FAQs

How do I get on the Bellamy waiting list?

If interested in getting on our waiting list for a future puppy, we have to get to know you first to determine that your family will be a good fit for a Bellamy puppy. We ask that you first submit email us at bellamyecs@outlook.com with your information, location, and what you are looking for and then log onto our website and submit an application found on our “puppies” page which will be available if our waiting list is open. We will then contact you and send you more information on the next steps.

​

How long is the waiting list?

Puppies cannot be made to order. We breed for ourselves first so that we can improve the breed in both the show ring, whelping box, and as the protected breed they are. We expect pet puppies to be available from every litter, and those we happily placed with approved homes. Most families typically have a wait of a year or more for a Bellamy puppy. Though we go through every effort to produce healthy puppies, things don't always go as planned, so patience is a must when acquiring a healthy, well bred, purebred English Cocker Spaniel from a reputable breeder.

​

What type of home are you looking to place a Bellamy puppy in, specifically?

We are looking for COMMITTED families! While we do prefer our puppies to go to local homes, commitment is our main priority when selecting specific families for our puppies. We understand our long wait list can be daunting, however, we encourage you to stay in close contact with us throughout the process since we feel it shows us you are committed to being the best owner possible for one of our puppies. We feel it is appropriate to hear from our prospective puppy homes every one-two months. Those types of homes often take priority on our waiting list! In addition, we are also looking for families that share our same values in raising an ECS as their family member, know the importance of grooming and crate training, have a fenced yard, and have the time and desire to raise the best puppy possible.

 

How much is a Bellamy puppy?

We charge $3,500 for a puppy, regardless of gender or color. This is comparable to other reputable breeders across the US, and appropriately reflects the time, energy, and expenses that go into producing a healthy representative of the breed including breeding, whelping, raising, showing, health testing, training, and more.

​

Do you require a deposit?

Yes. We require a nonrefundable deposit of $500 due between 4-6 weeks of age. This deposit will hold a puppy for you. This deposit is only collected after we are sure that we will have a puppy for you from a current litter. This deposit does not guarantee a particular puppy to you. That determination will be made between 8-12 weeks of age.

​

What is the puppy sorting process?

Our puppies are carefully assessed and sorted for potential homes to determine which puppies are best suitable for the show ring/breeding prospects and which puppies are deemed companion/performance only. This means that we place each puppy into a stacked (foursquare) position to assess their virtues and flaws with the AKC Standard as our guide. This also includes temperament, activity level, health testing results, and more. This process begins at birth; however, we are not able to assess their true body structure until after they are at least 8 weeks of age. Puppies change tremendously during this time, so we carefully take our time and do not make final determinations until 10-12 weeks of age. They are then placed into their appropriate homes once the determinations have been made. Due to this process, new owners do not determine which puppy they are taking home. Pet/companion only puppies are in no way "inferior" to show/breeding puppies, they simply do not possess the same 'total package' conformationally, yet they will make just as excellent and healthy companions.

​

What should I do while I wait for my puppy?

Research and prepare! It is never too early to prepare to bring your puppy home. Do your research on AKC, the parent club website ECSCA, Facebook, and online. The resources are endless! Become familiar with our recommended list of puppy supplies, read through our sample contract, familiarize yourself with crate training, house training, basic obedience training, grooming, and above all, please reach out with any questions you might have! We love keeping in close contact with our prospective families which shows us you are a committed owner which sometimes secures you a shorter wait for a puppy.

​

Does Bellamy perform health testing?

Absolutely! We follow the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America's guidelines on recommended health testing for English Cocker Spaniels. This includes testing for Adult Onset Neuropathy, Familial Nephropathy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, and eye exams. We do everything in our power to avoid any genetic diseases and do not knowingly breed an affected dog or litter that has the ability to produce affected puppies. If you are selected for a puppy that is a "carrier" of a genetic disease, they will never become affected/afflicted by the disease and is used solely for breeding purposes.

​

When should I start house training, crate training, or grooming my puppy?

As soon as you bring your puppy home! We have begun basic house and crate training and basic grooming on your puppy at approximately 5 weeks of age. By the time they go to their new homes, they have been introduced to sleeping in their own crate to make the transition to their new home easier on you and the puppy. They have been accustomed to weekly bathing, trimming, nail clipping, and grooming from birth as well. We suggest you handling your puppy's body parts on a regular basis, including the feet, ears, mouth, tail, etc to help them build the tolerance needed to be properly groomed. It is important to know that English Cockers are a very high maintenance breed regarding grooming. Prepare ahead and familiarize yourself with all the grooming aspects and required tools ahead of time if you plan to groom your puppy yourself, otherwise book with a professional and make appointments regularly per their recommendation. It is never too early to get your puppy on the grooming table or booked with a professional groomer so they can continue to healthy habit of regular grooming. If you need suggestions of ECS experienced groomers, please let us know. Another important factor is that ECS can be prone to separation anxiety. This means that proper crate training, independence training, and setting routines will be very important to avoid your puppy becoming anxious without you. I highly encourage you to start crate training immediately and use a crate regularly for meal times and while unsupervised. 

​

What do I need to know about my Bellamy puppy?

Our puppies' tails docked and dewclaws removed at approximately three days of age. This applies to all puppies unless they are compromised. We do not accept requests to keep a natural tail, regardless of the AKC standard change. Our puppies are examined by our veterinarian at 8 weeks of age and given their first round of puppy vaccinations, which includes Parvo and Distemper. They are dewormed every two weeks. They will also be microchipped at that time with AKC ReUnite. It will be your responsibility to register the microchip to your puppy online immediately after you bring them home. They will then need their booster vaccinations at 12 weeks of age (Which either we will administer prior to you taking them home) or notify you to schedule with your vet of they are placed prior. They will need a final booster along with a Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. Some states require a fourth booster, so consult with your veterinarian for their recommended schedule. After that, your puppy is able to safely socialize in public. Your puppy will be registered with the American Kennel Club, via prepaid litter registration. Once we have determined the exact puppy for you, we will collect your information to submit the registration online. AKC will then email you to complete the final steps.

