FAQs
General Questions
Yes, both males and females are the same price.. Prices are constantly going up and we do everything we can to keep our prices as low as possible. Our prices can vary from $1,650 to $1,900. …unless we take our dogs to a breeding service or we have ER expenses .. in that case, they will be higher. THE PRICE OF OUR PUPPIES IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE and will be posted by the Mom’s listing. Because of the high cost of everything involved with raising the puppies, we are looking at closer to the higher end of the scale for now.
Yes, we can microchip your puppy upon request. The cost for the microchip and a life time enrollment with AKC Companion Animal Recovery is $95. There will be no annual fees and your pet will be enrolled in the Nations largest recovery service, which provides a live operator 24 hours a day 365 days a year. We will give you the Enrollment form which will be pre-paid and you will be able to enroll your pet through AKC. This form must be sent in with the information that we give you along with other pet information the form will ask for.
Yes, we will send you pictures via text. You can choose from the available puppies. We do not post them on the site.
If more than one family want the same puppy we have to look at the date that we received the deposits. We hold the puppies in the order of the received deposits. So, the family that has had their deposit in longer gets first pick
No, many of the puppies that are adopted are show worthy and could be shown. However, our goal is to place quality puppies in loving homes. We do have first pick on a litter if we decide to keep a puppy, but we rarely keep any puppies from our litters as we have enough beautiful dogs and do not need to replace them very often.
It typically takes 6 months to 1 year. It can be sooner, depending on the number of requests and the number of puppies born in a litter… or even can take a little longer. Depending on what is born, colors, gender etc.
It’s very hard for me to tell you an exact number of people who would be ahead of you because some of the people on the waiting list are wanting puppies from a different litter, and some are wanting something different than you are wanting. Some of the people have left a deposit for a puppy the following year, not even wanting from the current litter or they want a boy, and your wanting a girl, a black puppy and your wanting a parti puppy.. So, that makes it difficult to give an exact number. If we are expecting only one litter of puppies in the near future, we close the waiting list after we have received 4 deposits on that litter. If there are more than 4 puppies born in that litter the next person in line will have the option to choose from that litter or wait for the following litter.
Your deposit is non-refundable and can be used in any future litter. Just check back with us when you are ready and see a litter has been born.
No, the purpose for sending a deposit is because you have made the commitment of wanting a Dawson Cocker Puppy. If you change your mind you will loose your deposit.
Yes, Cockers are a wonderful family pets that love and adore children. A Cocker is most happy with children and will fit in perfect as one of the kids. Our children are grown now, but when company comes and children are here, they are very happy.
Usually around 12 days of age. Prior to that time the eye is closed to prevent germs and infection from getting into the eye. The eyes will usually begin to open starting on the 12th day. The process usually takes a couple days until the eyes are totally open. New born puppies are very helpless. They can’t see their Mom and actually can only smell the milk and instinctively know to latch on to a nipple and drink. When the puppies eyes open it is a totally amazing thing. They look so much different and become much more active.
We have no set rule with taking pictures but we try to take them every couple weeks and will text pictures to you.
In the past, I have recommended that families take one puppy and wait to add a second one at a later time. We have always had people who were sure they wanted two at the same time feeling they would be great company for each other. I have received so many responses back saying that “twins” worked great for people that we decided to try it ourselves. A few years ago, Charlie and I kept two puppies and it was wonderful. They didn’t go through the stress of being separated from the litter, they were good buddies, and to my surprise they trained very quickly. I was concerned that training would be more difficult.. However, it wasn’t. So, we have changed our thinking on the whole matter.We spoke with our vet and she agreed that twins are very well adjusted and seem to be happier and do better than a single puppy. They can be from different litters or the same and can be the same sex or different sexes If your not used to dealing with a puppy, I still would suggest that you take one and wait a year to add the second one. If your a person who has had multiple dogs in the past and understand the work and expense involved, I think it will work great. Over the past couple of years, when we were wanting to keep a puppy, we decided to keep two and the work involved was easier than I thought it would be. The puppies are so happy having a buddy to play with and they really do buddy up well with their twin. They bond very well with us as well and seem to really enjoy life. We always do special things with each of them and treat them as individuals, each having their own feed dish and their own toys and bed. But, I am amazed at how well they adjust with company. Cockers are very social and do best with siblings. If your not planning on having siblings. I would recommend joining a puppy play group or visiting with other dogs because your puppy will be most happy with company. If your having your puppy spayed/neutered, you can have any combination males or females. I have gotten great feedback from both or mixing.
