The reputable breeder feels responsibility towards the breed itself, toward the dogs he/she breeds & to the people who have dogs of his/her breeding.  They spend astounding amounts of time; energy & money on matters that they think are in the best interests of their dogs & puppies.

It is this awareness of responsibility that marks the difference between the good breeder & mere "puppy-raiser".  The reputable breeder is motivated by a drive to create perfection; the puppy raisers & the dog dealers are motivated by the desire to make money.

Fortunate is the novice-buyer who purchases his first dog from a reputable breeder!  Whereas a puppy-raiser may sell whole litters to dog dealers or sell their puppies indiscriminately, a reputable breeder insists on direct contact with those who buy his dogs, & sells only after the most careful screening of a would be purchaser in order to ascertain the mutual suitability of dog & buyer.

While often not fully appreciated until AFTER the dog is bought, this screening by the breeder is the greatest protection a dog purchaser can have.  Though the cost of properly caring for his dogs may cause him sleepless nights & untold worries, the reputable breeder will never let a single puppy or older dog leave for a home that is not as good as or better than the one he is providing.  Even when the dog is sold, the breeder's help & advice do not end but continue throughout the dog's life, a responsibility cheerfully accepted by him without expectation of compensation.

When selecting a puppy, the reputable breeder will show you a copy of the pedigree & explain why they selected the bloodlines they used (if you are interested!).  They will allow you to see the puppies & the mother & assist you in selecting the proper puppy to meet your needs.

Reputable breeders want to make sure that their puppies go to good homes & are well cared for.  Whilst they don't want to make prospective purchasers feel "interrogated" they want to be actively involved in screening the home that their puppies go to.  Breeders are also concerned about keeping track of their puppies after they leave the breeder's home.  This way they will ensure the puppy/dog is still loved & wanted & they will have the opportunity to note any health issues that may crop up unexpectedly during the dogs life.

A pet shop (or puppy producer) usually never hears about their puppies once they leave their ownership, & generally really don't care whether they hear from them or not! 

Puppies bought from pet shops, "backyard" breeders or puppy farmers sometimes cost less than the "going rate" but often they are similarly priced to those from reputable breeders.   The price of a puppy shouldn't be a priority; health & welfare should be the first priority.  Often the small initial saving made by purchasing a less expensive puppy can prove to be a false economy.  If breeders are able to sell their pups for less than the “going rate” then you can be sure economies have been made, if these economies relate to welfare, health or health testing then it’s possible your new family member will cost you more in vet’s bills than their purchase price!

When you purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, you are paying for more than just a dog! 

You are paying for the dog’s excellent ancestry, the breeder’s assistance, the time given to the puppy while in the breeders care, & not forgetting the care given to the mother while she is pregnant & during the actual delivery itself & the weeks following.

Then there is the socialisation, handling, care, feeding & all the cleaning required.  Puppies require a lot of social interaction & time spent with them, not forgetting either that they are messy creatures & a lot of time is spent cleaning up after them!

Knowledge & experience in raising puppies & health care can make the difference between life & death for a puppy.  Raising a litter of puppies requires a lot of time, patience, food, record keeping, puppy health records, written information, puppy packs & information for the buyer,  the proper equipment (e.g. whelping boxes, puppy pens, bedding, toys etc.), puppy grooming, worming & vet bills & so much more.  In addition, after all these things... there is the breeder's integrity.  

Without that, all the above will be suspect.

Most reputable breeders in the UK will register their puppies with the UK Kennel Club. However there is no stigma by buying an unregistered dog so long as the breeder is honest with a purchaser about why the puppy isn't registered & that the new purchaser understands that non KC registered pups can't be shown or have their offspring (if any) registered by the Kennel Club.

Many people believe that Kennel Club Registration gives a guarantee that a puppy has come from a reputable breeder & will grow into a healthy, happy example of its breed.  Sadly, this is not the case.  The Kennel Club will register any litter of puppies as long as both parents are KC registered.  There are a few limitations preventing registration if the dam (mother) is younger or older than a specified age or if she has already whelped a certain number of litters but apart from that, anything goes!  Many commercial breeders & known puppy farmers register their litters with the Kennel Club because they know it gives them certain "respectability" in the eyes of the public.

If your puppy is KC registered, ensure these documents are given to you at the time of collecting your puppy.  Be very wary of a breeder who tells you they will forward the documents later (often these never arrive!).  Ask if the registration papers have been endorsed, if so ask the breeder to explain this to you & ensure mention of any terms relating to the restrictions is mentioned in the puppy's sales contract.

In 1993 an organisation called The Dog Lovers Registration Club (DLRC) was formed.  The organisation sells itself as a "NO NONSENSE registration club, who does not believe in too much red tape".  Unlike the UK Kennel Club, details submitted to this organisation are not cross-referenced, & as such, they rely only on the information supplied by the applicant as part of the registration process. 

The Kennel Club and DLRC are two completely separate organisations.  DLRC Registration is not the same as KC Registration.  A KC registered puppy is the nearest to a guarantee that your puppy is a purebred pedigree dog with a genuine pedigree.  Puppies registered with other organisations may not be purebred & the accuracy of pedigree information may be doubtful.  If you want a KC registered puppy, don't be persuaded that DLRC registration is just the same - it is NOT!

