Hey there,

I'm just wondering if I can ask about waiting lists and would like advice from reputable breeders themselves (you lot). I'm looking at getting a working cocker in the future, and while I know they're a hugely popular breed, I just wanted to know roughly how long waiting lists are - especially as I feel I have some odd preferences. In an ideal world I'd love a blue roan/liver roan/chocolate girl to potentially compete in agility, but with their dew claws and tail in tact (not sure how controversial this is).

A second question: I'm probably fairly young in comparison to most potential owners (I'm 22, partner's 24, I've previously had 2 family labs from pedigree show & working lines, did agility recreationally with the show lab but she was a bit of a social butterfly and I didn't have the time to commit to competing). Is my age going to be worrying to potential breeders? Also I currently don't have a garden (4 room house) but will probably move before the puppy depending on waiting times.

Based on these factors, firstly how long would you suspect a waiting list to be? 1 year? 2 years? more? And secondly, would my age/situation/pup request deter breeders? If you have any advice at all (or know of any breeders preferably in the south west region) that would be absolutely fab!

Thank you!

I can't help you re the average waiting list - that you'd need to be told, by the breeder(s).

Dew claws - why are you against having these taken off because quite honestly provided they are done professionally, at days old, for me and especially with a working dog, having them taken off at the right time would be way better than risking an injury and a general anaesthetic to have them removed later?

You’d be better to find a good breeder and then speak to them regarding their waiting list.

Personally I wouldn’t be concerned about your age either, I would be more concerned about your home life, no garden implies you live in a flat which wouldn’t for me, be ideal for a puppy especially a working strain.  I’d also be asking if you worked full time etc.

As a breeder - not Cockers, I would be concerned about the lack of a garden.  We currently have an 8 week old pup and he loves nothing more than being outside in the lovely weather.  SO I would consider that your priority.

We do have a working cocker, although his mother doesn't work as such.  Born and bred in a lovely family environment, mum very friendly, lovely breeder who obviously cared about her dogs and still keeps in contact.   I took my time to research litters, and we were very keen on a particular time to have him which made things more difficult but he is absolutely adorable.  Lots of training etc as they are very lively.

Good luck

re the garden: I live in a house but I'd be moving before the arrival of a pup - I've just heard some waiting lists can take up to 2/3 years so thought I may as well get on early?

It can take a good while to find your breeder and be on there waiting list so no harm in starting now . Best to do your research  and then discuss with the breeder concerned what your plans are for gardens or anything.g else
Have a look at the breeders here on the breeding section .most are likely to be show breeders but it gives u a place to start and often people know people. Also the breed club again often show lines but worth a discussion

>I just wanted to know roughly how long waiting lists are

This probably varies depending on how well-established the breeder is, how much demand there is for their pups etc etc.  That's how it is in pretty much all breeds.

> In an ideal world I'd love a blue roan/liver roan/chocolate girl to potentially compete in agility, but with their dew claws and tail in tact (not sure how controversial this is).

It is much less controversial than it used to be, but probably hardcore gundog breeders are still docking every puppy and might not like that request.  The thing is:  If a litter is going to be docked, and you request one not to be docked, then the choice about which pup is yours has to be made when they are 3 days old.  You might have to pay in full at that point for the pup - or at least pay a hefty deposit.  And who knows if that particular pup is going to grow up to be the pup you would have chosen otherwise, or suitable for agility in other ways - no one can tell anything at 3 days old.  So your best best, is to find a breeder who isn't docking any of the litter - so that you then you don't need to be assigned a pup at 3 days old.  This may well exclude looking at hardcore gundog breeders, but you should be able to find a very well bred bitch with a lot of red in her pedigree, who was placed in a pet (or agility) home and having a litter - whose owners won't dock.  SO genetically you can still end up with pretty much the same. 

I don't know much about dewclaws and working cockers, but I don't think they are removed anyway?  My hunch is that if a breeder isn't docking, they probably aren't going to do dewclaws either.

>A second question: I'm probably fairly young in comparison to most potential owners (I'm 22, partner's 24, I've previously had 2 family labs from pedigree show & working lines, did agility recreationally with the show lab but she was a bit of a social butterfly and I didn't have the time to commit to competing). Is my age going to be worrying to potential breeders?

As a breeder, no - this is perfect.  My only concern, would be whether you have plans for children in the near future (next couple of years). 

>Also I currently don't have a garden (4 room house) but will probably move before the puppy depending on waiting times.

Again, wouldn't be a problem for me as long as you have somewhere outside the house you can take the pup for toilet training - even on leash.  You don't want to be toilet training indoors using puppy pads because you are terrified to take the puppy out even to toilet before vaccinations are finished. 

Most dogs just lie around all day, if they have adequate exercise and mental stimulation - outside the house.  So the size of the house and garden, really isn't important to me.  The surroundings and whether you have access to public areas where the dog can be trained off leash, would be important.

>Based on these factors, firstly how long would you suspect a waiting list to be? 1 year? 2 years? more?

Gosh ,that's absolutely impossible to say.  But breeders' plans do change - so keep that in mind.  Once a mating has happened, you can be pretty sure there will probably be a litter arriving - but before that, people do say they will breed a bitch and then change their mind for whatever reason or decide it's not convenient after all - and if you've been waiting 2 years for them to breed her, that can be kind of hard.  If I were you, I would be looking for breedings which have already happened.  (And I say this as someone who has had a waiting list for 2 years for our own next litter!)  There are some good Facebook groups for working cockers where litters are advertised, so you might want to join those...

I agree that rear dewclaws are best removed but not the front ones. Some people apparently remove these as well. My dogs do agility and use their front dew claws to turn.

It's a case really o f how longs a piece of string. Some breeders don't do waiting lists at all, some do them once they have marked a bitch or confirmed pregnant, some as soon as they have chosen a stud for their girl and some before that.
You will need to keep in mind the more requirements you have the longer it may take to get a puppy as the colour may not be born in the litter your waiting on,  nothing wrong with wanting a specific feature but I can mean a longer waite.

Working cockers are the best, good choice! 

Your age wouldn't worry me at all, neither would the fact that you don't want the tail docked etc if you're not going to be actually working the dog.  The only thing that you've mentioned that would be an issue for me (and would mean I would say no) is the lack of a garden, but you've addressed that and know you need to change it before a pup arrives, so sounds like you'll be an ideal home.

Best of luck with it.