Either sex makes a great pet and family member if they are spayed or neutered. All of our male dog owners would say YES. Male dogs are awesome. Most of our people who have had a male come back for another male. People who have had females also seem to want another female. So, I think it’s more of what your’re used to.
I’m sure you will find lots of different comments on this.. but after almost 35 years of working with cockers I can say that the males are lovely pets. If you pass on a male simply because he is a boy, you are missing out. I have found that females tend to be more independent. They are loving, will greet you and then go about their business. Males tend to be more dependent . They love to be held and cuddled and enjoy more attention.
Our males are extremely loving and I might say ” needy”. They follow us everywhere and want lots of love. This is a general rule of thumb and of course can be different with some dogs.A female dog that has not been spayed comes into heat twice a year. A male is ” in heat” so to speak, every day. He is always ready.. So, it is important that you have your pet spayed or neutered. A male that has not been neutered can be a problem. They can smell dogs in heat for miles and will “mark” or want to run off to find the female. Males that have been neutered are lovely pets and will bring years of love and devotion to your home.
Care
Yes, this breed requires exercise and activity. It’s important that you walk your dog daily,if possible, allow it to run and play outside to ensure it is getting plenty of fresh air and exercise. Our dogs also go up and down stairs daily which is a great form of exercise. Cockers adapt very well in any setting. They can be very happy in the middle of a city or out in the country, but they do need daily walks and exercise.
Because of the longer coat that Cockers have they do require a little more attention to grooming than some other breeds.
Cockers need regular brushing and attention to their beautiful full coats. We recommend at least 2 to 3 times a week, but daily brushing would be perfect to keep their full shinny coats free from mats and looking their best. We often brush the dogs when relaxing in the evening on the couch. Our dogs love to be brushed and enjoy the extra one on one attention. We find a real bond develops in this time we spend with them.
They also need groomed every 4 to 6 weeks which will help to prevent mats from developing and keep long hair from growing around the eyes and ears. Never allow long hair to hang down over the eyes and always keep the hair short around the ears. Long hair in these two areas can cause health issues in your dog.
It’s important to start grooming at an early age so the pup will become familiar with the sounds of the clippers and with the routine. It’s also important not to allow mats to develop. Mats and tangles can make the brushing something that is painful for your dog. You want them to enjoy the grooming experience. We use a dematting tool in the comb style to quickly remove mats and tough tangles. This tool works perfect in taking out mats with ease . The tool is made with razor sharp steel blades that tackle unmanageable mats and tough tangles quickly while maintaining the length of the coat. This tool is a must if you plan on keeping the coat long. They have several different styles but we prefer the comb version. We have also used the Ergonomic Dematting tools. They have a much shorter set of blades that are curved. We liked this tool, but we have found that they have not held up nearly as long as the comb style.We use a Slicker Brush that removes dead hair quickly with cushioned pins for comfort and safety and Xylan Anti-Static Combs They are a metal comb that is coated with non-stick Xylan to decrease friction, reduce static, and help prevent fly away hair. We also use an Anti-Static Pin Brush with cushioned pins.
You can find all the above tools including the dematting tools at PetCo or PetSmart. They can also be ordered from the PetEdge catalog. These products work great, in removing stubborn mats with ease.
Cockers do require a little more attention to their grooming needs but,it really only takes a few minutes of your time, a few times a week, to keep them looking neat and at their best. Some families prefer to keep their cocker shaved down short or just a small amount of feathering on the legs “trail cut” this will help avoid the extra grooming and brushing. The “trail cut” (leaving a little feathering on the legs) it’s nice because it gives the appearance of a skirt without the work. This cut is very easy to maintain with very little brushing . It is also short enough that mats do not develop nearly as easy.. Either of these options work well, but a cocker in full coat is absolutely gorgeous.
