mcbeal Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) Sorry if this is a silly question .......... I have been considering purchasing a cocker spaniel for a few years now and my husband and I finally agree the time is right. For the last few weeks I have been dilligently researching litters for sale. I do understand that quality pups come at a price, however I am a little too poor to pay $850 for a pup that will be a pet and de sexed as soon as possible. If I was wanting to show or breeding myself I would happily pay that and more for the good genetics etc. As tempting as it is to buy a puppy for $350-400 I really do not want to purchase from a backyard breeder for obvious reasons. I have managed to locate a lady in Queensland who is selling golden cocker pups (just an aside I would like a golden one because we have a tendancy to have black and silver pets and I would like to have a break from that cycle for a while!). She is selling males for $500 with papers. I, of course will be asking her to supply me with a copy, and this might be blatantly obvious, but will it be easy for me to tell if they are legit? And by selling a puppy with papers does that mean that I have avoided buying from a backyard breeder (my assumption is that I would be avoiding one) though I did find the add on Petlink (forgive me). Also if I approached a DOL breeder (whom I would be most inclined to trust) and explained to them that I can only afford $600 and will have desexed, welcome a home inspection to meet the other fluffy kid etc, do you think that would listen/help me or laugh and tell me I am dreaming ? Any advice would be lovely, or if any victorian cocker breeders would like to contact me I would appreciate it. Edited to fix spelling/grammer! Edited June 17, 2008 by mcbeal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippa Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 but will it be easy for me to tell if they are legit? Are they are a registered breeder? Make sure you ask if the pups are registered with the canine council, cos papers can mean anything. They could just type up a few names and print it out and some people are none the wiser. And ask about health testing. I was researching cockers here for a freind some time ago and was talking to a breeder and they wouldn't answer questions about health testing and whether the parents have had DNA tests for the known diseases in the breed, so I avoided that one. I'd be sus if most pups are 800 and these ones are 500. What's wrong with them? Just remember not to skimp, and sometimes you have to pay the going price for quality, especially as this a family member you are buying and you want the best you can get. It would be awful to buy a pup that needed lots of vet care and would cost you more in the end. Save up and buy the best you can and PM the cocker people on DOL to get advice about who are buying from. Have you looked at the puppy listings on the DOL breed pages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Well for starters whilst you will be paying $500 ad another $100 plus for air frieght & another $70 for crate hire.So infact you will be looking at $650/700 mark.. *If you now her prefix you can then phone the CCCQ to confirm she is registered. *Then ask for current eye clearances for both parents(DNA/optigen would be better)If they wont or arent willing to share run fast. *If the puppy isnt what you expected upon arrival will they refund you the money on return of the pup(you will pay for freight back) * Some breeder offer refunds once spayed ($100 etc ) Dont barter with price very few breeders will listen because there first reaction will be if you cant afford the price will you be able to afford the grooming bills. I would consider contacting the cocker club in Victoria & see if they have an rescues also some breeders may have older puppies for sale already spayed,trained etc etc at a lower price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Why not ask the breeder to email you a copy of the pups pedigree. They should not mind. Also ask their prefix name & phone the canine association & ask if they are currently registered. It doesn't matter where you saw the ad. If more reputable registered breeders advertised on that site it would make people aware that they dont have to buy a cross breed or a shonky purebred from a backyard breeder. Check the relevant health tests for the breed have been done,as advised. When buying from interstate there is always some risk. Personal visit to a breeder in your own state is always the preferred choice whenever possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) You have been given some good advice mcbeal. If you are looking for a family member that will be with you for up to 15 years, then you want to buy the best dog you can. It is not about show quality or good genetics so a dog looks beautiful, it is about buying a healthy dog that has been bred by a reputable breeder. The breeder will have made sure both dogs are DNA tested for prcd-PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) which causes blindness, and FN (Familial Nephropathy), a fatal kidney disease in which puppies usually die around 6 months of age. Good cocker spaniel breeders test for these diseases. If you buy a puppy from a breeder that does not test you risk losing your puppy at an early age or the dog going blind. Most cocker spaniel