Frequently asked questions
The number one question asked: Do you have any available puppies?
See Upcoming Litter page for puppy news. If we have available puppies, it will say so. See the Current Puppies dropdown menu above to view the available puppies.
We are a small breeder and we breed rarely, as there are many adult and senior cocker spaniels looking for homes. When puppies are available, they find homes fast. If you want a puppy anytime in the future, apply now. Update us if you get on other breeder waiting lists, find a puppy, or change your mind as a courtesy to the breeder and other people looking for a puppy.
See Upcoming Litter page for puppy news. If we have available puppies, it will say so. See the Current Puppies dropdown menu above to view the available puppies.
We are a small breeder and we breed rarely, as there are many adult and senior cocker spaniels looking for homes. When puppies are available, they find homes fast. If you want a puppy anytime in the future, apply now. Update us if you get on other breeder waiting lists, find a puppy, or change your mind as a courtesy to the breeder and other people looking for a puppy.
So you think you want a cocker spaniel puppy... but you have some questions. |
(Mostly) General answers to commonly asked questions.Confirm these answers with your selected breeder prior to deposit/purchase. If you have trouble accessing the FAQ, there is a server-side issue out of our control that may effect mobile users. Access this on a computer instead. How much does a cocker spaniel puppy cost?
The purchase price is not the only cost. Over its lifetime, a cocker spaniel puppy will cost well over $15,000, much more depending on type of food you choose, grooming, and health. The purchase price of a pet cocker spaniel puppy is between $450 and $3400 or more, with the average in Florida from a breeder at $1500-2800. In general, you get what you pay for.
If your primary factor in choosing a breeder is a few hundred dollars difference in the purchase price, you are unlikely to be able to afford the dog. In the immediate months following purchase, you should expect to spend $1000-3000 on top of the purchase price. Why do cocker spaniel puppies cost so much?
In short, it costs a lot of money and time to raise a puppy.
You may remember a day of lower than $450, but that was 15+ years ago, before inflation, extensive spay-neuter campaigns, and a lowered breed popularity reducing the number of breeders. These days you can get an adult cocker spaniel at a big rescue for $450-600. Today, the breeders charging low amounts should be considered with extreme caution between shipping scams(see the popular one HERE--to be posted--) and low quality of care. The more accurate way to think about the price is that you are really paying for the breeder's care, not the puppy. Ask yourself if you want an inexpensive puppy or a well cared for puppy. Unfortunately higher price does not always mean good care. Find out what goes into a puppy and choose a breeder whose care level you like. Asking how much without finding out about care is a meaningless price. You can buy a phone for $200 but if you received a $20 disposable flip phone with no internet capabilities, would you be happy compared to paying $800 for a newer iPhone? Saying "I just want a pet", "I'm not going to breed the dog", or "I'm on a fixed income" does not change the level of care and expenses that are needed to raise the puppy. Read about our care by clicking either link on our Welcome page. What colors do cocker spaniel puppies come in?
Cocker spaniels come in the following colors:
These colors can be modified to have "tan points", similar to a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher. Tan points are on the eyebrows, lower legs, sides of the muzzle, under the ears, under the tail, and optionally on the chest.
They can be solid colored or particolored. "Parti" for short(not "party") means the base color is well broken by splotches of white, similar to a paint horse: red(buff) and white, such as "Lucky Bundy" in Married with Children black & white brown & white Combine parti and tan points: black, tan & white brown, tan & white Marking patterns continue to modify the coat:
Are cocker spaniel puppies good with kids?
YES. In general a cocker spaniel puppy is highly adaptable to kids. To avoid issues, many breeders place a minimum age on any kids in the home. More often than not, the reverse is the issue: many young kids are not good with a puppy, particularly the puppy's antics(jumping in faces, puppy nipping) and will be afraid of the puppy.
