Hi there new to Springers

We got Roly when a friend's dog fathered a litter with another friend's bitch.

We went on the basis that both parents are healthy and good family dogs as well as being good workers (although we don't work Roly but figured he wouldn't be a complete looney if he had a bit of good sensible working blood in his veins!).

We were very green as to checks we should have asked for evidence of - but we've gone on the basis that he's here and he's ours - if he turns out to have some kind of problem as time goes on then we will do our best for him and give him the best life we can. A bit like having children - you don't discard them if you find they have some kind of condition as they grow up.

Good luck - and can't wait for you to post some pics of your boys on here in due course

Good luck from me too Paul.

Don't know whether to admire you or pity you though

One last thing. How old will the puppies be when he lets them go? That should also give you an indication of how caring an owner he is.

And buy a crate for them before you get them

cath

cath....
he wont be letting them go until 8-9 weeks....

he had said some people who have bought the other pups wanted them earlier but he wont release them until he is sure they are of the mum.....

I think I'm probably known as the littermate police on here

but I would strongly advise anyone against getting littermates especially same sex littermates.

Littermates are harder to train: they bond with each other - thus ignoring the humans - twice the mess, twice the expense - they socialise less with other dogs because they don't need other dogs because they have each other... when they get to adolescence they often do not like each other and there may be spats if not proper fights. They may gang up on other dogs together making you very unpopular in the park. Of course if you have time to walk them and socialise them separately - take them to separate training classes, train them separately etc - then you may not get any of the above problems.

Of course I am the voice of doom

(ask all the other littermate owners !) , and yours may be all hunky dory forever.... but they may not - and why not avoid the possibility of it going wrong by getting one puppy that will be easier to train and will see you as it's family rather than it's sibling.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do - btw a vet won't be able to tell anything about it's hereditary conditions - these -*test*-('")s should have been done before the parents were even "matched" - although tbh doesn't sound like much thought went into it....

Sorry Paul second voice of doom here as I have only just seen the topic, just because this 'breeder' has been lucky with his first litter doesn't mean he will be again, and who say's he was lucky with his first litter, how long ago was this previous litter, if just a year or two ago perhaps nothhing herecitary has piopped up yet, hip dysplasia may not show it's ugly head until the dog's are 4-5 or even later but if it's there in its genetic history it has a good chance of crippling the dog with pain later in life, breeders are encouraged to -*test*-('") both dams and sires and only breed from stock with hip scores well below the breed mean (In ESS 13), if neither side are -*test*-('")ed you have no idea the chances that your pups might develop hip dysplasia in the future.
sorry hard facts aren't always nice.

ESS are also known to carry several eye conditions that are hereditary, these are CPRA (Central progressive RTetinal Atrophy), GPRA (Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and MRDMultifocal retinal Dysplasia.
The British Veterinary Assc and Kennel Club run screening programmes for 11 hereditary eye conditions that affect over 50 breeds of dog but it relies on breeders using the scheme again on the dam and potential sire before the mating takes place.
Eye diseases cause pain, discomfort and vision impairment and of course complete blindness. Yes some dogs can learn to copee with this, others, sadly can't and will become depressed and fearful.
Eye -*test*-('")s are there for a reason.

Personally if I were you I'd walk away. You could end up with two very nice, cute puppies but you could end up with a poorly dog, no health check the day you take home the pups will tell you if any of the above could happen.

Apologies for being the voice of Doom and fact.

Dogs Today sell a very well written book called The Little Black Dog Book which costs just £2.50 it tells you all the above and more, anyone considering buying a puppy should read it first before going to visit any pups and if in doubt walk away.

Update:

Right I have spoken with the owner of the puppies and came to a solution which I am happy with....

I have decided against the 2 pups following various advice on this post....I really want to be able to train the dog properly, to walk on the lead, to recall, and enjoy spending time with him...as much as I loved Ted our last dear friend.. he was hopeless on the lead, and didnt get on well with other dogs and put severe limits on the places we could go to walk..I was alwasy nervous looking out for other dogs, jumping to put the lead on etc....and I swore I wouldnt do that with our next one..it will be TRAINED...and give me the freedom I want for me and the dog to enjoy our wonderful surroundings.....
as for the health, we spoke at length and he is happy for me to speak to other owners which I will do and is more than happy to allow me to get the puppy checked over before making any payment. I must reiterate he is not charging Pedigree prices for the dogs.....and as such cannot offer the full assurances given by others....I am happy to accept the healthy parents as a guide...and give the pup a chance........and if it doesn't work out he has stated that he will take the dog back to be with the mother and father....and offer me a full refund....lets just hope it never gets to that....I cant wait to get him now and start training....
thanks everyone...will get a pic up of him soon.....only got one on my phone just now...

That sounds like a good outcome, two pups can be really hard work and I always advise against it, but I know others onhere that have done and very successfully, it's all about deciding howmuch time you have and can give to training etc, I think you've been very sensible in admitting to yourself you could do better with one than two, that show's great commitment.

As for the health side there are never any guarantees, I just wanted you to have all the facts to base your decision on

Look forward to pictures and questions

From one of the Litter police with litter mates but knows what hard work it is

And then some

Good luck - I hope everything goes well and that you have the time of your lives together

Good decision, I don't think you will regret it. Your pup will become one of the family very quickly

I hope all goes well with the vet check.

thanks everyone....
your advice was taken and much appreciated...

Fantastic news Paul

I look forward to hearing more about your new addition when he arrives. I bet the whole family are soooo excited. We are too.

The breeder does sound like an honest and fair man - not one of those back street breeders. And you are obviously a responsible owner who has thought things through very carefully.

Would love to meet up with you some time when the pup is older. My Brodie is like one of those stooge dogs that will happily play with puppies so you don't have to worry there.

So how many weeks till you collect him?

Cath...yeah that would be great.......
we are due to get him 2nd weekend in October...just in time for half term holiday here so even though I am going away on the Mon for 3 days business at least Jo and Erin will have the whole week to help him settle in......Erin is excited as I told her we could put the 3 names we like into a hat tonight and pick one out....she wants Ollie, Jo wants Murphy and I like Charlie.....but we will see might be something completely different...
catch you later...
Paul