Cockers as well as most dogs will have a little discharge from the corner of their eyes. It’s important that you use a warm wet washcloth to gently wipe this away so the area right under the eye will not become sore from built up, dried, discharge. I gently wipe the fur under the eye when I see some discharge and have also used a flea comb to loosen it, if it has become dried. Always being careful not to injure the eye.
Any dog with long ears is more prone to having ear issues. We have not had any problems in years because we use the cleaning solution listed below. It’s important to keep the hair on the underside of the ears as well as the hair on the upper side, very short. This will allow for air circulation around and in the ears. We clean the ears out once a week with the solution. If the ear looks healthy and clean looking we merely wet a tissue and wipe the ear out and follow up with a dry tissue. I reach my finger down into the ear canal with the wet tissue as far as is comfortable without forcing anything. I do the same with the dry. if the ears look red, sore, smell bad or has a sticky substance either clear or black in color, I flush the ear with the same solution and follow the directions listed below, always following up with a dry tissue or cotton ball.
We have very few problems with our dogs ears. Usually a regular routine ofcleaning, grooming and being careful not to allow water in the ear canal will prevent problems.
Cleaning: use a cotton ball or tissue wet it with your cleaning solution and wipe out the ear as far as you can reach with your finger. Making sure you get into the folds of the ear. Do that a couple of times until the tissue comes out clean. If it is excessively dirty you should clean it again in a couple days. Usually once a week is enough and sometimes we go longer. If the ears remain dirty and seem to have a sap type of substance.. they should probably be checked by a vet to see if something is wrong.
Grooming: We trim our dogs ears short starting at the base of the ears and going about 1/4 of the way down the ear. We do this on the under side of the ear as well as the upper side. I usually use a #15 blade to keep that area very short. This is not just a cocker style but it also keeps the air circulating around the ears opening. Careful not to allow water in the ear canal: When bathing your cocker be careful to protect the ear from water. We wash the body of the dog first and carefully wash the face giving extra care to the ears.. the long ends of the ears need washed as food and other particles can be trapped in the fir.. but be very careful that the water stays toward the end of the ears. After baths or swimming.. dry the dog and gently wipe out the ears with a tissue making sure you get into the folds of the ear. Wrap a tissue around your finger to wipe out any possible water. You want to keep the ears dry.
I have found that the dark color is often times ear wax that builds up. We use Oti-Cleanse on a regular basis for maintaining and cleaning our dogs ears. We clean our dogs ears when they appear to be a little dirty or of course any sign of redness starting. Some dogs have very little excess ear wax and others seem to have more. It can be lighter in color or darker. If there is a bad smell or your dog is scratching his ears often.. you could have a yeast infection or some other type of infection and you should get advice from your vet.The high humidity and hot days of summer along with the long cocker ears and excess hair around the ears makes a perfect setting for yeast to grow. Regular use of Oti-Cleanse keeps the ear clean and within the correct PH balance. We usually clean our dogs ears once a week. Some dogs need it more often and others can go a couple weeks without a problem. Cleaning is necessary but excessive cleaning can cause problems too. I will use the cleaner on a cotton ball and wipe deep into the ear doing that several times until it comes out clean. If the ears are quite dirty, I apply the liquid into the ear canal massage it a little and wipe out. It’s very important to keep them properly groomed this will help with air circulation in their ear and remember to dry out their ears after swimming. I am very careful to keep water out of our dogs ears because you have a lot less problems when the ears are dry. The main thing you need to remember is that you cannot allow wetness in their ears. When you bath your dog be careful not to allow water in the ears and dry them with a towel and wipe out the ears with a tissue to make sure no water is trapped in there.If your dog is swimming, make sure the ears are carefully checked and dried when they are finished swimming. Also pay close attention to keeping the ears very short on the underside of the ears and on top.
Yes, we have one girl, Zoey, who we have had problems with. I think there were times that I didn’t keep on top of the cleaning or grooming around her ears enough. I also didn’t notice how narrow her ear canals had become. She is one of our “love to hunt girls” She will run and chase down rabbits, birds, quail (even chickens) if she could.. or anything that moves.. and would be an excellent hunting dog. In her hunt, she has no problems with running into water, high grass or any place a varmint might be. She ended up with several ear infections that would clear up as long
as we were on the medicine the vet gave us.. Just as soon as we would go off the medication the infection would come back. I had tried several different types of medicine and the vet was not sure what to do. It would just keep coming back. I tried everything they suggested.. with no success.
