How to Find a Responsible Breeder

First, we should explain what we mean by a "responsible" breeder. The opposite, an "indiscriminate" breeder, is one who breeds dogs by accident, out of convenience or solely to make money. These breeders range from those that breed Sparky and Fluffy "because they are sweet dogs" to the notorious "puppy mills" that breed dogs in deplorable conditions to produce as many puppies as possible while spending as little as possible on care and feeding.

A responsible breeder is very careful about the dogs they select to breed. They research the pedigrees of possible mates to see if they can find an ideal combination of good traits that will likely result in even better offspring. These traits include the characteristics that make a Cocker unique, per the breed standard, and the health and temperament. It is not unusual for responsible breeders to breed to a dog from across the country. Responsible breeders raise their puppies with the utmost attention to the mother's pre-natal care and the puppies' health and temperament during the critical first 8 weeks of their lives. These are qualities found in responsible breeders:
  • A breeder who has had several litters and knows his breed or is working with the help of a qualified mentor.
  • A breeder who has shown his dogs and has done some winning, which is a fairly good indication that his or her dogs conform to the standard of the breed and will grow up looking like the dogs you saw that attracted you to the breed in the first place.
  • A breeder who is using a testing process to match the right dog with the right person.
  • A breeder whose dogs are certified by the applicable registries against breed-related genetic disorders, such as eyes, hips, etc. Read more about questions to ask a prospective breeder regarding hereditary health.
  • A breeder where you can interact with adult dogs, and get some idea how long they live.
  • A breeder where the dogs are up-to-date on shots and checkups, well housed and everything is clean.
  • A breeder who will not release a puppy until it is at least 8 weeks old. Critical aspects of their development must occur with their mother and siblings and be under the direct supervision of the breeder up to the 8 week mark.
  • A breeder who includes a written contract  that outlines the responsibilities of the buyer and the breeder to protect the dog.
One of the advantages of working with the Cocker Spaniel Club of Georgia is we are part of an international network of responsible breeders. We can put you in contact with a responsible Cocker Spaniel breeder.