Any small sized dog, like a cocker spaniel, will tend to be more defensive when provoked. Kids of all ages should be watched around a puppy. Small kids should be monitored closely. Any kid should not be allowed to molest a cocker spaniel puppy to avoid provoking it into defending itself. Cocker spaniels can be stubborn, so introducing them to kids regularly will help avoid issues if you decide to have a kid in the future. Most issues with kids and cocker spaniels are due to the cocker spaniel never being exposed to kids, never being trained by the owner, the owner not separating the kid from the cocker spaniel, or the owner failing to teach their kid to respect a dog's space and to be gentle when touching a dog. Due to the added burden on the parents, it is generally not recommended to have a baby or young toddler and a puppy of any breed at the same time. Instead, consider an already potty trained, older cocker spaniel puppy or adult cocker spaniel. If you've never had a dog before, you should know that a puppy is a puppy until it is 2 years old, meaning it takes substantial training time to raise a puppy and you may find it preferable to wait until your youngest is old enough to not need to be monitored closely so that it is easier to train and enjoy the puppy to the fullest. I am happy to have the "you are not ready for a puppy" talk to your kids if you as the parent don't want to be "the bad guy" saying no to getting a puppy. ;-) Are cocker spaniel puppies good with cats?
YES. In general a cocker spaniel puppy is highly adaptable to cats.
A cocker spaniel is a sporting breed that likes to hunt and chase prey. The puppy should be trained not to hunt and chase the cats. Unless trained well to "stay" and "leave it", it is not recommended to introduce an adult cocker spaniel to a cat. A very slow, properly separated introduction over time would be needed. Are cocker spaniel puppies good for apartments and condos?
MAYBE. A dedicated pet owner can make anything work.
Despite being small, a cocker spaniel puppy is a sporting breed, with moderate to high energy. A cocker spaniel puppy that is not taken for walks 3 times a day, totaling 3 miles a day is unlikely to do well in a small home without a yard. Some housing types have weight limits, in which case you need to be sure you are getting a puppy that will not get too big. Ask about a lower energy level puppy, such a puppy is typically a solid brown. Keep in mind that dogs make noise and neighbors may complain, so commitment to training is vital. An adult or senior with a proven track record of minimal noise and lower energy may be a better match. Are cocker spaniel puppies good left alone?
NO. They are possibly the worst choice if no one is around.
Cocker spaniels were bred to stay within net throwing and later gun range of their owner. They are not happy if not near their owners at all times. It takes significant training to prevent a cocker from "separation anxiety". A cocker spaniel is never to be used as an outdoor pet. There are other breeds better suited to being left alone most of the day or live outdoors. Are cocker spaniel puppies good with seniors?
YES. In general, these are perfect dogs for seniors because a senior is home all day. Bare in mind cockers easily live to 15 or more years old, so review your own health and life expectancy to see how long you may live and making sure someone wants to take in your dog if you pass away becomes important, do this before you buy a cocker spaniel puppy. If you are unable to walk 3 miles a day and can not afford to hire a pet walker($15-30 a walk), consider adopting a senior cocker that will have lower energy needs.
Are cocker spaniel puppies hypo-allergenic or low shedding?
NO. Hypo-allergenic is a "buzz word" used to market puppies. All dogs shed dander and all dogs have saliva; dander and saliva is what people are actually allergic to, not the coat itself. Sometimes people are actually allergic to things on the coat like pollen and shampoo fragrances.
The cocker spaniel is a double coated breed. This means there is an inner and outer coat. The inner coat is the long feathering on a cocker, while the outer coat stays shorter. Both coats shed. Cockers do shed less than some short and medium coated breeds. Ex: Boxer, Labrador. German Shepherd. Cockers do not "blow coat" all at once like spitz type breeds. Ex: Husky. "Hair"(wire+long) coated breeds or long curly wire coated breeds shed far less. For those interested in a cocker cross, take note that the puppy will take after either parent and there is no way to know at a young age what the adult coat will be without genetic testing for coat type. (Ex: Some Poodles only carry 1 copy of the wire coat gene, so 1/2 of a cockapoo litter would be normal shed coats.) How big do cocker spaniel puppies get?
This depends on the genetics being passed down by the parents, feeding habits of the owner, and the time of spay/neuter.
