Finding the right Puppy

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Catherine Payne

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Hello,

I am new to this site and have joined as I need some advice re buying a puppy. I have read books that I am referring to for advice but they don't always help with more specific questions.

I'm looking for a Cocker Spaniel and went and saw a pup this morning, a little boy. He was with his mother, grandma, uncle and siblings. All of the pups were pretty sleepy, they are around 6 weeks, and some played more than others. The one I was looking at (the last one available of 7, he doesn't have a home yet) had a tendency to leave the sleeping pack and go and sleep on his own when the other wriggled. I interpreted this as an independent streak or him just needing his space, but also, could interpret as him being excluded from the pack or not very sociable. When the others wriggled, he would just pick himself up and go and sleep on the other cushion. My question is: is this a bad sign? Should I avoid getting him based on this. Other than that he seemed sociable with me when he woke up for a bit and came and gave me a lovely cuddle. He wasn't the most inquisitive or energetic though.

These pups are KC registered and the breeders have a good track record. I'm new to this, having not had a dog before, so any advice or general thoughts would be appreciated.

many thanks in advance!

Catherine
 
im no expert but if you like him and he was friendly to you i wouldnt worry that he wants to sleep alone. after all its you he should be focusing on and not other dogs. if you get him we will need piccies please!!!!!
 
I wouldn't interpret it as anything. I looked at my pup 4 times whilst he was growing 2 weeks onwards. Sometimes he slept, sometimes alone, sometimes he played and sometimes he pushed everyone else around. It depended on what time of their daily routine I visited. I don't know what health checks are carried out for spaniels but I would make sure the parents and several generations back had good results. This was be more important to me than sleeping alone. I got the registered names of the parents and started by going onto the KC site. I researched whatever potential problems my breed had.
The litter with my pup changed weekly. Sometimes he just slept, sometimes he was in a different position in the pack, he constantly changed.
 
Health testing for cockers should include eye screening (DNA test for PRA, one-off gonioscopy, annual BVA eye screen), DNA test for familial nephropathy and hip scoring. In addition working type cockers should be DNA tested for AMS.

I would look more to the behaviour of mum, grandma and uncle than necessarily to the other pups. And yes pictures are obligatory :)
 
As has been said I would look at the mother. The last pup we got had a nervous mum and she is a nervous pup, the one before had a bold mum and is unphased by anything. If mum has the character that you would like in a dog then I would go for it.
What colour is her? Working or show type? (Not relevant to picking but I like to know!).
 
you never know how they will turn out!
my friend recently got a pointer- she got to see videos between viewing and taking her home- and she was always the nuts one playing with her litter mates, rarely napping! But now she has her she is actually quite nervous and reserved, compared to other puppies
 
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