Prospective Clumber Buyers
Thank you for your recent inquiry about Clumbers and Clumber breeders. The Williana Clumber Spaniel Club (WCSC) knows that if you haven't yet talked with a Clumber breeder getting the right information can be difficult. There is very little to read about them and what is available is not always accurate. We also realize that if you have never talked with a breeder before it can be a rather intimidating experience, especially when you don't know what kind of questions you should ask. The WCSC wants to assist you in finding the Clumber Spaniel that suits you. With this in mind we have developed a guide to what you should consider before talking with a breeder. We have included some questions you can ask and the possible responses you may receive. These questions and their responses may help you gather the information you need to make a decision about (1) whether a Clumber is the right breed for you and (2) if it is, who is the right breeder for you to work with.
Before you make that first call we'd like you to take a few minutes to consider what your obligations are along with those questions that you want answered by the breeders you talk to.
Not only is having a new puppy a lot of fun but it's also a lot of work. So is buying a puppy.
A puppy is not just another purchase. It's a long-term commitment and a major emotional investment. As with most purchases, your happiness with what you end up with will be determined, in large part, by how well you determine what you want and need from a dog and how carefully you do your homework and investigate your options.
It's important to remember that you wouldn't hire a helper without doing extensive interviews so don't get a lifelong canine companion without thoroughly researching its background.
Smart shopping requires learning the subject matter, asking the right questions and having good people sense. Along with knowing what questions to ask, you should keep the following points in mind while looking for a Clumber.
1. Know your priorities. Do you want a conformation dog with breeding potential, a hunting or obedience competitor, a dog that can excel in all three, or a family companion that will never see a dog show? Which kind of dog better fits your lifestyle and training methods: one that is extremely active or one that's more laid-back?
Realistically assessing what you want and sharing your priorities and concerns with the breeders you talk to as you learn about the breed will help you find the right puppy. In a litter of Clumbers attitudes can range from very active to laid-back. Any one of them can be one owner's dream and another's nightmare. Conscientious breeders try to place the right puppy with the right buyer, so an open, honest dialogue is the first step toward a successful match.
2. If you do extensive research, you will talk to many breeders. In talking with these breeders you will get many different opinions. Each breeder has his/her own way of doing things and many agree to disagree. What works for one person does not necessarily work for another. You may ask about other breeders and their dogs but both the breeder and you must exercise tact. Don't ask anyone to fault another breeder's dogs. Instead, ask if they can recommend another breeder or litter if they don't have puppies at that time. Note what they say?.. and what they don't say. Most importantly LISTEN CAREFULLY.
At first you may have a splitting headache from information overload and be immobilized by the paralysis or analysis. Relax. It probably means you found many good choices. Go ahead, make yourself and a lucky Clumber puppy happy.
In the long run, you've made many contacts in the Clumber world and perhaps made a few friends along the way. More importantly, you've gained the information you need to make the right decision.
A Guideline of Questions That Can Be Asked of a Breeder
NOTE: The responses which follow each question are not to be construed as "carved in stone" responses. They are to be used only as a guideline as to what you might expect when asking a particular question. Generally there is no right or wrong answer. Remember each breeder you talk to will have different experiences and opinions. The most important thing is that you find a breeder with whom you feel comfortable. The interaction of breeder and buyer is most important. It should be a relationship for the lifetime of the dog (and even beyond)
1. WHY DO YOU BREED CLUMBERS? There are a variety of different answers that you might receive when this question is asked, but above all, breeders should love the Clumber and be dedicated to the future of the breed and its well being.
2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD CLUMBERS? HOW MANY CLUMBERS DO YOU PRESENTLY OWN? A breeder should have owned Clumbers for a minimum of 3 years. They should also have experience with at least 2 dogs, preferably of different ages and sexes. Someone who has only one dog and hopes to have a litter in the future doesn't really qualify as a breeder.
3. ARE YOU CURRENTLY ACTIVE WITH YOUR CLUMBERS?
Breeders should be currently active in breeding, showing, hunting, obedience, tracking, CGC training, therapy work, etc. It is important to keep in mind that some breeders may only be involved in some of these activities while others will be involved in all of them. The level of a breeders activities is based on what interests them most individually. It you are interested in a particular activity and a breeder is not familiar with it, he/she should be willing to direct you to someone in the WCSC who can give you more information.
4. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BREEDING? HOW MANY LITTERS HAVE YOU HAD? WHY DID YOU BREED THESE TWO DOGS? WHAT ARE THE AGES OF THE PARENTS? The AKC considers a breeder to be the person who owns and breeds a litter of puppies. We feel that a Clumber breeder should have had a least 2 litters of Clumber puppies. Due to the fact that Clumbers can have a hard time conceiving and can also have problems in whelping, it is not uncommon for there to be a time span of a couple of years between litters. It is also very common for a breeder to be new to Clumbers but to have had experience with another breed. As Clumbers are different than most other breeds it is important that if the person you are talking to is new at having Clumber puppies that they be relying on the knowledge and expertise of a more experienced Clumber breeder. It is also very common for a first time breeder to be helped and guided by the breeder they bought their bitch from. A breeder always strive to improve the breed. They may talk about improving certain conformation of one dog with another or may say this is a repeat breeding, and they really liked the dogs out of a previous breeding. Most good breeders keep one or two pups but occasionally sell the entire litter if they did not achieve their purpose. A breeder doesn't breed for financial gain. A bitch should be no younger than 18 months when being bred for the first time with 2 years of age or older being preferable. A dog should not be used at stud before 15 months of age.
5. CAN I SEE THE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES IN PERSON OR IN PHOTOGRAPHS? CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE DOGS IN THIS PUPPY'S PEDIGREE? Breeders know the puppies' ancestry and should have documentation. They should be willing to show you photographs of their dogs and any related dogs. They can usually tell you stories about the parents, grandparents, cousins and other relatives. They also can usually discern personality and confirmation type at a very early age and advise you on the puppy to pick.
6. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BREED? Breeders should have extensive knowledge of the breed. They should be able to tell you where the breed originated, what it was originally bred for, etc.
7. WHAT IS THE TEMPERAMENT OF A CLUMBER? This is probably the most important question you ask and answer you receive. Temperament should be just as important, if not more important, than conformation. It doesn't matter how pretty a dog is --- if it is aggressive with your family and friends when they approach, the home situation will not be good. Breeders should be straightforward with their answers to this question. Clumbers are very loving, funny, loyal, unaggressive, and not very protective, yet they can sometimes be reserved with strangers. It is important that a breeder lets you know that a Clumber puppy as well as any other puppy needs socialization to be well adjusted. It is critical that you take the time to socialize your Clumber with many people, dogs and new experiences. The Clumber is a very social breed and will not thrive if relegated to the status of yard dog.
8. WHAT ARE THE GOOD AND BAD POINTS OF OWNING A CLUMBER? The information you receive from this question should be a major part of your decision making process. Breeders should be straightforward with the information that Clumbers have some unpleasant features about them. Among these are their shedding, drooling, submissive urination as puppies, bullheadedness, selective hearing, to name only a few. Keep in mind that what drives one breeder crazy may not necessarily bother another breeder. They should also be very honest about why they love their Clumbers. This is a very personal thing and you will get many different answers.
9. ARE CLUMBERS GOOD WITH CHILDREN? The consensus among breeders is that Clumbers are excellent with children. Don't be surprised if you encounter a breeder who has little or no personal experience with his/her Clumbers and children. 10. DO CLUMBERS MAKE GOOD HOUSE DOGS? You will probably find that most breeders keep their dogs in a combination of house and kennel. Clumbers make wonderful full-time house dogs. It is generally felt that they do not make good full-time kennel dogs. You should be told that Clumbers are people dogs and require a lot of human companionship in order to keep them happy and healthy.
11. DO CLUMBERS TEND TO BE DESTRUCTIVE IN THE HOUSE? Answers to this question can vary greatly. Some will say YES while others may not have much experience with this. Much depends on the particular dog, training, etc. but breeders should be honest about their experiences whether good or bad. Clumber puppies should never be left unattended loose in the house.
12. ARE CLUMBERS DIGGERS? Again, answers to this question will vary greatly depending on the breeders experiences.
13. IS YOUR BREEDING STOCK X-RAYED FOR HIPS AT 2 YEARS OF AGE? You will find that some breeders x-ray and some may not. The decision to x-ray is strictly a personal preference. Whether a breeder does or does not x-ray does not signify the difference between a good or bad breeder. It is important for you to understand that due to the structure of a Clumber's hips they are for the most part classified as a clinically dysplastic breed. However, unlike other breeds that have hip dysplasia, the soundness of a Clumber is generally not affected. In either case breeders should be willing to explain the reasons for their decision to x-ray or not. If a breeder does x-ray, it is suggested that the results be available for disclosure if a buyer requests it.
