In much need of a four legged friend

[Worthy]

hi and welcome x

We have Kasper just 8 months, we have had him since he was approximately 12 weeks and he is left for periods through the day, my OH works nights and i am a student nurse so i am home 4/5 days a week when i am in UNI, but obviously not when on the wards. However despite this I leave at 1 sh and my OH is up at 3 to get the kids from school, but when i am on an early he will go from about 10 - 3 on his own (my hubby is in bed upstairs). He seems to cope fine with it to be honest.

At the end of the day it is your decision you know what works for you and your OH, you have had dogs in the past and your obviously doing your research and not rushing into anything. People have strong opinion's about what they feel is is right, people have strong opinions about most things we do in life, ultimately the only one who can truly decide are you and your significant other . Research suggests that babies/toddlers are better off at home with mum and not in a Nursery all day, but we can all accept that this is not always an option.

Provided you are in and out throughout the day (in the early days) and that your pup/dog is safe from harm while your gone I don't see the problem.  I currently have the luxury of being at home home with Kasper for the Majority but, i feel it would be unfair for me to to say that only those who can afford/want to stay at home all day or pay for doggy sitting should consider having a dog. As long as you are committed to meeting his/her needs throughout it's life and you sound like you are, it is one less puppy/dog ending up in a bad home or a Rescue Center when there new owners realise how much time, money and effort it takes to look after a dog properly

[mfarrar]

Thanks for your reply, we went and saw a breeder on a farm yesterday. She had some at 8 weeks, some at 2 and a litter that had just been born in the past couple of days. We are thinking about this last litter as time wise it would work out well. Its good to hear from other people that are in a similar situation to us and are coping! We have found someone locally that has offered to do day care reasonably if we need it so have that option. Definately going to have a month off work between us for puppy training. Going back to see the puppies at two weeks so I will keep posting with updates.

[CarolineL]

I would be extremely wary of anyone who had 3 litters onsite.

Why on earth do they have so many puppies? it does sound a bit like this person is breeding entirely for financial gain.

Where were the puppies? In the house or in a barn.

If they were on a farm do you mean a working farm? Are the parents working or show type? If they are working cockers then what are their pedigrees? Do they come from excellent pedigrees.

How old are the bitches, how many litters do they have a year..... are the pups KC registered? Are there any other dogs on site?

Sorry lots and lots of questions - but these are the kind of questions you must be armed with if you intent on getting a well bred puppy whose health and temprament is paramount.

[Jane S]

.... I feel it would be unfair for me to to say that only those who can afford/want to stay at home all day or pay for doggy sitting should consider having a dog. As long as you are committed to meeting his/her needs throughout it's life and you sound like you are, it is one less puppy/dog ending up in a bad home or a Rescue Center when there new owners realise how much time, money and effort it takes to look after a dog properly

Nobody has suggested you have to be at home all day if you get a puppy - just that no puppy should be left alone for hours on end since a puppy has specific needs which can't be met if you're not there for most of the day (hence the suggestion of dog sitters/walkers for those that do work full time and can't come home several times during the day).

Thanks for your reply, we went and saw a breeder on a farm yesterday. She had some at 8 weeks, some at 2 and a litter that had just been born in the past couple of days. We are thinking about this last litter as time wise it would work out well.

This sounds like commercial breeding - be careful and check this breeder is reputable and does all the recommended health tests etc. Very few reputable breeders would consider having 3 litters at the same time - it is hard enough work looking after and socialising one litter, let alone three!

[mfarrar]

Sorry I should have been a bit clearer, the breeder was recommended to me by a member on here who had her dog from them (her brother has one too) both excellent temperment. It is a working farm, the dogs are show type. I couldn't say about why she has so many, I think from what she said she wouldn't be breeding anymore this year. The dogs are from very good pedigree's so im told, show champions. The mother of the ones that were just recently born is two, im not sure about the father apart from he has been eye tested. I will see the parents when I go back there in a couple of weeks. The puppies were in a barn but very well kept and were very friendly, they loved being fussed.

They come kc registersted, 5 generations pedigree cert, photo's of both parents, vet checked, health screened, lots written info on diet etc, tatoo under ear with a unique code & bag of james wellbeloved puppy food. And she will taken them back if there any problems etc.

