Find a Breeder
"How much is that doggie in the window?”
This popular children’s song makes choosing a pup sound simple but finding just the right dog requires effort. You can rescue, adopt, or purchase a pup. After considering these options, if you decide to purchase a purebred dog, it is best to find a breeder who has the best interests of the dog AND you at heart.
the first step is to find a breeder who knows what they are doing. Unlike pet stores and unscrupulous breeders, good breeders are careful to breed only healthy dogs with good temperaments. This means that any puppy you get from them has a better chance of turning out to be a good family pet. They also know how to raise their puppies in a way that prepares them for life as a family dog.
There are plenty of breeders out there who are uninformed, unscrupulous or both. Take your time and be picky about finding the right one.
Questions To Ask a Breeder
Where do the puppies live?
The answer should be “in the house with the family.” A puppy who’s born into family life has a better shot at growing up relaxed and friendly. A pup isolated from humans in a backyard, garage, or basement is more likely to wind up shy or aggressive.
How often are the puppies handled?
Puppies should be handled by lots of different people beginning very early in life so they’ll grow up to be comfortable and safe around humans. Ideally, the breeder throws regular puppy parties, inviting lots of guests over to play with and handle the pup. Five minutes of daily pats on the head by the breeder won’t cut it.
Can I meet the parents?
Meeting the father may not be possible, but you should certainly meet the mother. A puppy’s parents give you better insight into her future personality than does her breed. A friendly, well-behaved Mamma or Papa dog is a good sign, both that you’ve found a good litter and a good breeder.
How many litters do you raise a year?
A breeder with just one or two litters a year will have the time to give them the care and handling they need, and to find them good homes. Each female dog should be bred no more than once a year.
Can I have copies of the health clearances?
Many breeds are prone to certain genetic conditions. The breeder should offer health clearances–documentation from an independent agency, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the Canine Eye Registration Foundation–that the parent and grandparent dogs were tested for hereditary problems. (You’ll need to do some research on your breed to find out what the parent dogs should be tested for–our breed profiles are a great place to start.)
Because some genetic conditions don’t show up until adulthood, health clearances aren’t available for dogs younger than two years old. For that reason, a responsible breeder won’t breed dogs until they’re two or three years old.
Can I talk to someone who’s bought a puppy from you?
Good breeders should be happy to give you references; even better, they’ll refer you to other breeders as well as customers.
Signs of a Reputable Breeder
Keep your eyes open when you’re visiting breeders. Here’s a check list of what to look for in a good breeder.
The dogs live inside.
Puppies who are going to be family dogs should be raised inside with the family, not in a backyard, basement, or garage.
The dogs and puppies are relaxed around people.
If the parent dogs and puppies seem comfortable with humans, that’s a good sign that they’ve been properly cared for and socialized.
The place is clean.
Don’t worry about the dirty dishes in the sink–just make sure the dogs’ living area is safe, sanitary, and that they’re supplied with fresh water, beds, and toys. Is there a toilet area in the puppy’s living quarters, or is it all one big toilet? If it’s the former, the puppies have a head start on housetraining.
The breeder participates in dog shows or competitions.
A good breeder is motivated by enthusiasm for the breed, not by making a little extra cash.
The breeder asks you to sign a spay/neuter contract.
If you’re buying a dog who’s not going to be bred, the breeder should ask you to sign a contract promising to spay or neuter your pup, to avoid contributing to pet overpopulation.
The breeder doesn’t specialize in sizes or colors that are unusual for the breed.
For one thing, extremely small or extremely large dogs are more likely to have health problems. For another, trying to breed for rare colors or extreme sizes is a sign that the breeder is more interested in making money out of a sales gimmick than in producing great puppies.
The breeder is up-front about the breed’s drawbacks.
Whether that means a tendency to develop certain health problems or a temperament that’s not for every owner. A good breeder wants you to love and care for your new dog for his entire lifetime, and she knows that’s more likely if you’re well prepared.
