Bringing a new puppy into your life is an incredibly exciting journey, and we know it comes with a lot of questions. From choosing the right breed to understanding early-life care, having access to advice is essential, which is why we have interviewed one of our expert dog breeders. Our goal is to provide you with direct, honest insights and a deeper understanding of the entire breeding journey, helping you feel confident every step of the way.
This Q&A is with Carol, who runs Carol's Cockers.
- Can you please tell us about yourself, including how long you've been breeding and what first drew you to this breed?
I have been breeding Cocker Spaniels for 5 years, I am currently on my 4th litter. We had a family pet, Molly in 2012 and unfortunately due to bad breeding from someone else she became blind at the age of 7. I thought there was a better way to do this, and wanted to ensure other pet owners were able to have well bred cockers. - Can you tell us a bit about the parents of your upcoming litter… What are their unique personalities, and what makes them a good pairing?
Pearl is our family pet, she is a loving gentle girl who is kennel club registered and has had all the appropriate health screening to ensure she has healthy pups with good temperaments. Freddie is a confident character, who has excelled in the show ring, he is fully health tested and I thought his confidence and pearls softness was a good match. - Could you talk about the importance of health and genetic testing for your breed?
What specific health clearances do the parent dogs have? As our first family pet lost her sight due to an inherited eye condition which can easily be screened for I am fully aware of the impact of not having DNA screening carried out, therefore both mum and dad have had all the requirements the kennel club set for screening. - What does day-to-day life look like with puppies in your home?
In a word, busy! Initially your main concern is for the physical wellbeing of both mum and pups, are they both eating enough, warm enough and is mum careful enough not to squash the pups. After the first two weeks you are able to relax a bit more, you then fall into a routine for weeks 3 and 4 where mainly feeding and sleeping are the main tasks. After this time you have to start to prepare the pups for the outside world, socialising them to all the things they could face when they leave you, so weaning starts, toilet training, outside trips, having time away from their litter mates, introducing them to some basic training skills, keeping them clean and introduction into grooming, the list goes on. - What qualities do you look for in a potential owner or family for one of your puppies?
That they have the time and patients to deal with a young pup, if they are full time working what arrangements will they have for a young pup not being left for long periods, are they going to commit to training and socialising the pup correctly and do they have realistic expectations about what having a young dog can be like. - How do you match a puppy's individual personality with the right family?
I feel this is almost impossible to do at 8 weeks and younger, you don’t really know the character of a pup at this stage, I explain to them the characteristics of Show Cocker Spaniels and the requirements of the breed, I ask if they have had experience with Cockers, and have an understanding of the difference between Show and Working Cockers. Most people have read up about the breed they have selected or have had experience with them previously. - What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of being a breeder?
The most rewarding part is getting updates from the families 6 months and a year later saying what a fabulous pup they have and they couldn’t imagine their family without them. Challenging parts are ensuring a safe and healthy delivery for both mum and pup, the initial first few days of life keeping everyone safe on very little sleep, and the last week the pups are with you, as they all require one to one time, but with 8 pups this can be a challenge. - What’s a common misconception people have about dog breeding or breeders?
That it is easy money to make. The cost of raising a litter well has increased dramatically over the past 5 years, and the time it takes to do it well is great. I basically spend all day every day for the full 8 week period with my pups caring for them and mum. Also the time before the litter has arrived, ensuring mum is healthy and fit to have a litter and ensuring the right match for mating. - Do you stay in touch with the families after the puppies go home?
Yes, I often get updates on how they are doing via whatsapp or on my social media pages. I always make it clear to my new owners I am available to them for lifetime support. - What is one piece of advice you would give to anyone preparing to bring a new puppy into their home and life?
Time and patience, they will definitely chew something that is important to you, have accidents in the house, and you’ll reach the point where you think “What have I done” but it’s all worth it and a year down the line you couldn't imagine life without them.
We're excited to share these expert insights with you and we hope that it shone a light on the life and responsibility that comes with being a dog breeder. If you have any specific questions then please get in touch with our team today.