Every breeder has slightly different genes, so this question should be asked of every breeder and for the specific litter. The parents' weights and heights and a rough estimate of the individual puppy can be provided, but it's still an educated guess. The ideal height is 15 inches at the withers for a male, with females one inch smaller. As a sporting dog and well boned and well muscled breed, a cocker spaniel is expected to end up being over 20 pounds, averaging 28 lbs. for males and 25 lbs. for females. For those wanting a specific size that is not consistent with the parents, the smallest puppy can end up the largest adult and the largest puppy can end up the smallest adult, so picking a puppy based on size when meeting is not helpful. Your best bet is to get an adult if you require a certain size. Early spay/neuter will cause the bones to grow longer than they would naturally, increasing height and weight. Spay/neuter prior to physical maturity(typically one-two years old depending on the ancestry) stops the sex hormones, which are responsible for bone growth. The adult size deference is minor when spayed at 1 year old dog and major when spayed at 4 months old. Over feeding the dog will increase the weight from fat. (All ribs should be easily felt through the skin. When viewed from above, a waist indent smaller than the rib cage and hips should be visible.) Generations of well bred cockers (selective breeding for correct traits) are the right height with very few over-height. There is no such thing as a miniature cocker spaniel; compared to oversize cockers they may seem small, but they are really the normal size. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not miniature cockers and may or may not be smaller than a small cocker. Breeder trends today for CKCS are for a larger size. May I breed THE Cocker SpanIel puppy?
In general, puppies sold as pets only are not for breeding. This is something to discuss with the breeder; different breeders have different policies. If you have even the smallest thought of breeding (even "just once") at any point in your search for a puppy, use a breeder that will sell a puppy for the purposes of breeding, such a breeder should be happy to discuss breeding and be a valuable resource. There is a lot of information that you should know prior to purchasing a puppy for breeding and later when it is time to pick a stud/lease a bitch and whelp the litter. Some breeders charge an additional fee for full or breeding rights($500-1500), however there is no guarantee the puppy will be suitable or able to breed.
Do breeders have Older Dogs?
In general, breeders will occasionally have older puppies, "retired" adults, and even fostered adults available.
We have older puppies and adults available. Please fill out the puppy application (and add the age you are interested in) so we can determine if you are a match to any. may I get a Puppy at below asking price?
This will vary from breeder to breeder. In general, the price is set by the breeder to defray the expenses of raising the litter while still being competitive with other breeders' prices. Often this price is already well below the costs. In general, the more time and money that went into the litter, the higher the price of the puppy. Asking for a lower price means the breeder is selling at a higher loss. Sometimes a breeder will offer an older puppy at a higher cost to defray the expense of raising it for the longer time period and the training put in. Sometimes a breeder is motivated to sell an older puppy despite the loss. Most often, asking for a lower price is highly offensive and doing so could ruin your chance of them selecting you as a home.
Should you find lower prices, remember that you are paying for the breeder's care, not the puppy. How much care do you want your puppy to receive? Likewise, how much care can the breeder expect you to put into the puppy should you be unable or unwilling to accept the breeder's price? In general, homes unable to pay over a certain amount are less likely to pass a breeder's screening process. "I can't afford a cocker spaniel" Puppy hunting fever clouds your judgement. Take a deep breath. There is no rush to get a puppy. This is a decision that will live you with for up to 15+ years. Change your approach from lowest price to best breeder you can afford by saving . Take a good 3 months to discover breeders, narrow down to 2-3 to make contact with, narrow down again and get on 1 waiting list; this will give you lots of time to save up. You'll value the puppy you saved up for rather than resenting the cheap puppy or wishing you hadn't gone into debt to get a puppy. If you had $400 today or $2000 in 4 months to go on a shopping spree, which would you rather do? Your puppy hunting experience will be a lot more fun when you are not in a rush and you can afford most breeders. You will be less likely to later wish you had paid a bit more to get a puppy from a breeder you really wanted a puppy from. The shelter and local area rescues do have cute puppies when low price matters most. Shelters are the best deal as they come with first shots and spay/neuter included, usually for $250 or less. Rescues tend to be more costly, sometimes higher than breeders. Please consider adopting a shelter pet! May I reserve a puppy for a specific purpose?
This is something to discuss with each breeder. In general, it is impossible to determine if an 8 week old puppy will turn into your ideal purpose dog as an adult. It is not in the best interest of an 8 week old puppy for a breeder to place it in your home knowing the puppy may not end up suitable for your intended purpose and potentially need to find a new home. Use a breeder that is also an expert in your wanted purpose to improve the odds that the breeder is selecting for traits that make for the best dogs for your purpose with each generation. Select breeders will guarantee the purpose, usually if you are willing to return the dog.
