Loss of my dog - waiting list for a new dog!

[Rzim]

Had to put down my lovely cocker spaniel 10 days ago - very sad but was his time.
The irrational me wanted to get a new puppy the next day (knew my groomer had a Labrador puppy going due to a death) but the "grown up" 'plans' to wait till September when I will hand the time to devote to a puppy!

Think I would like to get another spaniel - cocker or springer (different colour to our lovely old dog obviously) or possibly a Drake's Head type of Labrador.

Question please - how far in advance so I need to contact breeders etc? My old dog we got through a family friend and we knew the mum!! Xx

There are so many available in rescues with no waiting list... (Sorry, couldn't answer your question about breeders, as my 3 amazing pups were from our local rescue.)

Try spaniel aid! They have some lovely dogs! :)

So sorry to hear of the loss of your lovely dog and totally understand the urge to get a new puppy asap to fill some of the hole they leave :(

Good breeders will only have 1 or 2 litters a year max so it could take a year or so to get the right puppy. Often though they have wide networks of other breeders so they might be able to find a suitable puppy through a friend they know who had a larger than expected litter etc.

My breeder had a puppy unexpectedly free because his testicles didn't descend so would be fine for a pet home but not for potential breeding.

It's really really different out there now from 10 years ago, there are so many puppy farms and backyard breeders that finding a good breeder is really tricky. Look at the kennel club breed guide for the tests the breeder should be running and look into the breeder in detail - how many dogs to they have, how many litters per year, where are the dogs raised (kennel vs house) do they have more than one breed etc etc.

Health and temperament testing has moved on a huge amount so any breeder that is not using all the testing available is dubious - many people who don't do this research and get the first available puppy they see end up with a dog with lots of issues (through no fault of the dog of course). Genetics make a huge difference to the dog you will be living with for the next 10-15 years so IMO it's worth waiting for the right dog.

These poor dogs from puppy farms/ BYB then end up in rescue and are hard to rehome as they often have a terrible combination of bad genetics and bad upbringing/training. Any reputable breeder should ensure you sign a contract to say if you rehome the dog they are the first option so dogs in rescue are very rarely from a good breeder.

Start contacting now - many have lists for puppies not yet conceived and will have plans for dates.

Sorry about your boy. I love cockers they're so lovely.

Also everyone will jump on here I'm sure and say about rescues - it's not something to do lightly- the last two people I've know with rescue spaniels have had so much trouble with them and I myself had to have a young dog I rehomed pts due to fear aggression. I don't blame anyone for getting a puppy as long as they are from responsible homes - I do blame people who are responsible for all the dogs in rescue who seem to get off scott free.

Give yourself time to grieve

Many thx for all of this - very useful x

Definitely contact breeders asap.
Decent breeders don't advertise and can pick and choose who there pups go to. They will appreciate you planning in advance

Yes forgot to say earlier - I was talking to the breeder of one of my dogs 18 months before she actually had a litter. The first one failed - I had a pup from another breeder (who she advised me about) and then carried on to have one of her pups anyway.

She liked my DS so much by that point she gave him the puppy for free 😂

Many thx xx

I waited eight months from the death of my dog to collecting the puppy.

Try your kennel club and champdogs website! Make sure you get one from an ethical breeder!

Sorry for your loss OP.

I've had two people offer me spaniels this week. End of shooting season approaching, two dogs, lovely but not for the job.

Not sure where you are in the country but this is common.

Keep an eye out, often the right dog finds you.

Thank you xx

So sorry about the loss of your spaniel - it never gets any easier when we lose them.

As others have mentioned look at the KC website and champdogs. I would look at breeders, even if they do not have any litters planned - not all advertise, which imo is a good thing.

Contact breeders, speak to them, if you like the sound of them, go and see them - there should not be a problem with you visiting, meet their dogs. If you are happy with them and they with you, then proceed to asking about planned litters and could you go on a waiting list. You will have this dog for many years, and for all those years you should keep contact with the breeders - if you feel they are the type of people you wouldn't be able to call at any time for advice, look elsewhere.

Also with cockers, although colour should not be uppermost in choosing a pup (health testing, temprement should be) there will be colours you prefer. Some breeders will only breed blue roans, some black etc so if that is important to you, keep that in mind.

Many thx / I couldn't get another Blue Roan as that's the pup I just lost it would feel like replacing like for like!!! X

Took us 18 months to get our Deerhound and 16 for our Borzoi, but they're more unusual breeds and there are a very small number of breeders. Our rescue greyhound we decided we were getting one and brought him home within a few days!

If you do want one from a breeder, Spaniels are much more widespread and popular, but I'd still give yourself 6 months or so as a start point to ensure you're getting a healthy dog from an ethical breeder. Might take longer, might be less.

I'm sorry for the loss of your pup!

Silly question but the pups on the kennel club website - I'm assuming they have all been sold - way in advance??

Don’t rule out local rescues.

My neighbour lost his gorgeous spaniel in early December. He knew he wanted another dog probably a different breed and thought he’d start looking in a few months.

He’s already got the most beautiful five month old spaniel puppy from the rescue his last dog came from.

I’m not a ‘woo’ person but sometimes the right dog comes along at the right time.

May well try this route too x

Ethical breeder 😂😂😂😂

What? They do exist you know 🤷‍♀️ just people often get dogs from back yard breeders.

Sorry for the loss of your dog. We lost our working cocker in November and his brother the year before. We were going to wait a while but got our new springer spaniel pup in August. My husband saw an advert on a gundog website, enquired and went from there. Are breed rescues worth a look? Plenty of spaniels for rehoming. If not there are lots of cocker litters & springers. I’ve never looked at KC litters, always contacted a breeder and gone from there, had a chat, visit etc. we are in talks now with a breeder regarding a planned litter for late this year for a working cocker.

Thank you a fun dog website is a great idea (although the dog won't be a shooting dog!) x

Sorry I meant a gun dog website!! Although rather like the idea of a fun dog website too!!!!

A Sprocker has almost "fallen into my lap" - friend of a friend has just had a litter. The pup will be ready to come home mid Feb. This will be about 6 weeks since I put my dog down.

Is this too soon to get a new dog? My husband thinks I'm rushing in! I really like the idea of getting a dog through a friend of a friend and having that connection?

Thoughts please? My husband really wants a Springer - I want a Cocker so this may be a great compromise - but more important to me is the connection!

I know nothing about Sprockers! X