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Relocating a puppy
Purchasing from a breeder online
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Found [36] Posts :: Page 1 of 2
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test
Posted: 9:54:20 AM 12/14/2006
Hey all!

I am very interested in purchasing a cocker spaniel from a particular breeder. However, I am nervous about the flying part of it. I am in Maryland and she is in Kansas. My pup will be ready in January. I have looked into some agencies that specifically work with animals and ground delivery but it is very expensive. I have tried to find a reputable breeder that has what I am looking for locally with no luck.
Can anyone tell me what all to expect and your thoughts on this issue?
test
Posted: 10:02:21 AM 12/14/2006
BE CAUTIOUS!!
Check references
Contact their vet
Request pedigrees
Request photos
This forum has had numerous posts from people just like you.
Hard for me to belive that you would have to go half way across the country to get a popular dog like a cocker spaniel.
Check out the AKC for breeders in your area.
Determine whehter or not if there is a cocker spaniel national group, if they do they might have a breeders link. Good luck with your new addition.
test
Posted: 10:10:41 AM 12/14/2006
Honestly Id keep looking, I have been looking for all kinds of breeds for over a year and I finaly found a pug breeder I liked close to me.
It may take longer to find a breeder you like and trust close to you but you will be able to check out the mama and daddy dog, You can see how the dogs are treated and kept and less chances of you getting scammed
test
Posted: 10:13:41 AM 12/14/2006
Thanks for your responses. I have found breeders in Maryland but those with the specific color I want, I have not been able to find. I either don't like the way the parents look or feel a certain way about the breeder. I guess I will just keep looking, I have been looking for almost 6 months now.

Thanks again!
test
Posted: 10:16:42 AM 12/14/2006
I can't stress how cautious you need to be about this. How did you find this person, a random advertisement? Do you know anyone or have you spoken with anyone who's gotten a dog from them in the past? Is there a reason you can't find a cocker spaniel in your area?

While I almost did buy a show quality dog from a breeder I had never met, I had gone to dog shows in my area and talked to many people who highly recommended this breeder. Her reputation was impeccable among others who owned her breed (newfoundlands) and she was actively involved in showing her dogs in canada and the US. She also was involved in the Newfoundland club of america. (and Canada too). If she had done anything shysty she would have been kicked out of the club.

I strongly advise you take the same care in choosing a breeder for your cocker spaniel. The puppy should come wiht a minimum 2+ year health guarantee against any genetic defects, and a 10 day guarantee against parasites/parvovirus/disease. The breeder should have a written contract that you can read that states what their resposibilities are as a breeder and what your responsibilities are as a buyer. You should have the sameexpectation of guarantees no matter who you get your dog from, in fact.

Given that cocker spaniels arent' exactly hard to come by (like newfoundlands) is there a reason you don't want a local breeder? There've got to be quite a few good breeders on the east coast.

What color is it you are looking for, anyway?

***Edited By: Minniyar on 12/14/2006 10:18:01 AM***
Reason: add
test
Posted: 10:17:55 AM 12/14/2006
I just wanted to say "Hello Cocker Spaniel lover!" I have two cockers, Abbie about 9yrs. old (rescued) and Dori 7 months old. I bought Dori from a breeder in Indiana, and I live in Maine. She was flown out to me in early July, just before it got to warm out here to fly. She made the trip just fine only a little motion sickness when we were driving home. Abbie and Dori are cocker number 3 and 4 for me, so cockers are definately close to my heart. Good luck with your new baby!! How exciting.
test
Posted: 10:29:51 AM 12/14/2006
If you like this breeder, have a good feeling about them, etc, go with them. It's actually not that big of an ordeal. Ive gone through two purchases of pure bred dogs from states far enough away that I had to have them sent through the airlines and they've both went off without a hitch.

The key? The breeders asked me all the right questions that showed concern and care about where their dogs were going. They called me, I called them, we emailed, etc during the time before the pups were ready (4 weeks for one, 6 for another). They were VERY picky about what airlines they worked with, they paid extra (so you pay extra) for the dogs to NOT be in cargo. They wanted me to let them know immediately when I got the pup, and to report what state the cage/food/water was in, to check up on the handling of the animal. If anything had been amiss, they'd have filed a complaint and found another method of transportation. They sent pics of the specific pup every week. I can go on and on. You know when something feels a little 'off', and when something feels right. As long as all areas are covered, go for it, and get the pup you want.

As an aside, yes, there are scammers and byb'ers out there on the internet, but there are also VERY reputable breeders out there, too. I have proof of that :) So just do your research, ask your questions, and in the end go with your gut.
test
Posted: 10:31:06 AM 12/14/2006
I really want a black cocker, it may have a white spot in the appropriate places as the standard says...chin, chest.etc. Most local breeders have buff colored spaniels but I just have fell in love with the black ones.