I recently found a recipe, for a homemade ear solution that claims to fix almost any ear problem and was formed by a vet. I had the recipe for years.. but never had need for it.. So, now I decided I would talk with my vet and see what she thought. After talking with her and getting her recommendation, I made the solution and tried it. Zoey’s ears were very red, sore looking and had a clear to creamy discharge.. I could see they were bothering her. After one treatment I saw immediate improvement. It was amazing. I could hardly believe my eyes.. And it didn’t seem to bother her at all. I was worried that it might burn her or she would be sensitive to it.. But, we didn’t have one problem. The second day of treatment things looked much better. After using the treatment each day for a week. Zoey’s ears looked beautiful. She actually enjoyed getting the treatment. I continued with the treatments as directed and today her ears are perfect. The vet looked at them when she was in for her physical and commented about how nice her ears looked.The vet told me to continue using the solution as a cleaner only applying the solution to a cotton ball or tissue.. and said I could use it on all the dogs. I just moisten a tissue or cotton ball and wipe the ears out. I have always used Oti-Cleanse for cleaning.. I love the product however, with multiple dogs it gets very expensive this new solution not only cleans the ears but also helped with problem ears that medication was not able to control. I have been very happy with it. Below I will share the recipe with you:
Blue Powder Ear Treatment
This is a wonderful weekly maintenance or medicine for problem ears.
The formula has been handed down from a wonderful veterinarian, now deceased. Many have found it to be effective for cuts, fungus between toes, and small tumor-like cysts, but must be done faithfully as instructed. The ears are very sensitive and your dog may appreciate having it warmed up a little in a cup or glass of warm water. ( I do not do this. Zoey doesn’t seem to mind it being room temperature )
16 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
4 Tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder
16 drops of Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix together in Alcohol bottle and shake well. You will also need to shake solution every time you use it to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. To use, purchase a “Clairol” type plastic bottle to dispense solution to affected ears.
TREATMENT: Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very inflamed and sore, or swollen shut, do not attempt to put solution in the ears. Wait until inflammation has subsided some. Shake the bottle each time before using. Flood ear with solution (gently squirt bottle) massage gently with a count of 60, wipe with a tissue. Flood again on first treatment, wipe with a tissue, and leave alone without massage. The dog
will shake out the excess. The Gentian Violet does stain fabrics.
The schedule of treatment:
Treat 2x per day for the first week to two weeks depending upon severity of ears
Treat 1x per day for the next 1 to 2 weeks
Treat 1 x per month ( or even less frequently, depending on the dog)
All of these ingredients should be available at a pharmacy. Most have found that despite the alcohol, the dog will not object to even the first treatment. If by chance your dog shows signs of sensitivity to the alcohol substitute it for yellow listerine. ( I used the alcohol on Zoey with no problems and she didn’t seem to mind it at all. Even the first day was great. Her ears looked sore when I started treatment but were not swollen shut. I treated them and quickly they improved) The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear, The Gentian Violet Solution is an anti-infection agent and the alcohol will disinfect and dry the ear.
The solution appears to work on any and all ear problems from mites to wax and cankers. After the second day you can clean out the ear with a cotton ball or very carefully use a Q-tip. The success rate for this treatment is 95- 99%. Those who do not succeed have usually not done the treatment long enough or have not been regular with the treatment. Dogs on the verge of ear canal surgery have been returned to normal with only regular follow-up treatments to keep the ear healthy. ( I use the solution now by soaking or moisten the cotton ball and wiping out the ear with follow up tissue to dry it out.) Always check with your own vet to be sure that this would be helpful for you. Our vet was very pleased with the improvement of Zoey’s ears and recommend I use it on all the dogs.