​

How do you socialize your puppies?

We aim to produce confident puppies that turn into well-adjusted adults and the best way to do this is by proper and consistent socialization. From day one, we desensitize our newborns by handling them often and letting them become familiar with human touch and handling. As they grow, they are safely exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, and surfaces as they're raised in our home, surrounded by our three young children and other dogs. We invite our friends (both children and adult) to come over and handle and play with the puppies as well. When they are older, we take enjoy taking the puppies to nearby parks and letting strangers meet them. We encourage all new owners to continue socializing their puppy to new people and environments as much as possible to ensure a well-rounded adult. We do not own cats due to allergies, so they do not get experience with cats or other small animals, however none of the puppies we've placed have had any issues.

​

What’s the temperament difference between male and female English Cockers?

We like to describe them as… the females love you and the males are in love with you! While both make excellent companions and are considered “Velcro” dogs (meaning they like to follow their owners everywhere), we have observed that females generally have a wider range of temperaments, independence, and mood swings. They can also be more prone to shyness and slower to warm up to new situations. Males, on the other hand, tend to be generally more predictable and even-keel across the board. Their favorite spot tends to be on their owners lap. Despite new owners being drawn to females because they don’t mark their territory, females can sometimes be a challenge to potty train as well. For both genders, proper and consistent training is essential. Belly bands for marking males are also available at most pet stores to help aid. We don’t consider either sex to be full potty trainable and trustworthy until at least a year old. It is also recommended to wait to spay and neuter an ECS until at least one year of age, with over the age of two being highly preferred so they can develop properly before their hormones are removed.

​

Do you ship your puppies?

We are open to accommodating shipping depending on the location, however, we do prefer to meet you and have you meet the mother and littermates if possible. If shipping is a must, we prefer you to fly to pick up with your puppy in a Sherpa bag and fly in cabin with you. The average weight for a 8-12 week old puppy is 6-14 lbs for reference. Once they are four months old, they are often near 20 lbs and too large to fly in a Sherpa.

​

Can I meet the parents of my puppy?

We absolutely encourage you to meet all of our dogs, however sometimes meeting the sire of the puppies is not possible. We select our breeding pairs not based on convenience, but rather the best match in health, temperament, conformation, genetics, so this means that sometimes the studs are across the country or even utilized from frozen semen from a since deceased or neutered dog.

​

Does Bellamy provide a health guarantee?

Yes, we provide a 24-month genetic health guarantee. This means that in the unlikely an unfortunate event that your puppy develops a fatal or life-threatening genetic disease or congenital defect, we will provide you with a replacement puppy when one becomes available. We do not give cash refunds. You then have the option to return or keep the affected puppy. More information can be found on our sample contract.

​

What is the difference between AKC full registration and limited registration?

Full registration is reserved for the puppies we have determined that are superior examples of the breed and deemed to have show and breeding potential. Limited registration is for those puppies that are deemed to be companion only. These dogs will not be allowed to be shown in AKC Conformation or be used for breeding purposes, they are still eligible for performance competitions and events. We do not encourage any altering (spay/neuter) until at least two years of age, regardless of status.

​

What happens after I take my puppy home?

Please keep in contact with us- we are there for you and the puppy, for the lifetime of the dog! We really enjoy receiving updates and photos and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. We will absolutely support you and your puppy along the entire process of ownership and take pride in our supportive role as a responsible Breeder of Merit.

 

What happens if I can no longer care for my puppy?

Please return him/her to us! We will gladly take the puppy/adult back under any circumstances, with no questions asked. By signing our contract, you are agreeing you will never place him/her in an animal shelter or into a replacement home without our knowledge or permission. We are there for the lifetime of the dog!

​

If I want to research other breeders, what should I do or look for?

​Please let us know if you are submitting applications from other breeders. While that's perfectly ok, we want to know if you do end up getting a puppy from another breeder so we can maintain our waitlist appropriately. Whether you get a puppy from us or not, we want to make sure all new owners are doing their research and not falling into a trap of acquiring a puppy form a puppy mill or backyard breeder so you can get the healthiest puppy possible that is the best match for your family. Some RED FLAGS to avoid would be a breeder (aka "greeder") who:

-Breeds for fad colors, or uncharicterstic colors/patterns not recognized by the AKC

-Demands payment online before acquiring the puppy

-Uses a broker or refuses to meet you face to face

-Does not health test (specifically genetic DNA testing, a vet exam is not the same)

-Does not show in AKC conformation or other AKC events

-Refuses to let you meet at least the dam of the puppies

-Does not support you after the puppy leaves your home/first right of refusal

-Breeds a large number of litters per year

-Breeds more than one-two different breeds

-Does not invite or at least supply photos of their facility/residence

-Demands excessive puppy prices or demands differences based on color/gender

-Sells the puppies before 8 weeks old

​

​A reputable, responsible, and ethical breeder will almost always have a waitlist! This is for good reason- You get what you pay for. So, please remember to remain patient during your puppy search, I promise you, it will be worth it! While showing in AKC Conformation isn't everything, it is an important aspect when researching your breeder because these breeders breed to the written standard in body and temperament, as well as follow the guidelines of proper health testing and careful breeding between pairs. Everything is do every deliberately, with cost being usually the last consideration as we are wholly committed to producing the best animals possible- All fueled for our passion of the English Cocker Spaniel!

​

​