What Should I Look For in a Breeder? (Part 1)

As someone who has been involved in dogs and English Springer Spaniels my whole life, I find it interesting how many "opportunistic" breeders have popped up in this specific breed over the past decade. It can be confusing with fancy websites, AI written biographies and pretty stock photos to tell the "good" from the "bad". What should you be looking at in a potential breeder? What should you require from your breeder? 

Let's start out with the basics. I am pretty sure most people in today's day and age can understand what a "REALLY BAD" breeder looks like (maybe you are envisioning dogs stacked high in cages out in a barn with no heat, human contact or over all "bad"conditions)  vs a "good" one on the surface... but how do you REALLY tell that your breeder is dedicated completely to the breed, the health and temperment of their lines AND dedicated to provide the best possible upbringing and support for life for each puppy they bring into this world? 

The English Springer Spaniel was "created"  well over 100 years ago, and with the establishment of each breed comes a "parent" club. A Parent Club is a dedicated body of individuals who formed a club to become stewards and guardians of the breed the way it was intended to be. These members care about the breed so much that they dedicate their lives in the understanding and betterment of the breed in every way, so they can produce happy, healthy dogs true to the breed standard. 

You may not want a "show" dog, but the written breed standard is like a blueprint. A blueprint that tells us what the dog should look like, how that dog should act (around people, dogs, kids, and in the world in general) how tall and how heavy they should be, what their structure looks like, and what health and temperment concerns are deemed "Not up to standard" . Form follows function... ALWAYS! A dog who is unable to perform their job and doesn't follow the breed standard in regards to structure and temperament can set unsuspecting owners up for a lifetime of expensive medical bills, injuries related to poor structure and a lifetime of isolation/ stress due to bad temperment. The takeaway from this paragraph is that you need to seek out a breeder who not only demonstrates their commitment to the Parent club, but ALSO ACTIVELY participates and succeeds in Conformation (dog shows) and a variety of performance events. This may not be important to you as a pet owner, but it is a good way to tell if your breeder is really a guardian of the breed.... or a detriment to it! 

The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association is the Parent Club for English Springer Spaniels in the United States. We have a published list of "Responsible Breeder Ethics" that all breeders are encouraged to follow. Please see that list published HERE

Is a  Parent Club Member automatically a good breeder? Absolutely not. Like any organization there are good and bad individuals. As a pet owner it is important for you to know what the parent club means and why it is important, but it is still imperative you know what else to look for in a ethical  breeder. 

A good English Springer Spaniel hobby breeder is a dedicated steward of the breed, not a volume producer. Their program is small, intentional, and built on a deep understanding of ESS structure, movement, temperament, and working instinct. They select breeding stock only after thorough health testing, pedigree analysis, and objective evaluation in conformation (dog shows), field, performance, or a combination of these pillars. Every pairing is designed to strengthen the breed, not to meet market demand!

Puppies are raised in a highly enriched, hands-on environment where socialization, resilience-building, and early neurological and scent exposure are prioritized. A responsible Springer breeder is transparent about health, forthright about strengths and weaknesses in their lines, and committed to lifelong support for every dog they produce. They stand behind their puppies, take responsibility for any dog that needs placement, and remain actively involved in the ESS community through competition, education, and ongoing improvement of the breed.

In short, a good hobby breeder of English Springer Spaniels produces fewer litters, asks more of themselves, and holds the breed’s future as their guiding principle.

Those of us who are passionate, dedicated and committed to the breed work as a dedicated network. Be very wary of a breeder who cannot provide you with recommendations of other breeders who also show, do vigorous health testing and produce dogs to the standards outlined above. 

There are many "Backyard" breeders (Breeders who breed for profit and with little knowledge of the nuances of matching the correct dogs together) who have started to put low level titles or "easy" titles on their dogs in an effort to keep up appearances with increasingly savvy pet owners.  Don't be fooled by that! Your breeder should be actively breeding and showing in AKC events such as Conformation, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Tracking  or Hunt Tests or produce dogs who excel in those venues. 

At the end of the day, a potential breeder should be calm and patient answering any questions for you and should be able to speak extensively on any topic related to the health concerns, temperament, lifestyle and challenges of owning an english springer spaniel not only in general, but directly related to their lines/dogs as well. It is our duty as ethical breeders to stand by our dogs for life. A good breeder will be a invaluable source of information for you and your family for the entirety of the dogs life! It may be a long process to find a great breeder, but the reward of a lifetime of happiness with your healthy, loving companion is SO worth it!