I have a beautiful black cocker spaniel bitch and would love to have some puppies from her, I am trying to find out if there are any breeders with stud dogs near to me, I am in Enfield, North London. I would prefer black, gold or black/tan stud dogs. So if anyone knows of a breeder fairly near to me i would be really grateful. neb1972@hotmail.com

Speak to you bitches breeder, who will be able to tell you which lines will suit and what health tests she will require before she is mated. Jackie

I'm afraid there's a lot more to choosing a stud dog than just finding one the colour you want & as near as possible to you - you need to do a fair bit of research first & the best dog for your bitch isn't necessarily going to live just down the road from you :-) If your bitch came from an experienced, reputable breeder, then as Jackie says, he or she is the best person to approach to help you choose a dog who will complement your bitch's pedigree & to advise on hereditary problems etc. In Cockers, it's recommended that both parents be eye-tested clear for PRA (hereditary eye disease which causes blindness) & many solid breeders are also hip-scoring their dogs now - responsible stud dog owners will not accept bitches that have not been eye-tested and/or hip-scored. Temperament is also vitally important today when so many people have the erroneous impression that solid Cockers have poor temperaments. There's no point in locating a dog close to you if his temperament is less than impeccable. Remember that you as the breeder, are responsible both morally & legally for the puppies you breed & if you breed puppies with hereditary problems & bad temperaments, you may find yourself being sued by the owners. Breeding a litter is very exciting but is also a massive responsiblity - don't go into it lightly & do your homework first.

Jane