Our Edie has been quite the hit with many of our friends and acquaintances,with many asking if we were considering breeding with her. Our vet advised us she was perfectly suitable for breeding both in stature and temperament.

What I'd like to know is exactly what health tests you deem most important for both dam and sire. I have one or two potential sires, and would obviously have the results, or get the tests done, before entering into any possibility of mating.

Health tests or not, we are also concerend for the well being of our dog, so even with all the correct health results, we still may not breed her. She is just in her second season now,at just over 15 months old, all clingy and a bit daft, so I'd like to start heading towards a decision either way before her third season.

Take a look at the Pro Health Site and you will find information on the tests for cockers. Obviously you need to decide which is important to you and which ones to do.

I would always do the eyes tests as a bare minimum and if they are clear, work up from there.

Well, I did have a look there, and yes it would seem the eye tests are a primary requirement. I shall get those done ASAP, but are most vets able to carry these out ?

Our vet advised us that the cost of hip scoring would be around the £200, is that a reasonable cost (not that the cost is of importance).

I noticed Drummuir Spaniels on there, local to me, so I may contact them for help as well.

Hi Maxwall

                   I am going to suggest you look at all of the articles on this website.

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http://www.dogstuff.info/index.html

I'd best do that then...

It's been a while since I posted on this. After taking all the facts and advice into account, we have decided to have Edie spayed next week. She is just going on 18 months and is just at 3 months after her last season and I have been advised that to wait beyond two years significantly reduces the health benefits of the spaying.

She was the smallest of her litter, and is quite thin at the back, she does not carry an ounce of fat despite eating plenty (way more than her RDA on the Burns packaging plus her daily chicken thigh). The potential sire is a reasonably large lad, so fast growing pups and/or a large litter may put a real strain on her, not to mention the risks of large pups at birth.

Anyway, she's only just getting out on shooting days, with me on the lead and away from the guns, so it will be a year or two before she's settled and working.

Best we just concentrate on the welfare of the one dog just now !