Buying an English Springer Spaniel Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC scheme for hip dysplasia (HD)
- abnormal formation of the hip joint – pain & lameness
- BVA/KC scheme for elbow dysplasia (ED)
- abnormal formation of the elbow joint – pain & lameness
- BVA/KC screening for eye disease: full ophthalmological testing before breeding, to include gonioscopy (includes checks for multiple inherited eye diseases)
- gonioscopy is a painful progressive eye disease leading to blindness
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
- Auto immune disease such as IMHA – immune mediated haemolytic anaemia
- body attacks its own red blood cells, malaise and weakness; can be fatal
- HIF/IOHC – Humeral Intracondylar Fissure/Incomplete Ossification of the Humeral Condyle
- weakness in elbow joint causing lameness and possible fractures
- Ear Infections
- more likely in dogs with long, hairy ears; can be allergy
related - Cancer
- particularly mammary tumours
- Epilepsy
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
- AMS – Acral mutilation syndrome
- loss of sensation in feet, leading to chewing and self-mutilation, usually fatal
- Fucosidosis
- progressive and fatal disease of the nervous system
- PFK – Phosphofructokinase deficiency
- muscle disease causing weakness, exercise intolerance
- PRA – Progressive retinal atrophy
- eye disease leading to blindness
Other Tests
- None
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC scheme for hip dysplasia (HD)
- abnormal formation of the hip joint – pain & lameness
- BVA/KC scheme for elbow dysplasia (ED)
- abnormal formation of the elbow joint – pain & lameness
- BVA/KC screening for eye disease: full ophthalmological testing before breeding, to include gonioscopy (includes checks for multiple inherited eye diseases)
- gonioscopy is a painful progressive eye disease leading to blindness
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
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DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
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Other Tests
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