Breeder or home bred?

[cashmerecardigans]

I’m interested know thoughts on this. I’ve got the option of a couple of slightly older puppies. One from a breeder who is on Champdogs, breeds a couple of times a year and is a member of the breed club. Other is a woman who has bred from her 3 year old for the first time, so she can keep a pup. KC registered too. Everything seems above board, is there anything else I should look out for? Am desparate to avoid any sort of puppy farming or over breeding.

@LandSharksAnonymousshe definitely is keeping the mum permanently after breeding. She has been very open about her home set up, breeds very rarely and evidently adores her dogs. This last pup is 12 weeks and only there as she has said no to potential buyers. So it feels as positive as it could be, although obviously nothing is without risk.
We’re hopefully going to see him in the next couple of days, but that will only be for us to meet him and for them to meet us.
I’m so appreciative of all the help, I think I would have made a bad decision without the input here

At 12 weeks - I’d want to know what socialisation it’s had, that doesn’t mean socialising with other dogs, but how much of normal day to day things out and about it’s been introduced to as 12 weeks is fairly old. (In puppy terms obviously not in general)

Thanks @tabulahrasaI’ll ask about that

I'd also want it to be fully vaccinated.

Just to add some balance - I got my pup when she was thirteen weeks old.

She didn't have a scooby what a lead was so presumably hadn't been taken outside the home.

As I said, thirteen weeks so technically she completely missed the socialisation window but honestly you wouldn't know; she's completely normal. Then again, we were at the pub on day 2 of being home 🙈

If everything else seems right I wouldn't let her age stop you.

@cashmerecardigans 12 weeks isn't the end of the world. A good breeder will have done socialisation, taking the puppy out in their arms, had vaccinations done. And a smart breeder will know if they haven't done that, then the puppy is going to be unsellable!

So see how it goes, I say 😊Let us know how it goes!

I will, we’re going to meet him tomorrow, I’ll
update when we’re home.. I’m overexcited and terrified at the same time

12 weeks and well socialised is fine, it’s more if the answer is along the lines of, well I have 3 other dogs and children/grandchildren then it could be an issue…especially if it’s not been vaccinated.

From experience of half grown rescues, dealing with an almost adult sized puppy having a meltdown because the concept of multiple houses or cars driving past them is freaking them out or convincing them that bikes aren’t in fact unnatural wheeled people isn’t so much fun 😐😂

@cashmerecardigans how did it go?

He wasn’t quite right. It was a lovely set up though and the dogs were clearly much loved. For us it came down to the fact that the mum and dad (she has both) were much much smaller than I expected for a working cocker, and so we decided he wasn’t for us. I also think we came away much clearer that we would rather have a slightly older dog, so the hunt goes on

Rescue is the best breed!

I'm curious. How big are you expecting working cockers to be? They vary so much in size. My smallest is only 8 kg and my biggest was 16 kg.

If you want an older dog, Spaniel Aid UK or Springer Rescue for Scotland are both good rescues to go through.
Or you might be able to find a working kennel that has older dogs for sale. Either puppies they kept on that didn't make the grade or retiring working dogs.

@SpanielsGalore they were definitely towards the lower end of your range. I’ve had 2 separate working cockers before my sprocker and both were much taller and leggier. So it’s personal choice I guess but they seemed absolutely tiny!
I’m following up on exactly what you suggested though - I’ve found an older one that hasn’t made the grade and looks promising, so I will keep you updated.

@cashmerecardigans Oh definitely a personal choice. I have two bitches at the minute from the same breeder. My older one is 12.5 kg. I was expecting my younger one to be around the same size, but she is only 8kg. She's very cute though. Like a dachshund on stilts. 😂 My boys were 14kg - 16 kg.
Good luck with your search.

@SpanielsGalorewe've found the one! A beautifully bred one year old springer, neither fast enough nor prey driven enough for trialling, so the owner is reluctantly moving him on. I only found him as I emailed several working kennels asking about older dogs. He’s not been advertised, she’s very fond of him but in her words, he doesn’t have enough gears. We’ve been to meet him, taken him out for a walk with her and I see what she means, he’ll retrieve the ball a couple of times, but loses interest after that. She’s had all the health testing done herself, as she was thinking she may use him for stud at some point, so I’ve seen all the paperwork. We’re going back to collect him tomorrow 😀

That's brilliant news. I hope it all goes well for you. 😊