So you’re looking for Cocker Spaniels for sale, and you likely start by searching online. Many reputable dog breeders offer Cockers Spaniels for sale, as they are one of the American Kennel Club’s most popular breeds.
Reputable Cocker Spaniel breeders prioritize their puppies and adult dogs’ health, temperament, and overall well-being. They invest time, money, and effort into genetic testing, health screenings, and proper socialization of puppies.
Similarly, there are things you should be aware of before adopting a Cocker Spaniel from a rescue group or online. Although most Cocker Spaniel rescue groups genuinely care about the placement of their dogs, there are some red flags to know.
Before you purchase or adopt a Cocker Spaniel, there are some warning signs to be aware of. Despite the cute photos and promises of a healthy dog, there are things you can do to protect yourself from heartbreak and financial loss.
Cocker Spaniels For Sale: Shady Selling Practices
Before you invest in that adorable Cocker Spaniel pup you saw online, in a local pet store, or from a neighbor, protect yourself by being aware of these shady selling practices.
Lack of Transparency
There are two reputable routes to take when looking for a Cocker Spaniel for sale – a reputable breeder or a reputable rescue.
If the seller refuses to answer questions, isn’t upfront about how long they’ve been breeding, doesn’t have a website, refuses to share details about their history or why they breed, run for the hills.
A reputable Cocker Spaniel breeder or rescue will share as many details as possible with you. You should be armed with a list of questions, too, which I’ll link to further in this post.
Insufficient Socialization
Reputable Cocker Spaniel breeders will properly socialize their puppies so they do not show signs of fear, anxiety, or aggression.
Puppies should be exposed to a variety of experiences, environments, people, animals, and situations during the critical developmental weeks.
Without proper socialization, a puppy may not understand or respond to social cues properly. They may become reactive, aggressive, or timid.
Unwilling to Have You Visit
If you request to visit your prospective puppy and the seller refuses, run for the hills. The same holds true for a rescue group. As long as schedules can be arranged for both parties, you should be allowed to meet your puppy or adult Cocker.
Sells Puppies Under 8 Weeks Old
This is a hard no. Puppies should stay with their mother for at least eight weeks, nine if possible. Some reputable Cocker Spaniel breeders release their puppies between 9 and 12 weeks of age to guarantee maximum socialization and good health.
Has Puppies Available All The Time
Reputable breeders don’t churn out litter after litter or multiple litters at one time. Breeding dogs too frequently can indicate quantity over quality. A responsible breeder gives adequate time and attention to their dogs and allows them to recover between litters.
Puppy millers have puppies available all the time. Prospective puppy buyers only see the adorable photo online or in a pet store without knowing the circumstances of that puppy’s parents.
Waitlists after screening are very common with reputable breeders.
Doesn’t Ask You For References or More
If they don’t care where their Cocker puppy ends up, run for the hills. A reputable source will want to know as much about you as you do of them, maybe even more.
I’ve rescued a Cocker Spaniel and also purchased two through reputable breeders, the latter of which screened me closely, called my veterinarian, asked for references, and sent me a 10-page application.
Unwilling or Unable to Share Health Records Prior to Sale
Registration papers mean nothing. Health records mean everything. If a seller won’t sign the paperwork, makes excuses for why they have none, or won’t turn over veterinary records, run for the hills.
Doesn’t Care if You Spay or Neuter
Reputable breeders and rescue groups care if you spay or neuter the dog. Most Cocker Spaniel rescue groups will allow adoptions only after the dog is ‘fixed.’
Most breeder contracts require the puppy to be fixed after a certain amount of time. My Cocker Spaniel, Alvin, came from a reputable breeder who required we wait at least one year to neuter him for health reasons involved with the breed.
Can’t or Won’t Discuss Their Knowledge of the Breed
Puppy sellers who don’t have in-depth knowledge of Cocker Spaniels should raise a red flag. Both English and American Cocker Spaniels are high-maintenance breeds that require a lot of care, time, and investment.
Unrealistic Claims and Statements That Sound Too Good to Be True
Here are a few statements that reputable puppy sellers would NEVER SAY:
“Available for immediate shipping.”
“Certified Perfect Health”
“Rare Colors”
“No Papers Required”
“We Waive the Application Process”
“Discounted Price”
“Guaranteed Show Quality” (note: show dogs are not for sale to the general public unless the breeder is trying to re-home an adult dog who is retiring.)
“Cocker Spaniel For Sale: Available immediately, no questions asked.”
Puppy Mills and Backyard Breeders
I used to love visiting Lancaster County in Pennsylvania at least once a year. Sadly, I discovered Lancaster County is home to the largest number of Amish and Mennonite Puppy Mills.
As we drove along the Lincoln Highway, aka Route 30, we noticed a road sign on which was written, “Peach Pies, Green Beans, and Akita Puppies,” with an arrow pointing up a dirt path.
A puppy mill is where dogs are treated like livestock, licensed by the USDA, shipped and sold online, and through puppy broker websites and more.
