Look in the newspaper, and you'll see ads for Cockers. "Obviously" this a way to make a quick bundle. Assuming a reasonable selling price, many of these owners bring in an additional income, so it's easy to see the temptation. What you may not see is the down side. You will be risking your family pet's life and health. Added vet expenses are involved, both for the mother and the pups, and ads run in the paper. In addition, not all these puppies sell. When taken to the humane shelter, there is a reasonable chance they will be killed.
Cockers have a problem... being too cute. Owners pick up that little puppy, then learn he's a going to be a problem for the next 10 or 15 years. He begins by chewing shoes, wetting on the floor, or continually barking. On top of this, he might have health problems, so he becomes viewed as an unexpected financial burden. Usually he just needs some very basic training and health care to turn him into a good pet, but the owner doesn't know what to do... or won't take the effort. These dogs often end up miserable, either being tied in the back yard or dumped at the pound. There are two approaches to helping cure this situation. The first is to educate the owners, and the second is to avoid selling problematic dogs.
Breezie's owners were caring people, but were unknowlegable. An accomplished beggar, she was fed table scraps and doggy treats far too often. Her coat is beautiful, so it was allowed to grow out to the point of being unmanageable. She has a docile personality, which disguises when she isn't feeling well. Lastly, her owners decided that she would be a good dog to breed. Bred too young and too often, it wore her out and made her back and health problems much worse, and carried these bad traits into future generations of Cockers. Careful grooming and diet have turned her into a healthy, happy pet. These days she is able to run and jump without injury.
"When you bring home a Cocker, love, care for, and enjoy, but don't breed her". That is common advice from dog breeders, so it sounds a self serving, but has a good foundation. Most Cockers sold as pets are good companions, but poor breeding stock. According to my vet, a fixed female will have 20% fewer health problems and eliminates the problems associated with a pet in season.
OK, so you decide this advice doesn't hold for your pet. For the time being, put aside personal feelings and take a good look at sound breeding practices. Evaluate both partners carefully. Be sure you know the health and temperament of both dogs and, if possible, their lineage. Just because a dog is registered doesn't mean it's a good candidate for breeding. Read some good books on the subject of breeding, get lots of opinions, and talk to other breeders.
Females come into heat before they have reached their full growth. No bitch shouldn't be bred until fully mature. In Cockers "maturity" is reached at 2 to 3 years of age. In the meantime, she might have been in heat several times, which presents a problem. At these times, all male dogs must be kept away. This will mean she must be kept in the house and walked outside to go potty. Fences and dog runs won't keep males away. Doggy doors must be securely blocked, or you may come home to find a strange male in your house. If you suspect she might have been mated, your vet can provide a "morning after" pill.
As your dog matures, his/her personality will change, another good reason for waiting. By this time your pet should have shown they are healthy, intelligent, and has a good temperament. Before mating, a thorough vet examination should be given, including special attention to eyes, hips and back. Eye certification certificates are sometimes offered at a discount in conjunction to local dog shows. If the dog shows any genetic health problems, have him/her fixed. Breeding carries these traits forward, and they can become worse with each future generation. When choosing a breeder, look the potential mate over carefully, ask if the dog has been certified healthy, and pass on any but the best. Visiting your local breeders, dog shows and sporting events will provide examples of "ideal" breeders. (Personally, I don't like the trends American Cockers are going in the show circuit. The shortened nose makes them look more like a Pekinese, and intelligence seems to suffer, as well as being too small to handle their traditional hunting role. On the other hand, the shortened back helps allieviate back problems and they are very cute.)
Personality is a qualifying factor. Since you love your dog, it's difficult to judge him in an unbiased manner. For this reason, have strangers approach your dog to help judge their character. The dog may show caution but should not be aggressive or cower. Some dogs' personalities are damaged due to upbringing. This can be excused when looking for a mature pet, but never when considering a breeder. A good breeder will show a balanced character despite its upbringing. Character is doubly important in a Cocker. Cockers are irresistible. Most kids, and many adults, will rush up on the dog without a proper introduction. In doing so, they expose their hands and face to a startled dog, with potentially disastrous results.
Aggression is common in all too many Cockers. No dog that bites, snaps or growls, for any reason, should be considered as breeding stock. Cockers are not raised as attack dogs, and should be friendly even around strangers. Some level of barking is allowable but excessive barking is a bad character trait.
An overly submissive attitude is the opposite of aggression, but also a bad trait. A dog that cowers when approached is symptomatic. In its worse case, the dog will even cower when approached by family members. Often this will be accompanied by urinating (submissive urination). A submissive dog is sometimes dangerous. Feeling trapped, they might turn and bite as their only defense.
A high energy level is desirable, but hyper-activity is not. This is hard to diagnose, especially in a young dog. One example would be my ECS Winston. He'd run out through the doggy door, around the back yard, then back into the house, tear around the coffee table, then back outside again, for up to an hour at a time. While I loved to see him run, I would disqualify him from breeding for this reason alone. Adult Cockers will often lounge for up to 16 hours a day, but will also be ready for a good romp.
One additional step will be to get the opinion of unbiased "experts". Introduce them to your dog. If they wouldn't consider buying one of the puppies, breeding might not be a good idea. If you want to raise show dogs, you'll want to get the opinion of a couple show judges. If you want to raise good hunting dogs, check out the local field trials, or get the opinion of those who train field dogs. If raising good pets is your objective, you might want to try looking for obedience trainers. In these shows, looks count for less than the dog's ability to perform well. Whatever your breeding objective, there are experts around.
Please take great care before deciding to breed your pet. To "professionals", the ACS is know as unhealthy, aggressive and/or cowering. More people are bitten by Cockers than any other breed. Humane Shelters warn against having small children around Cockers. Vets know them as unhealthy and a sure money maker. Too many "unhealthy" Cockers are born every year. If the owner views their pet as a burden, rather than a joy, they will not receive proper care. Some will spend a miserable life, locked in the back yard, while others are "dumped". These end up in overcrowded animal shelters, dumped on the street to starve, or being euthanized. A fortunate few find a loving home, but many do not live a full or happy life.
As a breeder, it is in your means to stop this unwanted suffering. By selecting only the best Cockers for breeding, the line is enhanced, and these puppies will make fine pets. By having your pets fixed, you can avoid adding to a serious problem. The decision is yours.