sounds lovely, the best ones are always a bit daft

As well as the KC lists I would try approaching the breed clubs - www.thecockerspanielclub.co.uk/ and www.cockerspanielclubofscotland.co.uk/. Your email list of questions sounds perfect, if you were to direct that at the secretaries of the breed clubs I'm sure they'd look to help you out. They will have an idea of who has litter plans and wouldn't recommend anyone who didn't abide by the club code of ethics, which will include health testing etc.

I'd be happy to make a personal recommendation but both I have in mind are Midlands based.

Also came to give you slow cooker advice.

clutterpup, I found my show springer in a similar manner.

1. Took a list of all active KC breeders
2. Sent an initial email talking about what I was looking for, why, my situation and asking them to keep me in mind if planning a litter
3. Of those that replied to say they were hoping for a litter in the next year or so, I used the internet to research them as much as I could. Basically, just checking they were who they said they were (e.g. one said they judged springers so that was easy to check and see their history)
4. Used that info to shorten list down to 2 ior 3 I thought had potential
5. When one contacted to confirm they were expecting a litter, I went to see them so we could both ask questions without any puppies clouding my judgement
6. Went again when puppies were born

It took me about 6 or 7 months from the first email to bringing puppy home.

The breed clubs should be your first port of call. At this time of year lots of breed clubs are having open days, fun days and shows so it would be a good idea to pop along and meet both dogs and people. I wouldn’t worry too much about the assures breeders scheme. Lots of very good breeders do not approve of the scheme, many think it doesn’t go far enough in ensuring a dog’s welfare. I would far rather have a pup from someone that is active and respected in the breed club than someone on the assured breeders scheme. Good luck find your pup 😁

Please contact the breed club. Maybe get to a show or two to meet breeders and owners. You can't search online for a pup. Well you can but you really shouldn't.

I just adopted a 5 year old show cocker she is just amazing. I know there were others looking for homes from the same place (in Scotland) if you wanted to consider an adult.

@toboldlygo thank you, I'll send an email and see what they say. Thank you for the offer  we're quite a way away from your area, although I'd be happy to travel I think we'd prefer to visit a few times before being matched with a pup and don't think I could convince dh to do the drive that often!

@missbattenburg thank you!! That sounds like a great plan, definitely makes me feel a little better about finding a genuine breeder.

@olivetor7 That's a great idea, I've asked to join the Facebook group to ask as the 'next' fun day is showing as April past, fingers crossed. The children would also be in their element so everyone's a winner 

@Wolfiefan I totally agree, I just didn't know where to start. It's like we've prepped ourselves with experiences and had the same conversations for so long and finally got to a place where we're all old and confident enough and ready and we've just not known how to get the ball rolling. It just makes me so sad that someone at dh work mentioned pets for homes (or similar) website where you can literally just pick a pup and have it home that day. You have literally no idea what it's been through, where it's been kept, what potential medical issues the poor thing could have, how many litters the poor mum has been made to have, it's just so irresponsible. He was so matter of fact about it.

Making sure the children are a big part of the entire process so they learn what is actually involved in being a responsible owner.

Hi @GlitterEverywhere We actually visited two rescues in Edinburgh last year but it terrified the kids and the girl who showed us around said they rarely get dogs suited to a family with children so was no point filling out their contact form, if you could pm me the place I'll have a think over with dh. Thank you

Really appreciate all the advice, feeling a lot more confident now.

I started with the breed club, went to a show and got introduced to breeders. Asked lots of questions too! (First time owner and a giant breed.)
Good luck.

Would you be willing to consider a rescue show cocker? There are breed rescues that specialise in vickers, and are often closely linked to the breeders.

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages I'm really torn tbh, we visited two rescues last year to see if there was any dog potentially suitable for us with dc, we had a chat with one of the girls there and she really put us off.

The biggest reason is that one of my dc is deaf, I'd like to start training the pup early on to potentially work towards being a hearing dog for her when she needs it. Really hope that doesn't go against us when we speak to breeders.

Russell Hobbs do a good one.

Can't go wrong with Morphy Richards Sear and Stew.

As you are looking to train a dog for a specific purpose, rather than just being a nice family pet, I can understand your rationale for wanting a puppy.

However, I wouldn't let one conversation put you off a rescue - it's one person, possibly having a bad day. Sometimes young dogs (inc. puppies) do come into rescue, and sometimes other suitable ones come in too.

If I were a breeder, I wouldn't be put off by someone who said they wanted to train a dog for a specific purpose, but I would be asking some questions such as

• how do they plan to go about training the dog for that specific purpose? Specific plans...
• what prior experience do they have with training dogs? (We all make mistakes, particularly with the first dog)
• where will they be able to get professional help from? This sort of training isn't the sort of thing that a standard dog trainer would normally do.
• what happens if the dog doesn't make the grade? Don't forget that even the professionals at organisations like Guide Dogs find that some just aren't suitable for a working life.
• what are your expectations for the dog - abilities, timescales, etc? Are these expectations realistic?
• is it possible for an owner-trained assistance dog to be registered as an assistance dog, and if not are the new owners comfortable with the fact that it can't be taken everywhere? (I don't really know how this works, but it's something to check)

I'd also suggest that the breeder would need to select the puppy more carefully for you; for instance I seem to remember hearing that police dog puppies are selected for having a high play drive, because they are trained through play, and I can't see a hearing dog being much different.

“We actually visited two rescues in Edinburgh”

In Edinburgh? I can only think of one theming centre in Edinburgh itself and it’s the dog and cat home... if that was one, it’s not a rescue as such, it’s the local authority pound - very different from somewhere like dogs trust or small rescue centres.

@tabulahrasa is that near seafield? If so yes it was, which makes sense as it terrified the kids. There were cats there too outside, whilst the dogs were inside pens in a couple of sheltered buildings. The other one was quite further out and we got stuck for ages on the bypass so wasn't Edinburgh centre but the general area (can you tell I'm not a native )

Yes, seafield...

It’s where strays are taken and rehomed if they’re not claimed after 7 days, so usually no history on the dogs at all, they do try to assess them a bit, but yeah - they don’t work like most rescues do.

As far as pounds go, they’re not a bad one, they do look after them as well as they can and they do try to match them a bit... but not an ideal place to go if you have young children.

Definitely contact the breed club. I went via assured breeders with my first dog (cavalier) and it was much harder to find decent breeder and although the breeder I found ticked all the boxes, I don't feel he was as good with socialisation as my second dogs breeder (show cocker).

My show type cocker was found via the breed clubs. Much easier to find a good one, who ticked all the right boxes and I honestly think she was as close to perfection as a breeder can be. It was clear the dogs had been impeccably socialised and she had obviously put a huge amount of work into them.

You are going in the right direction! The breed clubs may have a puppy waiting list co-ordinator as well. It may be worth to see if there are any local championship or open dog shows to go to. It’ll be a chance to chat with owners/breeders as they may know who has a litter due etc.

I'm a supporter of a rescue called SARR on FB which helps all spaniels, whatever type. They often have show cockers on there for rehoming, and they are fostered before being put up for adoption so they know what the dog can cope with etc. It's such a fab organisation. Just a thought.

I've got a working cocker and he's insane. Calm in the house, fantastic with the grandkids. Out of the house, he's a nutter. He's nursing an ulcer to his eye at the moment from hedge surfing and is very high octane in terms of exercise/drive to hunt. Think you've made a wise choice if you want a calmer variant though I wouldn't swap mine for all the world .