Future puppy's parents health scores - would this put you off?

[longtompot]

We lost our much missed show cocker spaniel last April and have been looking for a new puppy to join our family since the end of last year. I thought I'd found the person I was going to get one from, am on her list, but have now found her bitch hasn't had her hip, elbow or eye scores, but is clear of the hereditary stuff hereditary clear for pra/prcd via parentage along with other known hereditary issues so does that mean she is only clear because her parents etc are, or is it an actual test that's usually done? The dog is clear of every and has his scores available on the KC website.
She charges quite a lot for her puppies, over £2k, so I thought they would have had all the parent checks done, and now I am not so sure. Really quite gutted tbh. Would you consider a puppy from these details?

As an aside, if anyone knows of any orange or lemon show cockers, either and white or roan, around the Wiltshire/Hampshire/Dorset area, I'd love to know about any litters due. We do want KC reg with all checks. I know people don't like potential owners to chose by colouring, but we need one that is very different in colour to our previous one, she was a blue roan and tan show cocker.

Hereditary clear is good. But no hip or elbow scores is nothing but lazy - the tests aren’t exactly expensive so there’s only one reason not to get it (because the breeder knows the score is going to be bad).

Swerve.

If you want a puppy from fully health tested parents (particularly if you won’t travel up North or more toward London where most breeders these days seem to be), you’re going to have to wait a bit. Sorry! It’ll be worth it though to know your pup comes from the best and healthiest lines ☺️

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I know you are right, but, bugger :( Was so ready for a new land shark around the house.

The reason we can't go much further is I want, and my dds want to be able to come and visit and they both have chronic pain conditions so travel is hard enough for short distances. An hour max from where we are is all we can do, and as we are south Wiltshire, these are the areas I felt we could get to easily enough.

I wouldn't pay that price for a puppy from non health tested parents.

I think you are restricting your chances with your colour choice. Unless things have changed, I think it's not one of the most common colours. Would you consider a solid colour?

I'd contact your local breed club. They should know when breeders will have litters available and they should all be fully health tested.

www.thecockerspanielclub.co.uk/breedclubs.htm

@SpanielsGalore I do prefer the more white colours and thought orange or lemon and...would be as far from blue roan and tan as possible. Bearing in mind mine was quite white when she was little, and looked almost like Snoopy. She got much darker as she got older
I'll have a look at the link, thank you. I've checked on Champdogs and KC website but none available within 50 miles

@longtompot ah, that must make it challenging I'm sorry.

The other option is also to consider Spaniel Aid (depending on your DDs age) as they often have some lovely dogs come in - you just need to be checking the site every day or so. One of the dogs that popped up on Saturday is already reserved! Or other Spaniel specific rescues.

Spaniels has offered great advice re breed clubs.

Sadly, buying a puppy is a bit of a waiting game!

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks they are adults (25 & 28) but we do have a cat, which a lot of their dogs say no cats. I follow them on fb already, and there have been so many, but I might contact them anyway. Or is it more you apply per dog they have there? I can't remember now, I will go and look...

Have you asked the breeder why the checks haven't been done?
But my previous Labrador went blind at 6 from PRA (before the DNA test) and having the full suite of health checks and test was top of my list.
As to colour, I only wanted black. You are paying a lot of money for a dog you'll be looking at for a long time. It's worth holding out. I was on the waiting list eight months from the death of previous dog

@muddyford this is her dogs second and last litter. She said it was unusual for the bitch to have the health checks and most people she knows it's just the stud who is checked, and he is an excellent dog from what I've seen.
I think I was feeling very despondent yesterday. I had a puppy in sight and now I'm back in limbo. But you are right, you have them for a long time and I want it to be right.

http://kasordoncockers.com/

This breeder is in Wiltshire. She breeds solid colours, but may be able to help advise about parti colours. She's on the committee of The Cocker Spaniel Club.

Yes, she's lying. I'd steer well clear. The right puppy will be out there for you.

Hereditary clear is fine because it means the parents (or all grandparents) don’t have that issue to pass on, so no point testing as it’s impossible for them to have it.

But obviously hips and elbows don’t work like that and no, it’s not ok to just do the sire

Just to add to this, the owners of fully health tested stud dogs that I know will only allow their dogs to be used with fully health tested bitches. So I'd question the stud dog owner's ethics too.

@longtompot Ahh! So the one I referenced who has already been snapped up was a 'yes' for cats and in Wirral (definitely a bit further than is ideal for you, but good to know there are options and suitable dogs do come up).

When my mum did it she applied specifically for a dog, but I don't think there's any harm in reaching out to them. You could also get in touch about fostering as an option? Spaniel Aid seem to be quite supportive of 'foster failing'.

The other thing you could try, and I don't know how feasible it is for you given your location restrictions, is get on a waiting list for someone a tiny bit further away and then just you meeting the puppy and your DDs dialling in. I know you said they want to meet the puppy, but it might be another option? As they're older (i.e. not young children), a breeder might be a lot more open to that than they otherwise would be. I certainly would be as usually when we (breeders) want to 'meet' the whole family it's because we worry about children.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you. And sorry for the loss of your girl, it's horrible to lose a dog.