14. DO YOU HAVE YOUR BREEDING STOCK'S EYES CHECKED FOR HEREDITARY PROBLEMS? This again is strictly a breeders personal preference. As there are a number of problems that have not yet been determined to be strictly hereditary, a breeder may or may not choose to have their dog's eyes checked. Breeders again should be willing to explain the reasons for their decision. If a breeder does have eyes checked, it is suggested that results of those examinations be available if a buyer requests it.
15. ARE THERE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT CLUMBERS EXPERIENCE? Clumbers may experience a wide range of problems that can occur in many other breeds. Some of these are: chronic ear infections, impacted anal glands, hip dysplasia, herniating of disks in the back and/or neck, entropion or ectropion eyelids, dry eye, a tendency to eat foreign objects requiring surgery to remove the object, auto-immune deficiency, thyroid problems, heat intolerance, seizures and susceptibility to over anesthetizing.
16. IF INTERESTED IN A PUPPY FOR BREEDING, WHAT TYPE OF BREEDING AND/OR WHELPING PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR? Many different problems can occur. Breeders should be willing to explain what types of problems they have experienced along with others that you could possibly encounter.
17. WHAT KIND OF GROOMING IS INVOLVED IN THE MAINTENANCE OF A CLUMBER? You may hear different opinions when it comes to the grooming that is involved in maintaining a Clumber's coat. Some may find it a considerable amount of work while others don't. A Clumber requires combing at least once a week to keep its coat mat free. Ears need to be cleaned, and nails should be cut once a week also. Feet and tails need to be trimmed approximately once a month. Don't be surprised if some breeders say that once their dogs are finished with dog shows they cut all the furnishings off. You'd be surprised just how cute they look, how much easier they are to maintain, and they seem to like it, especially in the summer when it's hot.
18. IN WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT DO YOU RAISE YOUR PUPPIES? Each breeder will have his/her own particular way of raising their puppies, but no matter what, Clumber puppies should receive more attention and socialization than most other breeds. Breeders should be willing to explain the reasons they raise their puppies the way they do.
19. AT WHAT AGE DO YOU RELEASE YOUR PUPPIES TO NEW HOMES? WHY AT THIS PARTICULAR AGE? It is suggested that Clumber puppies be released to new homes no earlier than 10 weeks of age (at this time eye checks can be done). Breeders should explain the reasons for releasing their pups at a specific age.
20. ARE THERE ANY GROWTH PROBLEMS IN CLUMBER PUPPIES? Yes, there can be. Some of these problems can be pano (eosinophilic panosteitis), knuckling over, slipping patellas, etc. Like most things with Clumbers, each breeder will have different experiences. Breeders should not only tell you about their experiences, but also what you as an owner might experience with your Clumber.
21. DO YOU HAVE A CONTRACT? CAN I GET A COPY? Never buy a puppy without a contract. A contract is a bill of sale between you and the breeder. It will specify guarantees and expectations of you as an owner. A copy should be sent to you upon request for your review.
22. WHAT TYPE OF PAPERWORK ACCOMPANIES A CLUMBER TO ITS NEW HOME? Breeders should furnish a new Clumber owner with some, if not all, of the following paperwork: AKC papers (either blue slip registering the dog for the first time, or the regular registration certificate transferring ownership of the dog to you the new owner), Bill of Sale (with all conditions of sale clearly defined), Inoculation and De-worming Record, feeding instructions, 3 or 4 generation pedigree, health guarantee (either as part of the Bill of Sale, or as a separate document (in either event all conditions should be clearly defined), and copies of eye examination results (if done). It is important to remember that every breeder will have different conditions of the sale and also different health guarantees. You should understand these conditions fully prior to purchase. It is also important to know about a breeder's availability to you regarding "follow-up" questions and information as your pup matures. We feel that your dog's breeder, be it a puppy or an adult, should be available to help you for the lifetime of your dog.
23. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO A BUYER THAT CAN NO LONGER KEEP A DOG THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED FROM YOU? The majority of breeders will be more than willing to use their resources and/or the resources of the WCSC in order to place a dog in a new home if it becomes necessary. However, policies will differ from breeder to breeder. A breeder's policy should be explained to you completely and should be made a part of the Bill of Sale or Purchase Contract that you are given.
24. CAN YOU PROVIDE REFERENCES? Breeders should be willing to provide references from previous buyers and other breeders familiar with their practices.