The breeder wants to meet the whole family and welcomes you to make several visits.
To make the best match, the breeder will want to meet everyone who’ll be living with the puppy. And she’ll want you to take the time to make the right decision; high-pressure salesmanship is a red flag.
The breeder asks you lots of questions.
This shows she wants to know exactly what kind of home her puppies are going to. She may ask who’s going to be home during the day, what your dog-owning history is, and why you’re interested in the breed. Don’t be defensive; she’s just doing her job, which is taking care of the pups she brings into the world.
The breeder will take the dog back, at any stage of the dog’s life.
If you’re unable to care for her. A good breeder will insist on this. Again, she wants to make sure the puppies she brought into the world will always be taken care of.
The breeder won’t let you take the puppy home before she’s eight weeks old.
Playing with her littermates teaches your puppy a lot about getting along with other dogs. A puppy who’s taken away from her littermates too early is at a major disadvantage in her canine social skills.
Bottom Line
Before buying a puppy, take the time to research and find a responsible breeder. Puppies from good breeders are more likely to grow up to be healthy, temperamentally sound dogs.
The following list of breeders are all members of the CSCA in good standing this is not an endorsement of any particular breeder
| Arizona | Craig Crouch and Tracey Garvey Kennel Name: Friarandpainswick | Web site: www.friarandpainswickclumbers.com E-mail: traceygarvey@gmail.com Phone: 480-206-3860 |
| California | Joanne Hutchins Kennel Name: Anomar | E-mail: joannehut@aol.com Phone: 760-518-5795 |
| California | Jan Sutherland Kennel Name: Moonrysn | Web site: www.moonrysn.com E-mail: moonrysn@hotmail.com Phone: 213-819-6218 |
| Connecticut | Denise Shelar Kennel Name: Weaverwood | E-mail: w00dclmbe@aol.com Phone: 203-888-5325 |
| Florida | Valerie Lovins Otero Kennel Name: Casmir Clumbers | E-mail: Valerielovins@icloud.com Phone: 813 679 3287 |
| Florida | Andrea Lefebvre Kennel Name: Avalea Clumbers | E-mail: avalea220@aol.com Phone: 352-875-5926 |
| Florida | Pam Scholey Kennel Name: Quail Hollow Clumbers | E-mail: realtorpam1234@gmail.com Phone: 772-285-4795 |
| Georgia | Collette Jaynes Kennel Name: Jazzin Kennels 244 Sutallee Place White, GA 30184 | Web site: www.jazzin.com E-mail: Clumbers@jazzin.com Phone: 864-684-8484 |
| Indiana | Doug Johnson Kennel Name: Clussexx | Web site: www.clussexx.com E-mail: clussexx@aol.com Phone: 812-332-5923 |
| Iowa | Cathy Mills Kennel Name: Millstream Madrid, IA 50156 | E-mail: bozmills@hotmail.com Phone: 515-240-7056 |
| Iowa | Debbie Wahman Kennel Name: Chiffon 822 Freeman Street Dexter, IA 50070 | Web site: www.chiffonclumbers.com E-mail: galaxyclydes@aol.com Phone: 515-360-0295 |
| Louisiana | Peggy Holman & Milford Cole Kennel Name: Cajun Clumbers Iowa, LA 70647 | Web site: www.cajunclumbers.com E-mail: cajunclumbers@gmail.com Phone: 337-274-4248 & 337-274-4249 |
| Michigan | Virginia Robertshaw Kennel name: Cupric Clumbers | Web site: www.cupricclumbers.com E-mail: Cupricclumber@gmail.com Phone: 231-292-2466 |
| Michigan | Roe Froman, DVM Kennel name: Blue Moon | E-mail: bluemoon@i2k.com |
| North Carolina | Shelley Miller Kennel Name: Sun Magic | Web site: www.sunmagicclumbers.com E-mail: sunmagicclumbers@gmail.com Cell Phone: 919-525-5001 |