We offer companions (pets) only. NOTE: Due to the overwhelming majority of purpose dog requests being below asking price requests, it's important to specify to the breeder that you are willing to pay full price to avoid your inquiry being confused as such. Are the puppies potty trained?
NO. Potty training has started but potty training is an ongoing process and relies heavily on the new owner's willingness to stick to a potty schedule. Even if an older puppy has been potty trained by the breeder, you should expect it to be confused in a new environment(your home) and you must be proactive to prevent accidents by treating the puppy as though it has not had any training. If potty training is not something you are willing to deal with, consider an adult. We offer a potty training Puppy Boot Camp for an additional charge.
May I Meet All of the Puppies Before they Go home?
Some breeders will let you, some won't(it's a life threatening health hazard). The puppy buying process should be 1) decide on a breeder you like 2) accept the breeder's puppy, not 1) visit a litter or five 2) pick out your favorite puppy.
Some buyers think they can take the puppy early if they visit the litter early. Legally it can't leave until a minimum age(varies by state) and many breeders have older minimums in the best interests of the puppies. Many buyers just want to check out young puppies with little or no intention to purchase. A breeder is not a petting zoo nor afternoon entertainment. If you want to hold or play with puppies, visit a pet store or shelter. If the breeder has an open invitation, it's fine to go just to see, but don't request a separate appointment as it's discourteous to the breeder when you are not committed to getting a puppy. Some breeders require a deposit to view the litter to be sure they are devoting their time and energy towards committed buyers. For us, yes, locals are encouraged to come meet some of them on weekend afternoons during socialization. If you are not in the immediate area, it's not recommended as you will not get to choose from all of the puppies. Meeting them all will usually cause you to pick a favorite or two based on things that have no meaning such as falling asleep in your arms or coming to you first. Having a favorite will cause you to get upset when we have to remind you that selection is limited to your matching puppies only, and this can be avoided by waiting to see the puppies until after they are matched to you at 7 weeks old. May I Meet the breeder and see the Parents?
See "MAY I MEET ALL OF THE PUPPIES BEFORE THEY GO HOME"
I want a Merle. Do you have that?
Merle is not a rare or special color and you can find many breeders that breed for merle. There is a major concern about merle hidden in buff, sable, and open marked particolor coats as well as particolors with minimal color on the ears and eyes bred to a merle carrying those same color genes resulting in negatively affected "double merle" (deaf and/or blind) puppies. Responsible, knowledgeable breeding is a must.
We don't have the merle gene, but we can assist you in getting a merle. What is the deposit amount?
In general, a deposit is anything up to one half of the purchase price, with full payment due if shipping or picking up after a certain age. Some breeders don't take deposits as it is not in the best interest of the puppy to have the pressure of losing their deposit even though they decided they aren't ready for or interested in the puppy.
We don't want to take deposits for this reason, but because we want each litter to be wanted well in advance, we have an optional fee of $250. The earlier you pay it, the lower your total price will be. Don't pay it if there is a chance you will want it back later, it's non-refundable if you change your mind. Pay in full at pick up instead. Flight and long distance delivery fee will need to be prepaid and post-ready date requests may need to be paid in half or in full depending on the circumstances. May I get a 2nd puppy for free?
A hobby breeder is not a commercial breeder with tons of puppies such that economies of scale drastically lower the costs to allow for enough profit to do so; the sale of one puppy is already at a loss so "no" is going to be your answer unless you are dealing with someone that is not truly a hobby breeder. If you want a free second puppy from us, the first puppy is $3,400 (the rate Petland currently charges for a young puppy bred by a commercial breeder). A breeder might offer a wonderful long term return buyer a 2nd puppy at a lower price, but that is for the breeder to offer, not to request or expect.
Do you dock tails?
YES. In general, a cocker spaniel breeder docks tails. You should always ask if a breeder docks tails to be certain. You may ask a docking breeder to not dock a tail. If the breeder agrees, the breeder will want full payment before or by the time the litter is 24 hours old, as tail docking is done shortly after birth.
