Picture taken from www.dogbreedinfo.com
Good day and welcome everyone!
This is Sharda with another Cocker Spaniel newsletter.
Featured today is all about registration application for you Spaniel dog. Know your rights in Buying a Cocker Spaniel
Here we go!
You can also expect to receive papers to register your purebred with the AKC or other appropriate organization.
The Cocker Spaniel puppy may already be registered by name which many breeders do to ensure that their kennel name is part of the dog’s official name.
The breeder will give you the form to add your name as buyer/owner and mail to the AKC (or CKC or Kennel Club, etc.).
If the name is not already registered the name field should be blank and you are free to name your Cocker Spaniel puppy as you wish.
Registration only has value if you intend to breed or show your Cocker.
Otherwise, it does not benefit you or your puppy except for some bragging rights.
An important footnote from the AKC:
Just because you purchase a Cocker Spaniel puppy that qualifies for AKC registration, does not mean you are getting a high quality Spaniel dog.
The AKC specifically states that “AKC” and quality are NOT one and the same.
The AKC is a registry body and a registration certificate merely identifies the dog as the offspring of a known sire and dam, born on a known date. It in no way indicates or validates the quality or state of health of the Cocker Spaniel puppy.
They conclude that “‘show quality’ is determined by many factors including the Spaniel dog’s health, physical condition, ability to move and appearance.
Cocker Spaniel Breeders breeding show stock are trying to produce animals that closely resemble the description of perfection described in the breed standard.
Many people breed their Spaniel dogs with no concern for the qualitative demands of the breed standard. When this occurs repeatedly over several generations, the animals, while still purebred, can be of extremely low quality.”
The basic fee is $15 for AKC registration with additional registration packages and products available.
The Kennel Club of England is £10 and in Canada, the CKC registration fee is between $16 and $64 CAD, depending on the age of the puppy at the time of application and your membership status.
Pedigree
If you’ve found a Spaniel puppy that appeals to you, you should next check the pedigree.
A pedigree is the written record of the dog’s recent ancestry and includes notes on any show champions in its lineage.
A long history of champions is impressive; however you should pay closest attention to the two or three generations immediately preceding your Cocker Spaniel puppy.
If you won’t show your dog this aspect may not carry as much importance as the other areas but you should still pay attention to the paperwork, especially since you’ll be outlaying plenty of cash for the privilege of pedigree.
Health Records
The Cocker Spaniel breeder will provide a number of health documents indicating the health status of each pup.
Don’t ever accept a breeder’s word for your dog’s health without documentation. One document is the written record of the Spaniel puppy’s vaccinations (health record) for your vet.
This document will show the date of puppy shots and worming. These shots are often given by the breeder herself, this is standard practice. When you do receive a health certificate, read it carefully and ensure that the sire and dam (father and mother) names on the registration papers exactly match the names on the health document.
Health Certificates
Health certificates are given to officially clear (or confirm) the presence of a genetic disorder. Remember that genetic testing is done on the parents of the Cocker Spaniel puppies you are considering, not the puppies themselves.
There are several standard tests administered to most all breeds that detect genetic deficiencies. However, there are a few tests that Cocker Spaniels in particular should be checked for.
Both the American and English Cocker Spaniel are predisposed to hip and eye problems. In addition, the American is known to have knee problems and the English hearing problems.
The breeder’s veterinarian sends x-rays or other required tests and documents to one of four official rating boards, which then issues a clearance certificate, or denies one when necessary.
Unless indicated, these certifying boards apply to the US. Outside of the US there may be different certifying boards, check with the breed registration group in your host country for guidance.
I hope that you learned a lot from today’s Cocker Spaniel newsletter
All the best and take care
Warmly,
Sharda Baker