Paid deposit.....

Person_one

lee111s wrote: »

Springer cocker crosses while not a pedigree are not a "designer breed". They're (albeit should be responsibly) bred as they carry the characteristics of both dogs to make more all round multi purpose working gundog.

If I were the owner I'd be taking a drive over to see what is going on.

It doesn't sound like the OP's buying a gundog though!

lee111s

Person_one wrote: »

It doesn't sound like the OP's buying a gundog though!

Irrelevant post.

krlyr

lee111s wrote: »

Springer cocker crosses while not a pedigree are not a "designer breed". They're (albeit should be responsibly) bred as they carry the characteristics of both dogs to make more all round multi purpose working gundog.

Or potentially just because the owner happens to own a Springer and a Cocker and wants to make a bit of money.

They may not be the typical designer breed, but I have seen plenty of "normal" family units end up with these type of crossbreeds. If they're fortunate, they're from pet lines..the unfortunate who don't know the difference and end up with working lines often have a few difficulties adjusting to the different attitude of a working dog!

Person_one

lee111s wrote: »

Irrelevant post.

No, I don't think so.

Do you think a responsible breeder of working spaniels would take a deposit from someone like the OP, who sounds like an inexperienced pet owner?

There are people out there who are breeding crosses sensibly and ethically, but they're a tiny minority compared to all the unscrupulous churners of 'sprockers' and 'cockerpoos' and 'puggles' and 'jackadoodles' I meet regularly on my walks these days.

Fosterdog

lee111s wrote: »

Springer cocker crosses while not a pedigree are not a "designer breed". They're (albeit should be responsibly) bred as they carry the characteristics of both dogs to make more all round multi purpose working gundog.

If I were the owner I'd be taking a drive over to see what is going on.

They are a "designer breed" that turns up in rescue a lot, they get sold as "Sprockers" and while very cute dogs they are very high energy and hard work. They may carry the characteristics of both dogs but sometimes they carry the bad characteristics of both and not the good so don't necessarily make an all round multi purpose gun dog.

bouncydog1

Having bought pedigree dogs from reputable breeders over the years - both working and show - we have never been asked for a deposit as they knew if we backed out or they thought we were unsuitable, they would still sell their stock.

OP in your shoes I would be visiting and demanding to see my puppy or getting my deposit back.

tinofpeas

Thanks for all the replies, I've now spoken to the owner, and I have completely over reacted in terms of not hearing from them, and it's been a very genuine reason.

As for not knowing what we are doing, we have considered this for months/years before committing to buying a dog. And yes at the end of the day it's a mongrel, we fully understand that, and as for health checks, I've grown up with both mongrels and pedigree dogs, in my experience the pedigree dogs have had more issues than what the mongrels have had health wise, unless we have just been unlucky.

The dog won't be a full time working dog but on weekends from time to time will be going out in the fields ect ect, we have taken care to pick the breed that we have gone for and not just a 'fashionable' dog as one poster put it.

As for health checks, these have been done by the current owners vet and we have him booked in for our vets the day after we pick him up.

I'll be sure not to post again asking for help, after feeling as though I've had to justify why I'm even considering buying a dog!

krlyr

Health checks are very different to health tests. You wouldn't expect a GP to detect serious issues from a 10 minute look over.

Health tests recommended for Springer Spaniels here - http://www.sgurr.org.uk/healthnew.php

And Cocker Spaniels here - http://www.cockerspaniel-info.org.uk/health.htm

Hip problems can be found in both breeds, so I'd want both parents (and their parents) to have been hip score with good scores.

Eye problems in both breeds, so I'd want to know they'd done the KC/BVA tests.

Gene testing can pick up several of the other conditions found in either breed too.

Being a crossbreed won't protect them from having health issues. It just means instead of 5 conditions they could be prone to, it may be 7 or 8, and the overlapping conditions like hip problems in both breeds will make the chances more likely than if they'd been crossbred to a breed not known for problems.

meritaten

tinofpeas - its perfectly acceptable to want a cross-breed. its unfortunate that some on here think they are 'mongrels'. some on here will also 'disparage' posters. unfortunately you seem to have attracted both camps.
you sound as if you know what you are doing and that you have eventually contacted the breeder and are happy with the way things are going.
not all posters are as negative and horrible. please don't judge us all by the few.
Some posters have been 'conned' in the past - they are only trying to help.
I hope your pup is everything you hope for - update us please when you get him/her home?

Person_one

tinofpeas wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, I've now spoken to the owner, and I have completely over reacted in terms of not hearing from them, and it's been a very genuine reason.

As for not knowing what we are doing, we have considered this for months/years before committing to buying a dog. And yes at the end of the day it's a mongrel, we fully understand that, and as for health checks, I've grown up with both mongrels and pedigree dogs, in my experience the pedigree dogs have had more issues than what the mongrels have had health wise, unless we have just been unlucky.

The dog won't be a full time working dog but on weekends from time to time will be going out in the fields ect ect, we have taken care to pick the breed that we have gone for and not just a 'fashionable' dog as one poster put it.

As for health checks, these have been done by the current owners vet and we have him booked in for our vets the day after we pick him up.

I'll be sure not to post again asking for help, after feeling as though I've had to justify why I'm even considering buying a dog!

I know its hard when you think you've made good decisions and then they are questioned or criticised, but its not personal, none of us know you and want to get at you. We all just really care about dogs and don't like to see irresponsible breeders raking it in at the expense of both the animals and the unsuspecting owners.

krlyr is absolutely right that both cockers and springers are vulnerable to multiple health issues, and that both parents should have been tested. Please find out if that's been done and don't just take the 'breeder's' word for it, insist that you see the paperwork. A good, responsible breeder would have volunteered this information so you didn't even have to ask, which is slightly concerning.

Hybrid vigour, which is what you're thinking of when you talk about pedigrees having more health problems, doesn't really happen for first crosses from pedigree parents, in fact its often the opposite. Hybrid vigour is something that old fashioned 'Heinz 57' mongrels with random and varied genes have, but there aren't nearly as many of these mongrels around since people stopped letting their dogs roam!