What’s the difference between pet quality and show quality?

Show quality puppies are the ones that show promise to closely match the breed standard. Pet quality puppies usually have a fault that most people will never notice. Faults could be that they are small boned, incorrect head piece, tail set too high, long hocks or may have a personality not suited for the show ring. Although a puppy may be labeled as pet quality this does not make the puppy any lesser quality than another. It simply means they are not suited for the show ring nor should they be bred.

I want pick puppy. Why doesn’t the breeder tell me if I can have the pick of the litter?

First of all there is really no “pick of the litter”. Why? Well, your expectations of what you want your puppy to do may be different than another person. If a person is looking for a performance dog they will want the puppy that is out going and high energy. That same puppy would be a bad fit for a person who never had a dog before and is looking for a pet. The puppy with excellent show structure may not show an interest in birds, so a person looking for a hunting dog wouldn’t want that particular puppy. This is why it is important to express to the breeder what you want your puppy for.

The breeder has me on a waiting list and the puppies are 6 weeks old. They say they aren’t sure yet if there is a puppy for me. Why can’t they just tell me now?

Most breeders do temperament testing and structural evaluations on their puppies at 8-10 weeks of age. Prior to this age the puppies are too young to fully access. A good breeder will try to match up the right puppy to the right home. Since the evaluations aren’t completed until 8-10 weeks the breeder may not know for sure if they have a puppy that will be right for you. This is especially true for people that are looking for show, performance or hunting dogs.

How much does a Field Spaniel puppy cost?

The average cost of a Field Spaniel puppy is between $1,300-$1,500. There is usually no price break between pet, show & performance dogs as being labeled as one or the other does not increase nor decrease the quality of the puppy. In many instances a dog that is suitable for the show ring is placed in a non-show home simply because a show home could not be found. While initially the price of a Field Spaniel puppy may seem high, this price range is no higher then other pure bred dogs & in many instances it is lower. 

My AKC papers say limited registration. What does that mean?

It means that your dog may participate in AKC performance event but may not be shown. Limited registration is usually placed on pet puppies. Pet puppies are sold on spay/neutered contracts. Also with limited registration it means that if your dog has puppies they can’t be registered.

Everyone says to be sure that the puppies’ parents have health clearances. What are the different health clearances?

Health clearances are tests that are conducted by a veterinarian to check whether a dog has any health issues (both hereditary and non-hereditary).  These checks are needed so that breeder can make an informed decision when breeding animals. It is important as although we can’t prevent all health issues such as hip dysplasia and thyroid disease, breeders can reduce the probability of it happening by checking the breeding stock.

The breeder states that they have health clearances. I looked on the OFA and CERF website and could not find any listing for the dogs. What does this mean?

If a breeder is advertising or stating they have health clearances they should be able to provide the paperwork/certificates to back up any claims they make. OFA and CERF have an open data base that allows you to see results of tests if the breeder chooses to release the results. Do not accept answers such as the OFA certification is “pending”. Unless it was an un-planned breeding, breeders should have the results of health checks prior to breeding the animals. If the breeder shows you a form/certificate and you don’t understand it, ask for a copy and take it to your vet to discuss the results.  

What is a CHIC number?

CHIC stands for canine health information center. The Field Spaniel Society of America made recommendations as to which health issues are more frequently seen within the field spaniel breed. The breed requirement for a CHIC number includes hips, eyes and thyroid. Recommended tests that are optional include elbows, cardiac and patella. Please note that a dog needs not to pass each of the tests. The CHIC number means the breeder has taken the time to have the tests performed so that informed decisions can be made prior to breeding an animal. 

The parents are both AKC champions. So the puppies will be healthy and outstanding dogs. Right?

A championship simply means that the dog has met the requirement by earning the 15 points to receive its championship. It DOES NOT guarantee the health of the parents nor their puppies. It DOES NOT guarantee that your puppy will be a champion. It doesn't ensure that the puppy will have an outstanding temperament or be trainable. 

What is the most important thing I can do to find the right breeder and Field Spaniel puppy?

Research and gather information about the breed. Ask direct questions to the breeder. Example: “Does your dog have a thyroid problem?” Is different from “Have you had a thyroid test done on your dog?” Secondly, research answers you receive. Talk with multiple breeders and get different viewpoints. Getting a Field Spaniel (or any dog) is a huge investment so it is VERY important that you make an informed decision.