Dogs registered with DLRC are not eligible for entry into Kennel Club Licensed events (dog shows) & puppies born from parents who are DLRC registered are not eligible for registration with the Kennel Club (unless both parents are already registered with the KC - if they are already KC registered why bother to pay more money to register with another organisation?).

The DLRC are aware that conscientious puppy purchasers want to purchase registered puppies.  Their web site encourages breeders who won't or can't register their puppies with The Kennel Club to register with them as they state, "The fact that we can supply you with these documents enhances the sale of your puppies".  If you are buying a DLRC registered puppy then you should be aware of the limitations of this form of registration!

By now you will have realised the importance of avoiding puppy farmers and finding a really dedicated reputable breeder. There are several good ways of finding experienced and reputable breeders:

	Cocker Breed Clubs are a good place to start your search.  The Secretaries of each Club should be able to recommend breeders who maybe have puppies available or who are expecting a litter.  Contact numbers for all the Breed Clubs can be found on the Kennel Club's website.  For Cocker Breed Club Secretaries please click here.
	The Kennel Club has a Puppy Sales List, which is sent to enquirers as part of their Puppy Pack.  This list contains details of non-commercial breeders (those that have fewer than 5 litters a year) who have registered puppies recently & have paid the KC to include their litter in the Puppy Sales list.  (Please note, many reputable breeders have waiting lists & have NO need to advertise their puppies). Please be aware that the KC does not guarantee that breeders on their puppy sales list are reputable - potential buyers should not assume this & should ascertain for themselves whether a breeder listed is the kind they would be happy to buy a puppy from (see notes above & elsewhere on this site).
	Many dog-related web sites have listings for breeders.  However, enquirers should not assume a breeder is reputable because their name appears on an internet listing - commercial breeders & puppy farmers can often be found on these lists.
	Another way to find a reputable breeder is by "word of mouth".  Often you will meet people with lovely dogs - if you like the dog (& the people) ask them where they got him/her.  People who are happy with & enjoy their dog are usually only too willing to recommend "their" breeder to other people.
	Many show breeders (& breeders engaged in other dog-related hobbies) will have web sites of their own.  Using a "Search Engine" with the appropriate words (cocker spaniel puppies, show breeders etc.), will show a list of breeders web sites.  You should be able to tell from the "feel" of the web site whether you wish to approach a particular breeder.

The Kennel Club Accredited Breeders Scheme:

In January 2004 the UK Kennel Club launched a new scheme aimed at raising standards and introducing "best practice", they named the scheme  "The Kennel Club Accredited Breeders Scheme". 

Any breeder can apply to join this scheme.  The Kennel Club state there are strict rules, & measures will be taken to ensure breeders do comply with the aims & continue to comply with the aims of the scheme.  A breeder’s registration history and health testing records will be checked before they are accepted as Accredited Breeders and a member of the scheme will personally visit the breeder prior to acceptance onto the scheme.  Furthermore, the scheme will be "policed" by feedback from puppy buyers, computer checks via the Kennel Club database and home visits from the breed advisor.

The principle behind this scheme is good for a number of reasons; it is also flawed for a variety of other reasons!

The Kennel Club should be applauded for attempting to improve the welfare of dogs and the puppies they produce, however many reputable breeders already exceed the requirements stipulated and don't feel the need to join.  Many also take the view that if the Kennel Club had welfare at heart then registrations from less reputable breeders should not be accepted at all.

We are, by choice, founder members of the scheme.  We realise that nothing is perfect and although we exceed the ABS recommendations and have always exceed the recommendations; we feel that the basic principles of the scheme are laudable and that reputable breeders should support the scheme.

Regardless of whether a breeder belongs or not, you should check that your chosen breeder has met the minimum requirements of the scheme.  The requirements of the scheme are very basic and the breeder of your puppy should at the very least be able to comply with the scheme even if they are not members.

Please see our Questions To Ask link for further information on what you should ask; what you should expect to see when you visit a breeder & for details on what a reputable breeder offers as part of their commitment to you & your new puppy.

Puppies from reputable breeders are worth their "weight in gold" as not only do you get a quality, well bred, healthy, well socialised & cared for puppy you get the added benefits of insurance, puppy packs, vet checks, micro chipping & support from the breeder for the life of the puppy.  You will get all this for a similar price from a good breeder, as you would expect to pay from a less reputable breeder!

If you don't feel the breeder of your new puppy is a Reputable Breeder then don't buy the puppy!  You will pay a similar amount of money for your puppy regardless of where you get him/her from, why pay the same amount of money for a poor quality puppy, an unhealthy puppy &/or a poor level of care & after-sales commitment??

And finally ...

Be patient!  Reputable breeders do not have a constant supply of puppies & it may be that potential buyers will have to wait weeks, perhaps months for a suitable litter to be born.  Mistakes are often made by buyers who will not wait … they want a puppy NOW & so will often rush out & buy in haste (perhaps ignoring the warning signs that the breeder is not reputable or hasn't had their dog's heath tested!).  Remember, you will hopefully have your dog for 10-15 years - what is a wait of a few months for the "right" puppy compared to rushing in & not choosing a healthy pup from a reputable breeder?

Please also remember, that whilst you may pay a little more for a well-bred, healthy & well cared for puppy, this extra cost is nothing compared to the amount you may end up paying in terms of vet bills & emotional upset should you purchase a cheaper puppy from a poor or inexperienced breeder!