The cocker spaniel breed standard states tails are to be docked. The cocker spaniel breed club states docked tails are a vital breed characteristic. In modern times, most pets won't be working, but a hobby breeder's role is to follows the breed standard as recommended by the breed club. The cocker spaniel breed was not bred for a short sturdy tail. The tail is long and rat-like thin, made up of tiny bones. It is not at all like a Labrador tail, which is thick through the end and made up of larger bones. It is not at all like a terrier tail, which is very thick at the base, sturdy, and naturally shorter. It is not at all like a Corgi tail, which is a natural bob tail gene, which has a side effect of causing 1/4 of each litter to be reabsorbed in the uterus. The tail on a dog has poor circulation. This means healing is very slow and infections occur. Tail injury can easily result in amputation. Removing a little of the tail generally results in repeated amputations of more and more tail. It is advisable to take off more tail in the first surgery, as the closer to the body, the better the success rate of healing. Tail amputation is a serious, expensive surgery as an adult that can be entirely avoided by docking at birth as a quick recovery, mild procedure. If your chosen breeder doesn't dock tails, do not pull on it nor pick the dog up by the tail. If you plan to work the dog in cover or like a dock tailed, it's generally not advisable to do it until there is an injury, but you can ask if a vet will dock at the time of spay/neuter. Otherwise, enjoy your full tail cocker. I'm not paying that for you to choose My PUPPY For me. Any Exceptions?
NO. The breeder has spent 8 or more weeks getting to know the litter. A buyer might spend 15 minutes to an hour with the litter and decide; that short time spent is an inaccurately painted picture and meaningless. It raises the odds the puppy will be given up.
Breeders putting their puppies' lifetime well being first, above a sale, will select the best match(-es) for you based on the interview and other conversations. The more you tell the breeder about your expectations, lifestyle, and what you need in your puppy, the better the match will be. All efforts are made to match you to your preferred gender and/or color. Deposits can be rolled over to the next litter (or refunded with some breeders) if you don't like your match(-es). You have the option of a) choosing a breeder or pet store that doesn't care if you will keep the puppy long term, prioritizes the sale(income), and will let you pick out your puppy or b) waiting for a litter to be evaluated and seeing if you also happen to be a match. Here, you are given the chance to make gender/coloring requests before birth, this is effectively picking your puppy. If you've come to us after birth, please note requests for a specific puppy prior to matching will not be approved, please do not ask. If you'd like to request a specific puppy anyway, a fee equal to the quoted price will be added to your total as a high risk of return fee and you will get the puppy if, and only if, you are a good match. Is the puppy Fixed?
In most cases, no. It is highly recommended to not fix a puppy prior to 6 months old. In most cases, it is recommended a puppy be spayed after the first heat or neutered at 9 months old at the earliest. In other cases(breeders following the newest research), it is preferable to wait until greater maturity at 1 to 2 years old. As an alternative, an ovary sparing spay or vasectomy can be done at a young age, as it leaves the organs to allow the hormones to be produced(spay or neuter can be done later if desired). Depending on the age you get your puppy, altering may already be performed. Some breeders offer a refund with proof of spay/neuter at the appropriate age.
Do you Take Credit/Paypal?
Responsible breeders do not generally take credit, Paypal, or offer financing. If you to pay by credit, in the eyes of a responsible breeder, you cannot afford a puppy and are a high risk of returning the puppy. We do not accept credit as we are not a business. If you want to pay with credit, we recommend Walmart Money Gram. They take credit cards, charge a fee under $10 to send it basically immediately (no snail mail delay or rush overnight mail), and your credit card company charges you a cash advance fee(i.e. 3%. Businesses that take credit generally charge you 3-3.5% more if paying with credit, so it ends up about the same doing it this way.). We do accept Paypal for up to $500. If you prefer Paypal beyond that, please contact us. We do not offer credit line financing. Layaway installments are available and we'll hold the puppy until paid in full. Is a fenced yard required?
No, a fenced yard is not required. However, not having a fenced yard will most likely reduce the number of available matches. If you want the most available puppy matches, it is recommended that you install a fence before matching takes place.
Ownership of a home(any type) is the only minimum requirement to apply. If you do not own a home, but your parents do and your parents have a veterinarian reference, you may apply. |