| North Dakota | Susan Strinden Hall Kennel Name: Nileea Thompson, ND 58278 | Web site: www.nileeaclumberspaniels.com E-mail: susanstrinden@gmail.com Phone: 218-779-2368 |
| Ohio | Kristine Ellman Kennel name: Grand Cabin | Facebook: GrandCabinClumberSpaniels E-mail: kristineellman@gmail.com |
| Oregon | Janice Scott Kennel name: Clumon | E-mail: scottQH@msn.com Phone: 503-623-8513 Cell: 503-559-3379 |
| Oregon | Julie Wickwire Kennel Name: Creswick Clumbers Corvallis, OR | Email: rjwick@comcast.net Phone: 541-231-3058 |
| Pennsylvania | Catherine & William Cleary Kennel Name: BeachwalkSTONECREST | Website: beachwalkstonecrestclumbers.com E-mail: cacleary2@gmail.com |
| Pennsylvania | Lisa Chiado Kennel name: BeachwalkSTONECREST Mechanicsburg, PA | Website: beachwalkstonecrestclumbers.com E-mail: lisachiado@yahoo.com |
| Rhode Island | Bob & Georgette Perry Kennel name: Isoton Fields Portsmouth, RI 02871 | E-mail: bgisotonfields@gmail.com Phone: 401-924-5070 |
| South Carolina | Cindy Brizes Kennel Name: Rezod Aiken, SC 29803 | Web site: rezodclumbers.com E-mail: merlinvcd2@gmail.com Phone: 803-641-0202 |
| Virginia | Linda C. Browder Kennel name: HiHill Clumbers | E-mail: lbrowder@aol.com Phone: 540-719-0940 |
| Washington | Holly Lapole Kennel name: Whidbey | Web site: www.whidbeyclumbers.com E-mail: whidbeyn@frontier.com Phone: 425-238-3062 |
| Washington | Tracy & Jeni Saulino Kennel Name: Comedy Rochester, WA 98579 | E-mail: comedyclumbers@comcast.net |
| Washington | Raina Moss Kennel Name: Rainsway Clumbers | Website: www.rainswayclumbers.com E-mail: rainswaykennels@yahoo.com |
| Washington | Cathy Wiseman Kennel Name: Lake Desire 32001 Railroad Ave Black Diamond, WA 98010 | E-mail: cathywiseman@gmail.com Cell Phone: 206-930-1340 |
| Wisconsin | Helen Marshall Kennel Name: Shogun | E-mail: clumbers@shogundogs.com Phone: 262-965-4963 |
Prospective buyers are encouraged to educate themselves about Clumber Spaniels by reading the Clumber Puppy Buyers Guide, the CSCA Information Booklet, and additional information found under Find a Clumber at the top of the home page on the www.Clumbers.org web site. By doing this you will be more confident that you will be purchasing a Clumber Spaniel from a reputable breeder.
All Breeders listed are members in good standing of the CSCA, Inc. and have agreed to follow the CSCA Code of Ethics and have satisfied other criteria set forth in Policies for Membership on the CSCA Breeder Referral List. However, the CSCA, Inc. has not and cannot inspect and/or monitor the breeding or business practices of the breeders included on this list.
The CSCA, Inc. does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any individual breeder whose name appears on this list and disclaims any liability or obligation for the health, temperament or any other aspects of Clumber Spaniels purchased through breeders identified by use of this list. It is the responsibility of each prospective Buyer when contacting Breeders to verify pertinent information as well as to assess the advisability of entering into a contract with a particular Breeder.
The CSCA Breeder Referral List cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the CSCA, Inc.
CSCA Breeder Referral chairman:
Kelly Lease
E-mail: findabreeder@clumbers.org
Web Site: www.clumbers.org Updated: 04/23/2022