For The Prospective ESS Puppy Buyer: Questions To Ask A Breeder (AND SOME GUIDELINE ANSWERS)

1. How long have you owned ESS? 
The answer should be a few years at least.

2. How many litters have you bred? 
The answer could be one, if all other answers are good. If the number of litters is too high and the number of years owned is too low, then you should worry.

3. What dog clubs do you belong to? 
Most responsible English Springer breeders will be pleased to tell you that they belong to a local Springer Specialty club as well as an all-breed club. I would be concerned if the breeder did NOT belong to the NATIONAL PARENT CLUB for our breed in the U.S.: the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, Inc.

4. On the average, how many litters do you breed a year? 
Should be an average of 2 litters a year or less (IMO).

5. What other breeds do you own? Do you breed these other breeds?
The answer should be one other breed, at the most. No one can responsibly breed more than two breeds (IMO). Even when a person has two breeds, for info about the secondary breed, the responsible breeder usually relies on a mentor who is an expert in that breed. People who breed several breeds of necessity breed without having the requisite knowledge and current information.

6. Do you compete with your dogs in conformation, obedience, field trials, agility,
tracking, spaniel hunt tests? Are you involved in pet therapy, breed education,
rescue?
There should be some area of competition or TESTING, which indicates breeding to a standard, breeding to improve the breed, not just breeding to sell for a profit.

7. What are your criteria for breeding a bitch?
Basic criteria should be the following:
a) show champion (or titles--indicating excellence--in other areas)*
b) outstanding quality animal who can contribute to the improvement of the breed (not all champions or titled animals are of the quality to be bred)
c) at least 3 years old
d) sound, stable, correct temperament
e) hips certified normal by OFA
f) eyes (recently) certified normal by ACVO (board-certified ophthalmologist)
veterinarian
g) little if any known epilepsy in dog, sibs, or parents
h) few other serious problems--debilitating allergies, skin problems, heart problems, elbow dysplasia.
*There are a few good reasons for breeding a bitch who is not a champion. Make sure the reason makes sense to you.

8.What criteria do you use in choosing a stud dog?
Basic criteria should be the same as those for the bitch, except that the male should also be able to compensate for the bitch by being strong where she is weak. A breeding should never double up on a fault.

9. How many titles (and what titles) have you put on your dogs?
Breeder should have put several titles at least.

10. What genetic problems are there today in ESS?
A knowledgeable breeder will cite hip and eye problems (specifically Progressive
Retinal Atrophy), epilepsy (perhaps #1), dominant aggression (temperament). Allergies and hyperactivity may also be cited. A Springer breeder who lists rage syndrome (as a primary problem in our breed) is NOT a knowledgeable breeder. A Springer breeder who says there are no specific genetic problems is also NOT a knowledgeable Springer breeder.

11. Do you have a mentor?
 If so, who? Try to contact the mentor.

12. What references from previous puppy buyers and other Springer breeders can you
give me? 
They should be able to give more references than you would ever want to contact!!!

13. What guarantees do you give with your pet/show pups?
Guarantees vary widely. They should always be given in writing--so everyone
understands clearly what they are.

14. What on-going support do you give to your puppy buyers?
All these questions may make you sound like someone who wants a guarantee that his pup is perfect, and that you are seriously considering returning the pup if he isn't perfect. You might emphasize to the breeder that you know that breeding is not an absolute science, and that it is the breeder's COMMITMENT to the animals he breeds that you are inquiring about. You need to emphasize your own commitment by saying that you WILL follow the breeder's guidelines about crate training and giving correct training discipline to your pup. Whether you think so or not, your breeder probably DOES know best about how to raise a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Most responsible breeders will take back any dog they have bred, at any time, for any reason, whether it is convenient or not.

Copyright Anita Wheeler, January 2000.
To contact author: ShelleyESS@mindspring.com