Puppy mills are facilities where dogs are forced to breed at most every heat cycle, are kept in overcrowded cages, and never know the kindness of a human hand.
Backyard breeders often want to produce puppies for sheer profit with no regard for the dog or breed as a whole. Many backyard breeders seem nice and kind, but like puppy millers, they have a very dark side.
The puppies are often bred so their “children can witness the miracle of birth,” for money, or because they got stuck with a dog and didn’t have the animal spayed.
Very little planning, preparation, or long-term care is involved with a backyard breeder and their litters.
Cocker Spaniels For Sale at Pet Stores
No reputable breeder will ever sell Cocker puppies to a pet store. Most pet store puppies come in from puppy mills or puppy brokers. Purchasing a Cocker Spaniel from a pet store keeps puppy mills in business.
Unfortunately, animals are viewed as property in the United States. Puppy mills are legal, and despite being investigated, they are often not shut down. Most often, the millers or brokers are fined or given a violation for operating in substandard conditions.
The best way to prevent Cocker Spaniels from suffering at the hands of cruel puppy mills and brokers is to not purchase from them.
Each year, the Humane Society publishes its “Horrible Hundred” report of some of the worst puppy mills in the United States. Prospective puppy buyers would have no idea if their Cocker pup came from one of them.
“But I am saving a life if I purchase an innocent puppy from a pet store.”
You paid money to someone who knowingly abuses and tortures dogs, so they will keep doing it. By educating yourself through articles like this one, you can help Cocker Spaniels overall.
Cocker Spaniels For Sale on Craigslist
If you are wondering if it’s safe to get a dog off Craigslist, it depends. In general, though, you will not have a clear idea of what condition the dog is in or who the seller is.
People sell or give Cockers away for free on Craigslist, but what you see isn’t always the full story. Some scammers steal dogs and post them on Craigslist to make money, others breed them and sell them on Craigslist, and many dog fighting rings buy dogs off Craigslist to use the dogs as ‘bait dogs’ for others to tear the innocent animal apart.
As a potential buyer, you can’t vet the seller, get background information, visit the dog, or do any of the things required of a prospective seller.
Reputable breeders will never list puppies or adult Cockers on Craigslist.
I belong to a Facebook group called Rescuing Cockers Off of Craiglist if you want further information and insights.
Questions You Should Ask
Here are at least 17 questions you should ask any potential Cocker spaniel breeder up front:
- Can I meet the parents?
- Have health test been performed on the parents and if so, which ones?
- How long have you been breeding and what is your experience with the breed?
- How do you socialize your puppies? Are they with the mom and littermates frequently?
- Will you provide a health guarantee and contract?
- If approved, when am I allowed to take the puppy home?
- Will the puppy see a veterinarian and have the first round of shots before I take him home?
- Can I choose if I want a female or male?
- Who will select the puppy I want? Can I have input as to which one?
- When will you tell me if I am approved for a puppy?
- Can I stay in touch and contact you after I take ownership of the puppy?
- What questions do you have for me?
- Do you have references/can I contact other pet parents you’ve adopted out to?
- What will the puppy be eating on release?
- In addition to the puppy, what else comes with the sale? (i.e. medical records, receipts, pedigree info, etc)
- Can I see the health records of the parents?
- Will you send me pictures after the puppy is born and/or do you have a webcam where I can watch the puppy?
BONUS: I wrote an article that includes a list of signs of a good dog breeder for you to read.
DOUBLE BONUS: I penned an article that includes a list of red flags when approaching a Cocker Spaniel Rescue.
Puppies for Sale: People Who Got Scammed
Publications the likes of Money.com have covered puppy scammers. In their piece, they note:
Fake breeders usually use the same ploy: They build convincing websites, then advertise on social media or a classifieds site like Craigslist to steer people in their direction. Once a person makes contact, the scammer invents some reason why they can’t see the puppy in person and asks them to pay for the dog up front — often tacking on additional expenses like COVID-safe shipping crates, immunizations and airline fees.
Often, scammers request odd payment methods, like CashApp, Venmo, Zelle or gift cards…which are difficult, if not impossible, to get refunded.
A puppy scammer wiped out a Maine woman’s life savings through an online ploy.
“I found these pictures of puppies in an ad online and so I called the man and he said he had teacup pugs,” said Barbara Dill. “He showed me pictures of the dogs, and he even sent me more pictures.”
The exchange went back and forth, Dill sent money for the puppies, and she kept getting charged more money. Sadly, the fake puppy seller bilked her out of $20,000.
Sadly, Americans lost more than $1.3 million to pet scams in 2022. The Better Business Bureau filed a report about the rising cases of puppy scams.
Where Can I Find a Reputable Cocker Spaniel Breeder or Rescue Group?
Here’s a listing of all Cocker Spaniel Rescue Groups and how to identify a good one.
Here’s how to find a reputable Cocker Spaniel Breeder and what to ask.