breeders sell their limited register dogs (not show quality) for $800 to $850. Many sell their main register (show quality) pups for the same price, sometimes more. So $500 is too cheap and there is either something wrong with the pup, the breeder is not doing the appropriate health tests and is not caring for their dogs as well as they should be (maybe not feeding premium foods etc.) and/or they are backyard breeders. I would suggest that you wait until you can afford to buy a good quality puppy from a reputable registered breeder who has done all the appropriate health testing. Pet puppies deserve the same start in life as show puppies. They deserve healthy parents, to be free from genetic diseases and to be fed the best diet just as much as puppies that will be shown. If you work out the additional cost over the lifespan of the dog it is worth it to have the peace of mind of knowing that your puppy is going to live a long and healthy life. In my opinion you have made a great start in choosing a cocker as your new family member. Make the decision to buy the best dog you can and you will never regret that decision. PM me if you want to ask any questions about cocker breeders. I am happy to help. Edited June 17, 2008 by WendyH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeal Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Thanks for all the great advice re the papers and the cost of the puppy. It looks like I will need to save a bit longer, which I guess at the heart of it I already knew, it is just having 2 mortages to service is fairly daunting ..... and yes I am aware of how much and am fully capable of paying for the regular grooming they require and all the other associated costs of puppy ownership. I must admit I was a bit suss too that she was selling the bitches for $800 and the males for $500, every other breeder I have spoken to does not make the distinction. I am undecided if I will contact her or not ... probably not I would much prefer to purchase one local so I can keep in contact with the breeder. I was orginially hoping that I would be able to get a slightly older puppy(somewhere around the 6 month mark), as I know some are kept for showing but for various reasons do not work out. However, I disussed this idea with a local breeder and she advised against it as I have a 3 1/2 year old son (very gentle, raised with our other dog ... but still a 3 year old!!) infact she recommended that I should not buy a puppy older than 12 weeks old, hence why I have started to look at litters. Keep the advice coming, it is much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 HI;what a wonderful chioce!! all the advise you have been given is spot on;DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER getting (cheap)cocker ;you are buying trouble! conntact your canine council & ask for reg breeders ;also the cocker spaniel society of your state;do a lot of research before you decide.you want a breeder that offers a life time support .I also suggest unless you know of the breeder, then purchase from your own state ;so you can visit parents of pup ; whilst cockers are great with kids,, you do not want to introduce a( sour ).dog to a small child,The idear of taking on an older dog is great,providing it has been well socialised& meets the standards set in previous posts .Wishing you every succsess in your search . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverblue Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 {Quote}So $500 is too cheap and there is either something wrong with the pup, the breeder is not doing the appropriate health tests and is not caring for their dogs as well as they should be (maybe not feeding premium foods etc.) and/or they are backyard breeders {Quote}DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER getting (cheap)cocker ;you are buying trouble!. I am sorry my fellow Cocker people but I am going to have to disagree with you on this one. Up until a couple of years ago I was still selling my pups for $500.00, I have now upped the price to $750.00 to cover DNA & microchipping. If I thought the pup was going to a wonderful home where it was going to be loved I would still sell @ $500, to me it is more important that the pup was going to a good home, I would be happy to cover the expenses. Not everyone can afford $850, doesn't mean they can't afford to look after the pup. Maybe you had better not buy a pup from me cos I am too cheap !!!!! (not that I have any) & I MUST be a puppy farmer. With all due respect if the pup & breeder are registered, health tests are done I would say go for it, not EVERYONE charges so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 That was a couple of years ago Silverblue, we are talking about now. You just said you charge $750 now. I would think $750 would be close enough to the average price to be all right, and the price does vary from state to state. In NSW it is $800 to $850. You are a very kind lady if you would sell a puppy for $500, but when this breeder is in a totally different state from the OP and she can't see the puppies, I would still suggest she should be wary of a breeder selling her dogs for $500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 or one that charges 2 prices for male/female . As for the older dog i agree in some ways BUT many breeders dogs have been around children & this is an avenue i wouldnt right off. Contact all the breeders & see what they have.You will do a meet & greet anyway & would certainly get a good idea of how the pup will interact. I understand where that breeder was coming from as we dont have children & our dogs dont come in contact with young children so we are careful when rehoming older dogs,You must be . