Newbies Colour question

[Correze]

Hi, new to this forum, haven't got a cocker yet, (will be seriously looking in the spring), but just interested to see what thoughts people have on Sables, are they an accepted colour for the show ring in the UK?, I live in France, there seems to be a few out here. Also people are warning me off Solids, due to ''temperament problems'' does this harp back to the old days?  Only Ive fallen in love with B&Ts, sorry thats 2 questions in one, getting carried away now, I have hundreds more!! 

[Jane S]

Welcome to COL

Sable puppies are allowed to be registered in the UK but are now considered to be an "undesirable" colour under the breed standard so are unlikely to do well in the UK show ring. I believe the FCI has officially changed their Cocker standard to follow the UK Kennel Club so I imagine the same situation will happen in Europe.

In the UK, there are only a handful of ethical breeders who breed sable, do all the recommended health tests and don't charge ridiculous sums of money for sable puppies. Sadly many more have jumped on the sable bandwagon as a money making exercise ie they're breeding for colour only, never mind type, temperament and health and are asking sometimes four figure sums for sables despite the fact you couldn't say it was a rare colour/pattern anymore, going by the number of puppies being bred

Re temperament problems in solids, you'll find lots of threads where this has been discussed if you do a forum search. Here are a couple to get you started:

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=93094.0

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=97750.0

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=92611.0

[Correze]

thanks for yr reply, i think they are becoming popular here, lots of people advertising them as 'rare' so costing lots of money, i was approached by someone at a show who heard I was thinking of a puppy. I will continue my studies and go to a lot more shows here and in UK , and talk to a lot of people before I make any decisions.

[Jane S]

I will continue my studies and go to a lot more shows here and in UK , and talk to a lot of people before I make any decisions.

Sounds like a plan Definitely a good idea to take your time and talk to breeders at shows etc

[montydavies]

Hello and Welcome!  We live in Belgium and have a Sable show boy named Monty.  I have never seen another one, except at his breeders. His breeder bred for health and temperament first, above anything else. According to her in Belgium at least the puppies that people will pay more for are the choc and tans, which are    We didn't pay more for Monty, and he has been perfect in every way. (except for his nasty habit of enptying the cat litter tray given half a chance!!)