Asked to reserve puppy on DOB

[FindusLasagne]

Hi all - we would like a working cocker and the breeder has said the system is that all those in wait list tend to choose a pup on day they’re born (via FaceTime).

Now, I thought it was advised on here that to choose a puppy you should spend time with them (once older obvs, not day one) to see temperament etc.

How does that work if chosen when they are born?

I would say it doesn't work.
You can't choose one that is so young , for a start it may not survive.
I guess the breeders want to get you emotionally invested early on but I'd refuse and tell them youvwill only be making a decision when you have met the pups a few times.

I have never heard of that. We met the litter when they were older and then discussed temperament etc. Where did you find the breeder?

@Wolfiefan On champdogs

Should I pass on this breeder and look for one whose process is that people visit once puppies are older?

I wouldn't do this based on my own experience.. the puppy I picked from photos of the litter was not the one I ended up bringing home after meeting them .. due to temperament and the puppy which felt right and I was drawn too .. I also believe sometimes its the pet that actually chooses you

Thank you. New to this so wanted to check in here since it didn’t feel right. Thing is, can’t visit a breeder lots of times because there aren’t any close to us, so whenever I see a litter is coming up, I’m always like ‘how the hell do we choose one in person anyway??’

If there are no breeders nearby atm I'd wait until one comes up.
Can you join fb groups , dedicated spanial rescues groups, go to shows and talk to owners ect

We have always chose at 5 weeks. We wanted a very specific, hard to come by breed. We live in London. First pupcwas in Essex. Second in Scotland - we flew up and hired a car to see the pups then drove up to pick him up three weeks later. Third was Kent. Fourth was near Exeter.

I have never heard of people choosing pups online at birth.

Also you say your new to this , do you mean new to owning spaniels/ dogs ?
If so I'd seriously consider not getting a working dog .
Spaniels as a bread group need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, a working line dog will need even more.
That is a whole lot of dog you are taking on !
Go fi
or a show dog instead they still need a lot of stimulation and exercise but less than a working one.

I mean new to dog ownership @ScottBakula but of all the breeds I see when out walking, it’s this breed that I like the best. The show cockers look too prissy to me. We live rurally so plenty of space for running about. From talking to owners, working is just the breed name, you don’t actually have to them working.

There’s a huge difference in the needs of a worker versus a show cocker, it’s not all about exercise and running around- you just then end up with a fitter dog that would need more exercise, they need lots of mental stimulation and a job to do, otherwise a worker will find its own unwanted jobs and unwanted behaviours

I've got 'working' gundogs who don't do gundog work - BUT - I wanted them BECAUSE of the working characteristics. I've had these breeds (Golden Ret and Flatcoated Ret) for almost 40yrs, I know what I'm doing re training, what they are like to live with and the working lines suit me.

I would not get a working line spaniel, they are lovely dogs but on another planet for busyness and needing to be constantly engaged. For a first dog I would definitely not recommend one.

And yes, the choosing a dog at birth thing is bonkers - a red flag for a breeder who is in it for the money not for the good of the breed - taking no care to match dogs to owner. My recent pup I visited the litter three times, didn't know which I was getting until the day she was picked up because the pups had to be assessed for show and working potential as they matured and then matched to the right family. I was grilled re my own potential as an owner.

I've heard breeders having deposits before the puppy is born but they are not good breeders. More than that please please don't get a dog on looks and then out walking. They are not easy dogs despite their image. Working breeds have certain characteristics that make them not easy for first time owners.

I agree with @hennipenni , a working dog has to have a purpose.
Snuffle mats , kongs , long walks and balls and the likes just won't cut it.
Things like agility work with proper competitions, anything that gets them to 'hunt' by sniffing ( a large proportion of police, rescue and security sniffer dogs are spaniels)

Out of curiosity , what reason did the breeder give for you picking the pup you want in this odd way ?

I agree with all the comments about the needs of working cockers. Personally I wouldn’t want to choose like this. And I would be prepared to travel to meet a pup. Don’t limit yourself to breeders near you. And check what health tests they’ve done on parents before breeding.

My neighbours (experienced dog owners) got a working cocker who had to have full behavioural support via insurance for 18months. Garden had to have metal undergrass netting fitting. He has to be walked on long lead and only by the husband as he is too strong for anyone else. They are a lot of work unless they are ‘working’
Choosing a pup on dob- totally don’t agree. What if you wanted a full of beans character or a more docile character? What if he/she doesn’t survive? Too early and I would find a different breeder.