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I bought a lovely puppy sight unseen (photos only) from a reputable interstate breeder...not a cocker but an Australian Shepherd. In Victoria they sell for around $1000. I paid $500 plus $135 to have her flown to Victoria. She was one of the two pick puppies of an exceptionally nice litter, daddy is a Grand Champion, mummy is a champion, her pedigree has champions and Grand Champions at every level and she is a divine and precious little girl. I did not buy her because of the price but because she was what I wanted. $500 just happens to be the price this particular breeder charges for her pups....and she came main registered, vaccinated, microchipped and with hip and eye sceening certs for both parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeal Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 Oh Silverblue .... what a shame that you do not have any puppies at the moment as you are not that far away from me .......... sigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan of Arc Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 We allowed a family to adopt a pup from our last litter at a greatly reduced price. It wasnt really that they couldnt afford to full price but they had a child with a severe illness that had totalled thier financial situation. The family was known to members of our extended family and we were assured they could look after her. They have since moved to ACT, they have kept in touch, the child is now recovering and thier Lab puppy is her constant companion. We get emails with updates on a regular basis and a bi- monthly photo. I have never regretted my actions although at the time several local people told me I was mad to allow them to take her so cheaply. But then I didnt have the litter to make money - given that we alos dontated a pup to a worthy cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeal Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 Here is my next (silly) question ...... it is possible to have chocolate (both solid and roan) coloured cockers. A NSW breeder has a litter due soon and they are $500 each with papers, microchip, first vacs and puppy care pack I am off to google chocolate coloured cockers!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 You need to focus on what health tests have been done. Microchip is compulsory in most states so thats no added bonus. There are many BYB breeders who are also registered .These people often have never shown or competed in any dog sports,some dont even groom there own dogs but send them to a salon. As much as you want a cheaper pup this dog should be around for the next 12 years & finding a breeder that is breeding for the betterment of the breed in both health & temperament is very important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippa Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 petlink or dogzonline? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverblue Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Yes it is possible to have "Liver" both in solids & roans. As settrlvr said just make sure the approiate health checks are done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbeal Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 Alright you have got me again .... naughty me I was on petlink again ( ). This time though it was by accident I swear, I thought I had selected the petrescue website ..... turns out I only read the pet bit ....... and then I just had a quick look ........ I think I may have a problem . At least this breeder has a website that I have been looking at .... they have a lovely chocolate roan boy and he is bewtiful. There prices actually start from $550 for a black and go up to $1200 for a chocolate bitch. This is such a minefield to navigate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 There are ok registered breeders (not necessarily cockers) who advertise on petlink. They are not in the majority, and I don't go there very often, but occasionally you see someone who is ok advertising there. A good thing too, gives the people who use that site an option of a decent pup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♫♥♪ Kalonu ♪♥♫ Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I dont know about prices for Cockers, But on average from what I have come across many breeders charge different prices for the same breeds, When I was looking for my Labs there were over 40 litters and the prices varied from $500 to $1300 and all were from registered breeders. It definately pays to look around a research and call the state that the breeder lives in and make sure everything is legit. Both my dogs come from several hours from me and we relied on instinct and both breeders were very helpful and understanding and were happy to give me any information I needed. I am sure alot of breeders may find comfort that potential buyers are so thorough and not just impulse buying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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