Questions to ask a breeder:
From Melissa Frye - Skyrocket Cockers
1. Have the parents eye been examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist in the last year?
2. Have the parents been OFA'd?
4. Why did you decide to do this breeding? Tell me about the sire and dam.
5. What dog events do you do? What titles do the parents have?
6. What do you do to ensure that your puppies don't end up in rescue or shelters?
7. How old do you let your puppies go to their new homes?
10. Can I meet the dam and littermates?
11. What questions do you have for me?
1. Have the parents eye been examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist in the last year?
Eye problems are unfortunately common in cockers (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Any responsible breeder has their dog's eyes examined by a vet ophthalmologist (not just looked at by their regular vet). This cost only $25 at an eye clinic. Dogs need to be cleared yearly as there are some types of eye problems that show up later in life. The breeder may say they have had their dog CERF'd (Canine Eye Research Foundation). CERF registers dogs that are found to be clear of eye problems. When you buy your puppy ask to have a copy of the parent's eye certificates - a good breeder won't mind. It doesn't guarantee that the puppy won't have eye problems but it will indicate that the breeder is concerned about the health of their puppies and trying to prevent eye problems.
2. Have the parents been OFA'd?
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) registers dogs free hip dysplasia. The OFA website also contains a database where you can look up your dogs parents. While dysplasia not a major problem in cockers, it is still something that needs to be checked for. OFA will not register a dog younger than 2. Also, many health problems don't show up in the breed until 2 or older (thus an older sire and dam thus are more of a known quantity health wise!).
Some breeder do thyroid panels and/or test for Von Willebrands Disease (a blood clotting disorder). Some breeders also have their dogs certified with OFA for elbows and patellas. A breeder should know the lines they are breeding and be able to tell you what health problems that are in those lines.
4. Why did you decide to do this breeding? Tell me about the sire and dam.
A good breeder breeds with a goal in mind. They should be able to tell you how they think the sire will complement the girl. Answers such as " they are such great dogs, I knew they would have wonderful puppies" or "they were both registered" might indicate the breeder hasn't really thought this through. A better answer would be "the sire has a wonderful outgoing showy attitude and a beautiful head, and since the dam needed a prettier head and a more "look at me" attitude we thought they would be a good complement. In addition, I like the puppies that he has sired - they have wonderful temperaments and their father consistently produce pretty heads. They do have Famous Sire X in common, but he lived to 14 with only a little dry eye, so I am comfortable doubling up on Famous Sire X." Any breeder should have health and good temperament as their primary goal.
5. What dog events do you do? What titles do the parents have?
Let's face it - it's awful easy to think my dog is the best dog on the planet. We all are a bit blind to our dogs weaknesses. That's why it's awful important to have the dogs evaluated by impartial persons. Whether it is conformation, agility, hunt tests, or obedience these events show at a minimum that the dog can get out in a group of other dogs and people and be not disturbed. In addition, the dam or sire's temperament has not been fully assessed until they have been in many different situations (crowds, other dogs, strangers etc).
6. What do you do to ensure that your puppies don't end up in rescue or shelters?
A responsible breeder knows that there are too many cockers in rescue and shelters all over the country. Many breeders require spay and neuter of all the puppies destined to be pets. Many also have sales contracts stating this, or sell only on limited registration (no offspring of a dog on limited registration can be registered. It doesn't mean your dog is inferior, just that the breeder is caring and careful. Many breeders will also take a dog back if you cannot keep it at any point in its life.
7. How old do you let your puppies go to their new homes?
No puppy less than 8 weeks old should be sold. The time up to 8 weeks is critical to the puppies' sound mental development.
This will give you a picture of the puppies lives from 0 to 8 weeks. A breeder that interacts a lot with their puppies is a very good thing. And since the dam is important to the development of the puppies mentally and physically, her interaction with them is also very important.
A breeder should be happy to give you references from previous puppy buyers, and should have enough experience with the breed to make sound judgments about their breeding program.
10. Can I meet the dam and littermates?
No is the wrong answer! Often to improve upon their girl, they will have breed to a dog that they do not own (while occasionally a breeder will own both, be very careful of anyone with a breeding pair that are breed repeatedly to each other).
11. What questions do you have for me?
A good breeder will have lots of questions! They want to make sure their puppies are going into safe loving forever homes. They want a perfect match - the shier pup with the older retired couple, the energetic outgoing pup to the family with teenagers, etc. They will want to make sure that you know about cockers and what to expect from a cocker pup!