[CarolineL]

My reservation would be that any pup born in a barn is not socialised properly with all the noises and sounds, and sights of a normal home 

Perhaps you should pm Jane S with the name of the Kennel Affix - 

[Coco]

I think tatooing is quite outdated too (I think!)
It really doesn't sound like an ideal situation to me, be very wary indeed. Don't be afraid to wait and travel.
If a pup is badly socialised it will cause problems guarenteed and be 100X more work. Given that you both work and therefore can't afford to be at home everyday with a problem pup i'd urge you to look at a different litter. Even in 4 months and propblem pup will not be 'fixed'.
I also feel that if pup is raised in a barn toilet training will be compromised perhaps 

[Cayley]

I have to say that opinion varies on what is a good and bad breeder, reccomendations are fine but make sure you decide for yourself whether you feel the breeder is reputable, one persons reputable breeder could be another persons commercial breeder. Going by what you've said I wouldn't be happy with this breeder because of the amount litters they have at the same time. Have you asked the breeder if at least one the parents of all the litters are Optigen PRA and FN tested clear and asked to see certificates with the results on?  

[mfarrar]

The father has been tested and clear, the bitch hasn't been tested she is only 2 it might be her first litter. I didn't ask to see the certificates. The other member that has a dog from her said her dogs temperment is really good and also her brother has one too and thats the same. I think it is possibly a relation to those dogs, maybe the same father, im going to find out next time I go. I was very happy with the breeder it was obvious she really loves her dogs.

[CarolineL]

I was very happy with the breeder it was obvious she really loves her dogs.

By keeping them in a barn and not testing the bitch for a disease that could potentially cause blindness in her offspring 

I know its really really hard when you find a puppy that you fall in love with, however I would truly err on the side of caution with anyone who had 3 litters onsite and was not completing any health tests.

When I was first searching for a puppy I was 'duped' by a commercial breeder. I too thought she loved her dogs and TBH I still believe she truly loved them HOWEVER she was blatantly bleeding just for the money. Here's what happened to us

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=15886.msg192543#msg192543

I was certainly not the first to be duped by her and I won't be the last - however when armed with knowledge about what constitutes a good/reputable breeder and what doesnt I wouldnt advise purchasing a puppy from any such establishments.

There are a few people on this site who have bought a puppy this breeder since, and probably before, they too are well adjusted, beautiful dogs, both on the inside and out, the point is by getting a dog from someone like this you are encouraging them to breed entirely for money. What about the poor bitch who is left in a barn to bring up her pups, no doubt to be bred from twice a year while she is still profitable 

I know this probably sounds really negative when all you want is your puppy - its just very easy to get sucked in by people who are in it for money

[mfarrar]

The dogs are health checked, and with the father being optigen tested clear wouldn't that greatly reduce the chance of PRA in later life even if the mother carried the gene?

I read your post, its very sad. The breeder I saw wouldn't allow any contact with the puppies until two weeks.

I will have another good chat with her when I goto see the pups at two weeks.

[CarolineL]

The dogs are health checked, and with the father being optigen tested clear wouldn't that greatly reduce the chance of PRA in later life even if the mother carried the gene?

I dont know that much about PRA but would have thought that any responsible breeder wouldnt breed from a dog who carried the gene for fear of it being passed on 

[bev6951]

The dogs are health checked, and with the father being optigen tested clear wouldn't that greatly reduce the chance of PRA in later life even if the mother carried the gene?

  Yes it would, infact (as I read on the labrador forum) if a mating of a carrier and a clear dog is done any carrier pups will NEVER develop the problem of this you can be certain and so can be sold as pets comfortably, there will be NO affected pups. It also goes on to say that even an affected dog could be mated to a clear dog and never produce a single puppy who will be affected, carriers yes, but not affected. So with a clear/ carrier mating the stats are 50%clear pups 50% carriers  and a clear/ affected mating the stats are 100%carrier. As most people buy puppies as pets only I would agree with the labrador forum and say it is fine to buy a puppy with one parent tested clear as is the case with you. There is a good chance he will be clear and at worse a carrier who will never develop it anyway.

[bev6951]

I was very happy with the breeder it was obvious she really loves her dogs.

By keeping them in a barn and not testing the bitch for a disease that could potentially cause blindness in her offspring 

This is inaccurate caroline, read up on pra, the sire has been tested CLEAR therefore the pups will NEVER be affected at worse carriers. Also many dogs are kept outside in barns and outdoor kennels etc particularly working dogs, my husbands friends who have working springers are kept outside in their own huge kennel with run etc, they have been since they were born.I personally wouldnt want to keep my dogs outside in a barn but that is my personal preference and doesnt mean I love my dogs more than those who choose to own outside dogs.

[Jane S]

There are lots of threads about PRA & Optigen testing if you do a search. As Bev has said, if one parent is Optigen tested clear, then no puppies will be affected by the disease but if the other parent is a carrier, then some pups will be carriers. Responsible breeders will ensure that registrations are endorsed and explain things fully so that pet owners are aware their puppy may be a carrier and should not be bred from without being tested first. It's ok saying the pups will be pets and so it doesn't matter but we all know pet Cockers are bred from all the time so it does matter for future generations.