I found this particular breeder through this site.
test
Posted: 10:36:46 AM 12/14/2006
what color are you looking for?
I think its hard to tell if a cocker looks good unless its shaved. They can get so nappy if you dont shave them.
Our chocolate fem we had growing up was such a prity dog, We got so many complants on her then she got nappy and a few of the people who told us she was so prity and great looking said That is the uglyest dog I have ever seen.

just hang in there Im sure you will find exactly what you want
test
Posted: 10:37:35 AM 12/14/2006
Honestly... DRIVE out there... go visit the breeder.
test
Posted: 10:37:43 AM 12/14/2006
Like most dogs, if you brush them regularly/daily, they don't get 'nappy'.
test
Posted: 10:45:19 AM 12/14/2006
Google 'american spaniel club'. The first site listed is the homepage for the parent club for the american cocker spaniel, they have breeder links. Even if a breeder doesn't have the color you need, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
test
Posted: 10:46:21 AM 12/14/2006
Here are my babies......I'll take any opportunity to show them off!!

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k67/abbiesmom_01/Picture016.jpg


http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k67/abbiesmom_01/Dori.jpg


and my daughters puppy.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k67/abbiesmom_01/Picture015.jpg
test
Posted: 10:47:19 AM 12/14/2006
I know that but cockers tend to look nappy with longer hair. Its like 2 diffrent dogs in one. I think they do anyway. When they first get cut they are one of the prityest dogs I have ever seen. Im sure anyone who has owned one will say its like night and day.

Ours went past nappy into being covered in matts. I was a kid at the time.
test
Posted: 10:50:24 AM 12/14/2006
Abbiesmom they are so cute I love the markings on the little one.
test
Posted: 11:36:16 AM 12/14/2006
You really need to be careful with cocker breeders. My friend and I were looking at some show breeders CERF (eye) exams online and found most of the dogs had disorders yet were still being bred.

You really need to be sure this breeder is doing CERF exams on her dogs and there are no disorders. You can check to see if they are testing by going here http://www.vmdb.org/verify.html and looking up the parents names or using the kennel name.

Cockers should also be tested for hips, pfk, and some other things that I forget. You can check that at http://offa.org

As for shipping your puppy, both mine came to me on an airplane with no problems. Be aware in January its going to be cold and there may be snow storms that delay flights. Happened to my girl Jazzy.

Good luck.
test
Posted: 1:08:55 PM 12/14/2006


Well if you do have one shipped to you I would go with the airlines.

The ground ones sound good in thory, but to me they raelly aren't.

First off they drive in a circulare route. They don't just drive the puppy straight to their destiantion. Then they are also picking up other puppies along the way.

With a plane the puppy arrives the day it was shipped in most cases. With ground transpertation it can take days for the puppy to get to you.

In that time who knows what it has been exposed to.

So just do your research and if you have to have one shipped to you use the airlines.

Good luck with your search. I would check out the breed clubs though.
test
Posted: 1:23:07 PM 12/14/2006
Cockers dont look 'nappy' if they have long hair. They look 'nappy' if someone's a tool and doesn't brush their dog. Just liek any longer hair breed. They look often undesirable in a pet clip. They were made to have at least some saddle hair.

Think many people would be offended you think our dogs are nappy..

I get your issue (to the OP) I've been looking two months for a breeder. I looked at 5 states two provinces, and I don't especially want a black and white parti colour. I picked 8 kennels, all had every dog CH'd many in more than one country, offered decent guarantees, many mentioned their health testing..

Then before I finally contacted any of them I snooped on the OFA site. Many kennels were doing hips only, the dogs who were CEFed had distichiasis which is an awful eye condition to deal with.. the ones not CERFed, if you looked through their offspring many of them had it.

I learned that I needed to switch up my criteria. And I think I've found a lovely lady in NC who I may have a future puppy shipped from. How did I finally find someone who didn't think it was okay to breed dogs with problems? I had to stop looking online.

Many breeders are older, and aren't internet savvy.. don't have websites because they would have to have someone else do the upkeep on them. I'd suggest going to an AKC show and meeting people. Talking to them in person, otherwise you may be discounting great breeders who may be more local than you thought.

There's a CH dog I fell in love with from Quebec. The kennel is praised in the cocker world. He is a 4 country international champion. he only has his patellas and hips done.. and out of 20 offspring on the OFA database the one's who were CERFed more than half had distichiasis.

Starting to question ethics myself.
test
Posted: 1:50:20 PM 12/14/2006
I know what a cocker looks like, I have had 2 of them, My aunt has had them for as long as i can rember, My moms best friend had one, so did his daughter who lived with us, the lady down the street from were I lived from the time I was 10 untill I was about 15 had 3 of them. I have seen them cut many many diffrent ways from totaly shaved (not bald of corse), to having long well groomed hair all over (not shih tzu long but long), to there show cuts and just about everything inbetween. I have seen them at there best and at there worst (matted so bad you cant see there face matts so thick you couldnt imagen). I have seen them with long tails and with nubby tails. I have seen them from a few seconds old to 16 years old.

They look very very diffrent when they have hair, There face tends to look bigger and they look nappy. My nappy may be diffrent from your nappy. people use diffrent words in diffrent ways. I think they are cute no matter there cut but the ones with longer hair look nappy.

You cant tell me that after your dogs hari gets so long and you take it to a groomer that your not in total shock over the change, Its almost like your getting a diffrent dog back.



test
Posted: 3:18:18 PM 12/14/2006
Would going to shows and finding breeders that way mean spending more money?

What is the roundabout price?

In my search I have not seen any more than $700, I do not want to spend an arm and a leg.
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Found [36] Posts :: Page 1 of 2
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