Caring for Puppies
Your puppy will be ready for its new home at 8 weeks of age. He is used to eating 3 times a day. We feed the puppies for breakfast, again at noon, and an evening meal around the same time that you would eat dinner. A good time schedule would be 9:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and again at 6:00PM. You should choose a location that you would like to feed your little puppy, give him his food in a bowl and feed him in the same location each time. Introduce the puppy to the food and leave it for him to eat. After he has eaten, and walks away from his dish, remove the food dish until the next feeding. Keep fresh water in a clean bowl at all times. While your puppy is young he will need feedings often. After your puppy is 4 months old, and his tummy can hold more food,you can change the feeding times to morning and evening. We continue with that feeding schedule the rest of their lives.
We feed Purina Pro Plan, Chicken and Rice puppy food. When changing food that you are feeding.. Mix a little of the new feed in with the feed that you have been using and over a couple days gradually change until you have made the switch complete. It is very important to feed a puppy formula of good quality for the first year. You should pick a brand of food and feed that at each feeding.
When you first bring your puppy home, he or she will be used to 3 feedings a day. I would continue that until your puppy is about 12 weeks of age. At 12 weeks old, your puppy should be able to eat 2 feedings a day as their tummies will be large enough to hold the food they need until the next feeding. We typically feed at 8 AM and again at 5 PM for older puppies. They remain on this feeding schedule for life.
We do not recommend that type of feeding. When your puppy is young it helps to have them on a feeding schedule to help predict the next trip outside for potty. Your puppy will need to go potty within 10 minutes after eating. If you do not know when they ate last, it is more difficult to predict the next potty trip. Also, older adult Cockers often will over eat. It’s important to regulate the amount of food they eat. You will find feeding instructions from Purina or talk with your vet when increasing the feeding times or allowing “free” feeding.
At around 5 weeks our puppies begin to eat Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Shredded Blend FOR PUPPIES. That is a special blend designed for puppies up to one year of age. We never mix it with any liquid. The puppies need the chewing action and the food stays fresh and clean without the moisture.
I have found that within 10 minutes after the puppies eat they will need to go out side for a potty trip. It is best to pick a location that you would like your puppy to use as his spot. Take him to that location each time. Reward him with a lot of praise when he goes outside. Puppies will need to go potty when they wake up from a nap, after they eat, and before bed. Until your puppy is trained it is best to give him a small area of your home where you can keep a watchful eye on him, it is best not to allow him full run of your home. Puppies have a very small bladder and can not hold themselves, so frequent trips outside are best. As soon as they potty outside make a big fuss over them and bring them right back inside. They need to know that going outside is for potty not to play.
Crate training is a method used in helping potty train your puppy. The puppy is placed in a crate that would fit the puppy but not give a lot of extra room. There is room for the puppy to stand and lay down in a comfortable way, just
make sure it is not too large. Puppies do not like to go potty in the place that they sleep. When you take them out of their crate they need to be taken outside, at once. If you are out of the home, the puppy should be placed in his crate. This will not only help him with potty training, but will also keep him safe. We use this method with great success.
Your puppy will need a place of his own. Every puppy loves to have his own safe area. A crate is excellent for meeting this need. Dogs have a desire for a den. You will often see them digging trying to establish a hole or hiding place to go into. Crates are able to serve this need and you will find that your puppy will enjoy going into his crate for a place to rest. Until your puppy is house trained, it is best to have them sleep in the crate during the night and at nap times. We start with small young puppies using paper towels in the bottom of the crate. It makes easy clean up for accidents that can occur. Later a nice blanket can be used or quilted absorbent pad. When your puppy grows older he might choose to sleep in your bed if allowed or he might prefer his own crate. Some of our girls love their crate and would much rather sleep in there. We have one dog that later in the evening I will say, its time for nighty night…give Daddy a kiss. She will run to my husband, Charlie with kisses and off she will go into her crate and pull the door shut herself. She is set for the night. At first your puppy might have a few accidents but quickly they will learn not to go in their crate.
Your new puppy has had a full physical by our vet. They have had their first shots and have been wormed. They will not need additional shots for about a month after the first set were given. However, it is important that you take your puppy to the vet soon after you pick him/her up. Your vet should check your puppy to make sure everything is OK. It’s a great time to introduce your new puppy to the vet and get used to the environment. We also recommend a visit to the groomer. Your puppy will have had several hair cuts while he/she has been with us, but you will need to continue visits with your groomer. We recommend every 4 to 6 weeks. They need to hear the sounds of the clippers and be handled by others to make the grooming experience.