@FindusLasagne how can you do that without first viewing the mother and the circumstance of the birth?? if it is only pictures then you do not know if this is a backyard breeder with no ethical practices or clean environment for puppies!! the pics might be taken in the garden shed!! find another breeder who has allowed the pups eyes to open and let them begin walking and see what the nature and character is like. always see the mother!!

I wouldn’t in a million years choose a working cocker over a show cocker just because they look nicer. I know someone with a show cocker who has a rural home and takes the dogs for hour plus long off lead walks in the fields. It’s still bonkers. Resource guards, destructive in the house, etc. spaniels are highly strung from what I’ve seen or can be anyway. I certainly wouldn’t choose one on the day they’re born.

This will end in tears.

@FindusLasagne we have two working cockers gundogs who are used and highly trained for working!!! whenever hubby comes through to kitchen and the dogs see what he is wearing to go out in they get excited! if certain friends come to house in the morning, they know where they are going and get excited and they fully expect to be taken on field and forrest walks off the lead most days. after a busy day they will be too tired to go out, sometimes even for a wee in the garden! lots of exercise. and be ready for the chewed shoes, remote controls, mobile phones shirt collars etc!! our dogs are now adults and are both nice and calm in the house. not barky and very obedient.

Sounds like you’ve made your mind up on the breed but I would just suggest you experience one in the home. If all you’ve seen of the breed is them outside, then you need to go in with your eyes wide open. They are full on all the time, inside and out.

I am a very experienced dog owner, with working breeds. I was considering a working spaniel last year but with a busy life and two teens, we opted for labs instead. I say this as someone who has had springers and collies.

Wondering if the breeder means confirm that you want a puppy the day it's born , so for example she has 8 so is expecting to receive 8 deposits ...
agree this is risky though , and not what I've ever done .
I have a friend who has been on waiting list twice for a specific breeder and she's ' promised ' a pup but no money changes hands until pup is handed over & pup was chosen at 6 weeks both times on personality to suit the home and owner that they're heading to . They left mum at 8 weeks .
Working cockers aren't that rare or hard to come by , if you're not comfortable , move on to another breeder .

Different circumstances but I knew I wanted a male and I had 3 to choose from the litter.
I visited 3 times , luckily was close enough to do so , zero pressure from breeder , and my pup chose me ... he climbed into my lap , nuzzled in my neck & fell asleep .
Done deal. Paid deposit & picked him up a week later , paid remainder .
He's currently 3 years old and laying on bed next to me .
He chose me .
But it's always a good idea to say what characteristics and traits you'd like your pup to have .
My friend has had dogs for 30 years , always says I like the fiesty ones , give me the strong characters . She's met her match with the girl she has now, said she has never had a more challenging dog her whole life , loves her dearly but she is hard work, luckily she is experienced and can handle her ! But breeder fulfilled her request lol 😂

Edit - not a cocker , just explaining my experience of choosing a pup

I'm another advising caution in anyone acquiring a working cocker as a first dog. There is a slow but steady parade across the board of posters who have WCS who resource guard, bite, bark at everything, have been through the hands of several behaviourists...

It's certainly possible to have a WCS as a pet, but they need clear training and a decent outlet for their natural drives. Some will be less 'drivey' than others and thus more likely to be happy as pets, but you're not going to be able to have any idea about that until the puppy is 4-6 weeks old at least.

Which is a major reason to avoid this breeder. Our most successful puppy selections have been when we visited the puppy at about 5 weeks and kept tabs on which one seemed to want to be around us the most. The one who fell asleep in DDs lap has been a fabulous dog for us. The one who greeted us first of all the litter on both visits and then hung out with us happily was a delight. I would never choose my puppy at birth from pictures.

I have working line dogs, high-drive, very energetic, and they have to get what they need. The older one in particular turns into an antsy, obnoxious dickhead if she's deprived of an outlet for more than 3-4 weeks, but if she gets that outlet you couldn't hope for a more stable and sensible dog. I dread to think what she could have been like in an unsuitable home. Take her out for half an hour of hunting under control and retrieving dummies and she's happy.

If you do go for a WCS, it would be wise to find yourself an experienced gun dog trainer and take the advice they give you.

Any WCS breeder who sells a pup to a first time dog owner is imo totally unethical and should be avoided.