Choosing an English Springer Spaniel puppy

A few pointers to help you choose an English Springer Spaniel puppy that is right for you. 🙂

Choosing your puppy
Once you have decided to welcome an English Springer Spaniel into your family, choosing a suitable puppy is an important decision.
We hope this article helps you approach it thoughtfully.

First, consider what you hope to do with your Springer.
Are you looking for:
• a potential show dog;
• a working or hunting partner, or a dog to assess for therapy work;
• a family companion, with or without children, without a particular show or working goal?
The breeder should help you consider these options, drawing on knowledge of the parents and their lines. No puppy’s future performance or temperament can be guaranteed.

Choosing the right breeder

Before choosing an individual puppy, spend time choosing the breeder.

If you have decided on an English Springer Spaniel, the breed has probably already won your heart.
Its welfare and future should also matter in your choice.
In Poland, we recommend looking for breeders registered with Związek Kynologiczny w Polsce — ZKwP, the Polish member of Fédération Cynologique Internationale — FCI.
Check the breeder’s registration and documentation, but remember that registration alone does not guarantee responsible care. Ask about health, temperament, socialisation and the reasons for the mating.
Well-known international shows include:

• Crufts — a major dog show held in the United Kingdom. Entry depends on the organiser’s registration and qualification requirements.
• The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — a major show in the United States, with its own eligibility and entry requirements.

A pedigree alone does not automatically qualify a dog for every event. If showing is your aim, check the relevant organiser’s current rules before entering.

Ask which health examinations and DNA tests have been carried out on the parents, and request the actual results. Requirements vary by country, breed and scheme; there is no single universal FCI testing package that proves a dog is free of every inherited condition.

Choosing a breeder who considers health, temperament, welfare and breed type together supports the future of the breed. A cheerful, cooperative temperament matters just as much as appearance.

Choosing a puppy once you have found the right breeder

A breeder may wait until puppies are at least four to six weeks old, or longer, before discussing individual choices. This allows time to observe their development.
If the mating has potential for showing or working, the breeder will want to assess the puppies as they grow. Differences in behaviour gradually become clearer too.
These observations also help when matching a puppy to a family home. Be patient and discuss your expectations openly: early assessments are useful, but they cannot guarantee adult characteristics.

English Springer Spaniel colours include liver and white, black and white, and either combination with tan markings.
Each dog’s pattern is individual, so your Springer will be unique whatever its colour. ♥
Sex can be relevant to your circumstances, but it should not outweigh the suitability of the individual dog. Sometimes visitors arrive hoping for a female and find themselves drawn to a male, or the reverse, and the match works beautifully.

Visiting a Springer Spaniel breeder

Breeders and their practices differ. Arrange a visit before committing to a puppy, at a time that respects the litter’s health and welfare. A responsible breeder will also want to learn about you.
Look at the environment: is it clean, and do the puppies appear well cared for? Ask about any signs such as lethargy, discharge, diarrhoea or poor coat condition rather than trying to diagnose them yourself.
Meet the mother where it is appropriate to do so and ask about her health and temperament. The father may live elsewhere. If both parents live at the kennel, ask about previous litters from the same pair and the reasons for repeating the mating.
Behaviour must be interpreted in context. A nursing mother may react differently to visitors, and one episode of barking does not establish an inherited temperament problem. Persistent fear, distress or aggression deserves careful discussion and professional assessment.

The price of an English Springer Spaniel reflects many possible costs of responsible breeding, including:

• attending shows or working events where relevant

• keeping the mother healthy and in good condition throughout her life, not only when she has puppies

• health examinations and appropriate testing

• the breeder’s time spent learning about the breed

• appropriate feeding and coat care

• veterinary care and monitoring of the pregnancy

• care of the newborn litter, including sleepless nights

• suitable nutrition for the mother and puppies

• vaccination, parasite control and microchipping

• registration and kennel-club fees
• stud fees and, where needed, travel and accommodation

These commitments help explain why breeding a litter involves substantial expense. However, neither a high nor a low price proves the quality of a breeder. Ask what care, documentation and support are provided.
Buying a puppy should never be an impulsive decision. You are choosing a family member for many years, so take the time to find a suitable puppy that has received a good start. 🙂

Based on the article by Ewa Kochalska — Equess Carnivale (FCI). English edition with clarifications on registration, health testing and puppy assessment.