We often get questions from interested parties regarding our puppies and Cocker Spaniels, in general. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:

Do you have any puppies available?

See our Current Availability section to see if we have any available puppies. If we do not currently have any puppies available, you may ask to be placed on our waitlist, giving you first option to purchase when a litter does become available. We do not mass produce Cocker Spaniels - so our puppies are in high demand and the waitlist can be lengthy. If you are interested in one of our puppies, please write to us today and ask to be placed on the list. You'll be notified when we have more information on upcoming litters and will be able to take a sneak peak at the puppies before they are offered for sale publicly. There is no obligation to purchase unless you choose to place a deposit once the litter is announced. Most of the people who are able to obtain one of our pups are patient and were willing to wait a long time. These are quality purebred American Cocker Spaniels.

Are you puppies American or English Cockers?

We raise full blooded American Cocker Spaniels. American Cockers are smaller than English Cockers, as well as having other differences such as a smaller snout and shape of their heads.

What colors do you have?

A lot of factors determine the colors that we will have available, including our choice of pairings. We will produce parti's, buff, sable (black), black and tan and buff puppies and will announce this as available. We cannot guarantee the color availability until a litter is born - and we'd prefer not to guess.

Do you ship puppies?

If there is no way possible - and even then we prefer that the puppy is shipped as a carry-on with an escort. We will provide an escort, if this is the method that you choose. There are alternative methods (ground transport). If this interests you, please ask and we can point you in the right direction. Please consider the cost in shipping a puppy - you can usually fly out roundtrip and pick up your puppy to transport as a carry-on for not much more than the cost to ship the puppy and you can stay with your puppy the entire time. Discount carries such as Frontier or Southwest Airlines have great rates for anytime fares. Our airport code is LIT (Little Rock, Arkansas). We will even help to deliver your puppy if you pay for the fare if you do not have a way of coming to get the puppy or in some cases, if you are afraid of flying.

I want to breed dogs. Can you provide a good quality dog for breeding?

Our dogs are AKC registered with very good blood lines, and we are careful about who we allow to adopt our puppies. That is why we have started restricting the release of our puppies' papers until we're sure the puppy has been spayed/neutered. Once we have received proof of spay/neuter, your full AKC registration papers will be provided. We make no warranty, however, that a dog will become a great breed dog. We do not condone or encourage backyard breeding or puppy mills and this is our only sure way of ensuring our puppy's well-being. Please understand our situation and if you research this new practice online, you'll find that many other reputable breeders are now doing this due to having experienced a negative situation in the past. We hope that you'll understand this is for the well-being of the purebred American Cocker Spaniel and is part of our way of upholding the mission of the American Cocker Spaniel Association of Arkansas. For information on the ACSAA, please visit www.arkansascockers.org.

What is backyard breeding and how are you different?

There are several definitions of backyard breeders but we differ in that we are dedicated American Cocker Spaniel enthusiasts who wish to carry on the true bloodline. Our dogs are carefully bred, less frequently, and paired for specific traits and characteristics that we wish to produce for ourselves. Our breeding stock have been tested for genetic defects. We also have higher prices than the typical backyard breeder who is looking for a quick profit. We don't take shortcuts. Our dogs have been properly cared for by a licensed veterinarian and are groomed by a professional groomer. We just don't take shortcuts, and that is reflected in our price. In addition, we ensure that pet insurance is easily accessible for all of our puppies and encourage you to take advantage of the trial period offered upon registration of your puppy. We go through great pains to produce only the best quality dogs for our own stock and choose only one to stay with us. The others are available for purchase by carefully screened practice.

Is there any guarantee that my puppy will be healthy?

Yes. Please see our purchase agreement for more details on our guarantee and purchase agreement. However, we cannot be responsible for any mistreatment of a puppy by the new owner. Our puppies will be healthy upon leaving Schooner Cocker Spaniels, and you do have a 72 hour period in which to have your new puppy checked by your own veterinarian for any major defect.

Can you tell me how to groom my Cocker Spaniel?

Grooming Cocker Spaniels can be a lot of fun, but Cockers require a lot of grooming. We personally use a professional groomer for our own dogs, and encourage you to do the same. However, we can answer some of your questions, or you may conduct a search on the internet for some good basic instruction. Please try the search before submitting a question. We may try to introduce an "Ask Ms. Jean" section on our site if demand is great enough. Ms. Jean has been grooming Cocker Spaniels and other breeds for years and she is our personal choice for all our grooming needs.

Why are your prices higher than the local ads placed in the newspaper?

We are not a puppy mill or backyard breeder. Because we take such pains in ensuring the health of our puppies, and because we produce such limited numbers of puppies, our costs are higher. We go through the painstaking procedures of testing our breeding stock, and use veterinarians for ALL our animal health care, right down to puppy shots. We never do any tail docking or dew clawing, and while we do provide baths for our puppies, once they are old enough for grooming, they are sent to Ms. Jean's for professional grooming services. Schooner Cocker Spaniels is not in business to make money on our puppies - thankfully, our kids are on target to get scholarships and we have good jobs. However, we do try to break even on our costs. If you want a cheaper dog, then we are probably not the Cocker breeder you are looking for.

Are Cocker Spaniels good for families with children, and what is the average life span?

Cocker Spaniels are generally great for families due to their sweet temperament. Puppies raised with children generally do well, although those who aren't around smaller children until later on may not do as well. They usually live 12 to 13 years (that's 84 or older in doggie years).

What type of registration is provided with my puppy?

AKC. There are numerous registrations out there - and some will argue that the American Kennel Club is the ONLY decent registration available. We understand that there was a split in the AKC many years ago, resulting in the formation of other registries. Having been around long enough to witness many of these types of splits in various organizations and clubs, we tend to see both sides of this argument. I've read some horrible and WRONG postings on certain sites that put down one of the registries. Our personal feeling is that while our dogs are full blood, show quality breeding stock, that doesn't make them a better "pet" than any other Cocker Spaniel. Besides, even AKC has experienced illegal registrations. Depending on who you ask, some will say AKC is the best, while others will argue that ACA or UKC is the best (for Canadians, it is the Canadian Kennel Club). Our puppies will be AKC registered and may be double registered if the puppy qualified through UKC (see individual litter details for information).

Have a question? Email us and we'll get back to you on that!